Great deeds in the juniors recognised
Inverell's Billy Thom is presented with the AFL North West Under-14s Best & Fairest by League life member Josh McKenzie.
IT wasn’t just the best players of the season who were recognised at Sunday’s Junior Grand Final Day. Those who’ve gone above and beyond with their commitment to footy were also placed in the spotlight at Varley Oval.
Proceedings at Inverell began with an under-17s clash between the Tamworth Roosters and the Celtic Saints, a team comprising of players from both Glen Innes and Inverell.
After the match a best player medal was awarded to a player from each team. While the Roosters had some strong contributions from players who joined the team for the day from Farrer Agricultural High School, Harry Hagon was named as the best player for the Roosters. Diesel Harvey produced a strong performance in defence and through the middle to be the best for the Celtic Saints.
Harry Hagon from the Tamworth Roosters was presented with an Under-17s Spirit of Footy Award by Inverell life member Richard Gleeson.
Diesel Harvey was selected as the best player for the Celtic Saints during the Under-17s match against the Tamworth Roosters.
SPIRIT OF FOOTY AWARDS
Also presented after the under-17s match were Spirit of Footy Awards to players who throughout the year had typified what being part of footy club is about with their commitment to both their team and the game in general as well as providing leadership with an example for others to follow. Players who committed to travelling long distances to play and played the game in the right spirit were rewarded for their positive attitude through what was a challenging season for the under-17s group.
The players who received awards were Tom Hyslop and Thomas McKenzie from the TamworthRoosters while for the Celtic Saints it was first year player Noah White and Diesel Harvey.
All four showed a willingness to train, rally the troops when required and play the game no matter the location.
Tom Hyslop outstanding commitment during the 2022 season was recognised with an Under-17s Spirit of Footy Award.
Noah White from the Inverell Saints was presented with an Under-17s Spirit of Footy Award by club life member Richard Gleeson.
Thomas McKenzie was presented with an Under-17s Spirit of Footy Award by Inverell life member and current Saints senior coach Richard Gleeson.
Diesel Harvey from the Glen Innes Celts was presented with an Under-17s Spirit of Footy Award.
AT the conclusion of the exciting Under-14s Grand Final, the winners of several awards were announced.
The leaderboards for the Best & Fairest, leading goal kicker, Rising Star and Coaches Awards were read out before the winners were revealed.
BEST JUNIOR UMPIRE
Diesel Harvey was named as the best junior umpire in AFL North West ranks.
When Diesel would play in the under-17s, often he was the umpire in the under-14s match played beforehand.
UNDER-14s BEST & FAIREST
The umpires’ votes were tallied and Billy Thom from Inverell was announced as the winner of the AFL North West Under-14s Best & Fairest Award.
Thom finished just ahead of Ned Hagon from the Tamworth Roosters.
11 votes – Billy Thom (Inverell)
10 – Ned Hagon (Roosters)
7 – Damon Martin (Inverell)
6 – Lindon Whitby (Roosters)
5 – Vernon Toakley (Nomads)
3 – Noah Jameson-Gill (Roosters)
3 – Olivia Selig (Inverell)
3 – Darcy Oakes (Inverell)
Billy Thom from the Inverell Saints is congratulated by AFL North West life member Josh McKenzie on winning the Under-14s Leading Goal Kicker Award for 2022.
LEADING GOAL KICKER
Billy Thom made it a double after also winning the Leading Goal Kicker trophy.
Again the result comedown to the barest of margins with Thom’s 23 goals being just one six-pointer ahead both teammate DamonMartin and Ned Hagon from the Tamworth Roosters.
23 goals – Billy Thom (Inverell)
22 – Ned Hagon (Roosters)
22 – Damon Martin (Inverell)
15 – Dane Cuddihy (Roosters)
10 – Noah Jameson-Gill (Roosters)
Noah Jameson-Gill from the Tamworth Roosters is presented with the Under-14s Coaches Award by AFL North West life member Josh McKenzie.
COACHES AWARD
29 points – Noah Jameson-Gill (Roosters)
26 – Ned Hagon (Roosters)
23 – Zach Johnson (Inverell)
22 – Dane Cuddihy (Roosters)
22 – Vernon Toakley (Nomads)
20 – Emily Ussher (Nomads)
Vernon Toakley from the New England Nomads with AFL North West Competition Manager Paul Taylor who presented the talented junior with the Under-14s Rising Star Award.
UNDER-14s RISING STAR
NEW England Nomads player Vernon Toakley was named as this year’s Rising Star in the under-14 competition.
Toakley was among a number of tremendously talented bottom-age players in the under-14s this year and had to play well throughout the season to edge ahead of a crack field that included Noah Jameson-Gill (Roosters), Olivia Selig (Inverell), Darcy Oakes (Inverell), Kaidhn Holder (Inverell), Cameron North (Roosters) and Jacob Wright (Roosters).
The 12 year-old finished fifth in the Best & Fairest count and equal fourth in the Coaches Award to show he will be a player to keep an eye on in future years.
Vernon was unable to attend the Grand Final but he was congratulated on his achievement when Competition Manager Paul Taylor caught up with him at Bellevue Oval.
