PREMIUM
Sport

Benalla and District Junior Football League presentation night

Bulldogs club person: Zak Norman and Alison Welsh.

After a long season of junior football, the players were able to come together as a group to celebrate the year and the achievements of their fellow teammates.

President Damien Cooney kicked the night off, thanking all the sponsors who contributed throughout the year with game-day awards, donations, trophies and support.

With the sponsors’ support, the club’s success is possible.

Giants club person: Nick Trethowan takes home the big award.

The club acknowledged the coaches and team managers for their hard work and dedication in getting the players on to the field and supporting and organising game-day volunteers for all the roles required before the game could even start.

Olivia Cooney and Alison Welsh were recognised for their incredible work throughout the year to organise the canteen at all the home games.

They are always the first to arrive before the under 12s game to set up and the last to leave after the 17s, making it a long and tiring but successful day.

The exec and general committee members have done an enormous amount of behind-the-scenes work, which often goes unnoticed, to enable the kids to play, and thanks go to them from everyone at the club.

With the formalities out of the way, the vote count kicked off, and the winners were:

Bulldogs club person of the year: Alison Welsh, Ron Norman and family

Giants club person of the year: Nick Trethowan

President’s award: Michael Ferguson

President’s award recipient: Michael Ferguson.

Under 12 Bulldogs

Winner 2023 Best and Fairest: 58 votes — Josh Montgomery

Runner-up: 51 votes — Hugh Ross

Coaches Award: Alex Lambert

Most Determined: Charlie Bell

Most Improved: Josh Bamford

Player of the Finals: Hugh Ross

Under 12 Giants

Winner 2023 Best and Fairest: 52 votes — Xavier De Fazio

Runner-up: 42 votes — Tom Mount

Coaches Award: Jack Hart

Most Determined: Sam Mount

Most Improved: Jude Binion

Player of the Finals: Tom Mount

Under 14 Bulldogs

U14 Bulldogs: Nate Nicholas, Kobi Thwaites, Ryder Robertson, Mason Butterworth and coach Jarrad Thwaites.

Winner 2023 Best and Fairest: 43 votes — Kobi Thwaites

Runner-up: 40 votes — Ryder Robertson

Coaches Award: Angus Richardson

Most Determined: Nate Nicholas

Most Improved: Mason Butterworth

Golden Boot: 14 goals — Ryder Robertson

Under 14 Giants

U14 Giants: Liam Fielding, Dusty McCarthy, Harry Skelton, Noah Hogan, coach Steve Hart and Josh Hart.

Winner 2023 Best and Fairest: 90 votes — Josh Hart

Runner-up: 48 votes — Liam Fielding

Coaches Award: Dusty McCarthy

Most Determined: Harry Skelton

Most Improved: Noah Hogan

Golden Boot: 24 goals — Josh Hart

Under 17 Bulldogs

U17 Bulldogs: Coach Vaughan Carter, Daniel Farley, Jaxon Brunner, Sam Gates and Aryaav Singh,

Winner 2023 Best and Fairest: 34 votes — Daniel Farley

Runner-up: 26 votes — Jaxon Brunner

Coaches Award: Aryaav Singh

Most Determined: Sam Gates

Most Improved: Xavier Rhodes

Golden Boot: 17 goals — Connor Breheny

Under 17 Giants

U17 Giants: Coach Ben Wapling, Bryce Cooney, Xavier Wapling, Will Botten, Jaxon McCarthy and Tanya Boyle.

Winner 2023 Best and Fairest: 71 votes — Xavier Wapling

Runner-up: 43 votes — Owain Boyle

Coaches Award: Jaxon McCarthy

Most Determined: Will Botten

Most Improved: Bryce Cooney

Golden Boot: 24 goals — Owain Boyle

Canteen organisers: Olivia Cooney and Alison Welsh.