Chris Febvre • December 10, 2021
OKFNL 2021 Season Awards
OKFNL 2021 Season Awards
Well, we finally got there. With 2021 throwing even more hurdles at us than 2020 in some regards, the Ovens and King FNL Board was pleased to see the 2021 season, while belatedly, celebrated.
The evening began with the presentation of the club champions for 2021 which went to Milawa FNC who enjoyed a very successful season, despite not getting any finals played.
The Board in 2021 decided to acknowledge the Minor Premiers for 2021 as a way to officially wrap up the season with Moyhu FNC taking home the Under 15s and C Grade Minor Premiers trophies, while Milawa FNC secured the trophies for B Reserve, B Grade and A Grade, as well as both the senior football and reserves football grade awards.
The night continued with four netball umpires which were badged during the year presented with their whistles in: Amber Finger, Kerri Michelini, Candy Weldon and Sarah Holmes-Brown.
In a change-up to years gone by, and without a Grand Final breakfast to acknowledge this season’s Life Members, the Life Members for 2021 were presented with their badges at the presentation night. Kevin Naish of Greta FNC, Les Goonan of North Wangaratta FNC, and Peter Ricardi of Bright FNC, along with currently serving OKFNL Board Members Stuart Hutchinson and Chairperson Peter Byrne.
Following these awards, it was time to move on to the individual player awards for season 2021:
NETBALL
Under 15s:
Most Valuable Player: Lily Boman, North Wangaratta FNC
Leading goal scorer: Kyia Wohlers, Moyhu FNC
Under 15s Best and Fairest: Kyia Wohlers, Moyhu FNC
Best and Fairest runner up: Ellie Miller, Moyhu FNC
It was a great year for Moyhu FNC’s junior grades, capped off with Kyia Wohlers excelling and taking home the top award, with runner up and friend Ellie Miller close by.
C grade: Most Valuable Player: Ebony Newton, Whorouly FNC
Leading goal scorer: Ebony Newton, Whorouly FNC
Flo Egan Medal winner: Tayha Wohlers, Moyhu FNC
Flo Egan Medal runner up: Charlotte Roberts, King Valley FNC
Moyhu FNC’s Tayha Wohlers replicated her sister’s feat from the lower grade to take out the win, narrowly ahead of King Valley’s Charlotte Roberts. Whorouly’s Ebony Newton was the MVP and the leading goal scorer in a promising start to her OKFNL netball career.
B Reserve: Most Valuable Player: Kate Armstrong, Bright FNC
Leading goal scorer: Kate Armstrong, Bright FNC
B Reserve Best and Fairest winner: Ellie Laffy, Milawa FNC
B Reserve Best and Fairest runner up: Jenna McIntyre, Milawa FNC
Milawa defenders Ellie Laffy and Jenna McIntyre dominated the defensive end of the court and capped off their dominance with a one-two finish in the B Reserve Medal count. Bright’s Kate Armstrong proved too strong around goals to cap off a great year in the shooting circle.
B Grade: Most Valuable Player: Jenna Brunner, Goorambat FNC and Hayley Cunningham, North Wangaratta FNC
Leading goal scorer: Sally Burgess, Benalla All Blacks FNC
Kath Dobson Medal, winner: Jessie Ellis, Benalla All Blacks FNC
Kath Dobson Medal, runner up: Sarah Mathews-Vincent, Milawa FNC
B Grade saw dual MVP’s in Jenna Brunner and Hayley Cunningham, while Benalla’s resurgence saw Sally Burgess take out the goal scoring and Jessie Ellis wrap up the Kath Dobson Medal in her first year of senior netball.
A Grade: WAW Credit Union Most Valuable Player: Ebony Allen, Whorouly FNC and Casey Brown, North Wangaratta FNC
Leading goal scorer: Sarah Bond, Tarrawingee FNC
Fay Morgan Medal, winner: Kyra Hunt, Milawa FNC
Fay Morgan Medal, runner up: Maddie Canning, Tarrawingee FNC
A grade saw Kyra Hunt take out her second Fay Morgan Medal, overtaking a fast starting Maddie Canning of Tarrawingee. MVP honours were again shared between Ebony Allen and Casey Brown, while Tarrawingee shooter Sarah Bond dominated in the circle for the Bulldogs in 2021.
FOOTBALL
Reserves: Most Valuable Player: Jamie Berry, North Wangaratta FNC, Damiun Cassidy, Greta FNC and Jack Stevenson, Milawa FNC
Leading Goal Kicker: Gene Marek, Whorouly FNC
Ross Schutt Medal, winner: Daniel Hogarth, Tarrawingee FNC
Ross Schutt Medal, runner up: Jack Stevenson, Milawa FNC
Tarrawingee’s Daniel Hogarth dominated for the Bulldogs all season and was a worthy winner of the Ross Schutt Medal, while Jack Stevenson of Milawa was runner up and one of three players named MVP for the reserves grade in 2021.
Seniors: Most Valuable Player: Ben Clarke, Milawa FNC
Leading Goal Kicker: Daniel Cassidy, Greta FNC
Clyde Baker Medal, winner: Sean Campitelli, Bonnie Doon FNC and Paul Harrison, Bright FNC
Clyde Baker Medal, runner up: Ben Clarke, Milawa FNC and Jackson Hourigan, Benalla All Blacks FNC
In a thrilling count, which saw Sean Campitelli of Bonnie Doon surge out to a comfortable lead early in the season, Bright FNC’s coach Paul Harrison dragged him back in the last four games of the season to see two winners crowned Clyde Baker Medallists in 2021.
This pre season Nines is coming to the OKFNL. A great opportunity for OKFNL clubs to connect with local junior footballers and introduce them to their club ahead of the 2026 season. Local OKFNL clubs can enter teams of 9-12 players, with prizes and giveaways for clubs who attract the most junior footballers, most registrations across teams and team spirit on the day! When - Sunday 16th of November Where - Wareena Park, Wangaratta Time - 10am to 4pm Cost - $350 per team (approx $35 per player) Ages - 16+ For more information on Nines you can check out all the details here - https://play.afl/play/afl-nines To enter a team or find out more please contact Daniel Saville (OKFNL Ops Manager) - okfnloperations@gmail.com
The 2025 North East Border V Line Cup teams have been selected, with Division One and Two boys teams and the girls teams preparing to compete in Ballarat. AFL North East Border would like to thank all the coaches and support staff who have been working tirelessly over the past two months preparing the squads to compete at the carnival in Ballarat on the 23rd and 24th of September. The NEB teams will compete against the Goulburn Murray teams on Tuesday the 23rd at Mars Stadium, before taking on the Greater Western Victoria teams on Wednesday 24th at City Oval. Please check out the AFLNEB Facebook and Instagram pages to follow the action!
Ben has been involved with the local Wangaratta Auskick centre for five years and the coordinator for four of those, the exciting announcement was announced at the allocation night for Auskickers graduating to the Wangaratta and District Junior Football League in front of local Auskickers, parents and local WDJFL Clubs. The prize for the award is a grand final weekend experience including three nights' accommodation in Melbourne, a ticket to the Welcome to Melbourne function, attendance at the grand final parade, and a reserve seat ticket to the 27 September grand final. Over his time, Ben has secured significant sponsorship for the program; has initiated the all-girls' group; provides a support network for smaller centres across Wangaratta and surrounding regions; contributes to community events like allocation night and puts in a heap of extra work with the allocation process; organises half-time Auskick games at local football league matches; and, of course, the countless hours spent organising jumpers, certificates, equipment and everything in between, year after year. Wangaratta is regularly one of the biggest centres in the state, if not the nation, and this year was the biggest in Victoria. That, as you can imagine, makes it almost a full-time commitment, year-round. A huge congratulations to Ben from everyone at AFLNEB!
