Sport
30 August, 2024
HDFNL's top young guns recognised at junior best and fairest presentation
HDFNL's junior best and fairest recognised.
The Horsham District Football and Netball League celebrated its stars of the future on Monday, August 26, at the association's junior best and fairest presentation night.
After 18 weeks of home and away action, the votes have been counted and the best young footballers and netballers have been recognised.
Football
The Under 17's award went to Pimpinio's Austin Simpson with 31 votes and a 2.21 match rating.
In his third year pulling on the yellow and black in Pimpinio's under 17s squad, Simpson played 15 games for the Tigers.
He kicked 19 goals for Pimpinio and missed his side's best players on only one occasion.
Simpson was sure to enjoy all the football he could in 2024, having also played for the HDFNL's Rupanyup, and the WFNL's Dimboola and Minyip Murtoa.
And, he was selected in the HDFNL's under 17s interleague side that took on the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football and Netball League in June.
Polling 23 votes, with a match rating on 1.92, Rupanyup's Riley Downer was recognised as the league's best and fairest runner up.
Laharum's Chase Whelan earned the best and fairest for the league's under 14 grade with 37 votes.
Whelan played 17 games in the Demons' colours in 2024, kicked 53 goals in the grade and didn't miss his side's best players.
He also played 10 games in the Demons under 17 squad through the year, where he was named among the side's best three times.
And, while Laharum had the bye in round 10, Whelan found himself a game for Natimuk United.
He was also a standout in the HDFNL's interleague squad.
Kalkee's Jye Dolan polled 35 votes to earn the grade's runner-up trophy.
Netball
Harrow Balmoral's Tara McIntyre was awarded the HDFNL 17 & under best and fairest after polling 30 votes, with a match rating of 2.00, through the 2024 season.
McIntyre played 15 games in the blue and white junior side in 2024 and shot 324 goals.
She also stepped into the A grade squad regularly, playing 16 games.
With 27 votes, Taylors Lake's Lilly Weir was named as the grades runner-up.
Rupanyup's Phoebe Downer was named as the 15 & under best and fairest.
Through 15 games, Downer polled 30 votes as a captain of the Panthers line up.
She also played 16 games in Rupanyup's B grade line up.
Pimpinio's Ruby Williams was the runner-up with 29 votes.
And, Natimuk United's Greta Blake polled 34 votes to earn the league's 13 & under best and fairest.
Blake played 17 games for the Rams 13 & under side in 2024, as well as four 15 & under games and three C reserve games.
Kaniva Leeor United's Pippa Vivian was awarded the runner-up trophy with 31 votes.