It was a night to remember for many young Wimmera Football Netball League players, as the league hosted its annual junior vote count on Monday.

Nhill under-17 footballer Jobe Dickinson was crowned the competition’s best and fairest player, playing all 16 games and polling 24 votes to win comfortably from runner-up Monty Wynne of Horsham, who had 18 votes.

Horsham’s Max Bunworth polled 22 votes but was ineligible for the award, while Warrack Eagles player Hayden Polack also recorded 18 votes.

The 17-and-under netball count was closer, with Southern Mallee Thunder defender Taya Horman racking up 31 votes to narrowly edge out runner-up Horsham’s Sienna Manserra, who polled 29.

In third place was Horsham Saints’ Maddison Bethune, who recorded 27 votes.

The 15-and-under netball vote count was dominated by Horsham Saints goaler Lena Marshman, who polled a staggering 44 votes – 15 more than runner-up Ayva Mitchell of Stawell and 26 more than her team-mate Lani King, who finished third.

Chaz Smith took out the under-14 football award after a strong year for Horsham Demons, racking up 35 votes to win by five from Dimboola’s Reef Ward, with Nhill’s Charlie Bell a further vote behind in third place.

In the 13-and-under netball count Ruby Bethune nearly matched the effort of fellow Horsham Saint Marshman by polling 43 votes.

Bethune finished 13 votes clear of runner-up Piper Knorpp of the Warrack Eagles, and 17 votes ahead of Stawell’s Zahli Mellor, who was third.

The league also presented junior coach of the year awards for netball and football, with Southern Mallee Thunder’s Jayne Shannon named netball coach of the year and Horsham Saints’ Peter Kafegellis taking football coach of the year.

The final leaderboards for each age grade were –

Football

Under-17: Jobe Dickinson, Nhill, 24 votes; Monty Wynne, Horsham, 18; Hayden Polack, Warrack Eagles, 18; Luke Miller, Horsham Saints, 13; Aiden North, Horsham Saints, 11; Dah Bu Shwe Pay, Nhill, 11; Jack Harney, Stawell, 11; Cooper Preston, Warrack Eagles, 11. Ineligible: Max Bunworth, Horsham, 22; Ferrari Batsiua, Stawell, 14.

Under-14: Chaz Smith, Horsham, 35 votes; Reef Ward, Dimboola, 29; Charlie Bell, Nhill, 28; Ryder Hudson, Minyip-Murtoa, 27; Thomas Penny, Warrack Eagles, 25; Tom Collins, Stawell, 21; Billy Jenkins, Ararat, 18; Dane Paech, Dimboola, 14; Lincoln Tucker, Horsham, 13; LJ Kafegellis, Horsham Saints, 12; Patrick Harrington, Ararat, 12.

Netball

17-and-under: Taya Horman, Southern Mallee Thunder, 31 votes; Sienna Manserra, Horsham, 29; Maddison Bethune, Horsham Saints, 27; Zarli Knight, Horsham, 25; Lauren Clyne, Warrack Eagles, 20; Ruby Peters, Stawell, 18; Indy Ward, Dimboola, 18; Ava Koschitzke, Warrack Eagles, 15; Mikaela Wright, Minyip-Murtoa, 14; Ruby Wilson, Minyip-Murtoa, 14.

15-and-under: Lena Marshman, Horsham Saints, 44 votes; Ayva Mitchell, Stawell, 29; Lani King, Horsham Saints, 18; Evie Harrington, Ararat, 16; Marli Arnold, Minyip-Murtoa, 15; Lyla Barry, Dimboola, 14; Harmoni Bell, Warrack Eagles, 14; Abbey Wiedermann, Horsham, 13; Addison Lardner, Ararat, 12; Amelia Martin, Stawell, 12; Zara Polkinghorne, Nhill, 12; Bridie Price, Ararat, 12; Ruby Janetzki, Horsham, 12.

13-and-under: Ruby Bethune, Horsham Saints, 43 votes; Piper Knorpp, Warrack Eagles, 30; Zahli Mellor, Stawell, 26; Ivy Hofmaier, Horsham Saints, 24; Shilah Hiscock, Nhill, 23; Ayla Gunn, Warrack Eagles, 20; Giselle Clugston, Dimboola, 20; Ryder Thomas, Horsham, 17; Luella Burke, Horsham, 17; Matilda Egan, Stawell, 16.

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