From left: Narre Warren dynamos Guy Miller and Ben Wragg shared third spot in the under 16 Division One Dandenong By Marc McGowan
NARRE Warren Junior Football Club almost pulled off a remarkable treble at the Dandenong District Junior Football League best and fairest count at Sandown Racecourse on Friday night.
Only Noble Park’s Jack Coutts could prevent a clean sweep of the under 16 Division One award as Narre Warren filled the minor best and fairest placings.
Long-kicking left-footed midfielder Josh Holden finished runner-up, while team-mates Guy Miller and Ben Wragg were tied in third position.
All three are in the Dandenong Stingrays’ development squad and will be looking to survive the cut over the coming months to play in the TAC Cup under 18 competition next season.
Narre Warren under 16 Division One coach, and father of Josh, Dean Holden was thrilled for his players and believes they have bright futures.
“They’re all fairly even, to be quite frank, and are all giving themselves a good opportunity,” he said.
“They will at least play local senior footy – there is no doubt about that – but how far they take their footy will come down to how much they develop over the next few years.”
Narre Warren also achieved success with Dillon McGee, whose 34 goals earned him the goalkicking title, shared with Hampton Park’s Adam Read, in the under 16 Division Two competition.
Other local goalkicking winners were Fountain Gate’s Brad Wing and Hampton Park’s Travis Dyke.
Hampton Park enjoyed a fruitful night, with Brady White coming equal first in the under 16 Division Two best and fairest and Shaun Dekkers storming into third place in the under 15 Division Two count.
Hallam’s Justin Tavae, Narre North Fox Jacob Matwijkiw and Berwick’s Alex Bertucci shared third in the under 15 Division One category with Beaconsfield’s Patrick Chin.
But arguably the most impressive individual performance in the region this year has been under 15 Division Two best and fairest winner Bertrand McGaw, who won his count by seven votes.
Mossgiel Park on-baller McGaw did not stop after the home and away rounds, however, and racked up best-on-ground medals in both his club’s semi-final and preliminary final wins to lift it into the grand final this weekend.
