Logan O’Connell-Webb with her back-to-back South East Juniors best and fairest awards. 87001 Picture: JARROD POTTER
By JARROD POTTER
WITH eight brothers to sharpen her skills against, it’s no surprise that Endeavour Hills’ junior superstar Logan O’Connell-Webb claimed her second South East Juniors League best and fairest award last week.
Logan, from Narre Warren South, claimed her second league award with 21 votes, ahead of Hampton Park’s Emily Browning, to make it a girls’ quinella in the under-12s competition – which is possibly a state-first in any Victorian league.
Her dad – Darrell – is also Logan’s coach and the pair helped move the Eagles from seventh to third in the space of a season.
“I wasn’t really aiming to win – I was aiming to win the premiership for my team,” Logan said. “My team finished third on the ladder and I think my brothers, my dad and my mum helped me a lot to get where I am right now.”
“I think the difference between the two awards is that last year’s one was more of an unexpected result and I would’ve loved for Emily to have won it as she’s really good.”
Importantly for Logan, she’s proud to win the awards, but doesn’t think that she is any better than her opponents or team mates.
“I put 100 per cent in and I’m not better than everyone else in my league, but maybe I stand out because of some of the things I do,” Logan said.
“I share the ball around, I’m not too sure, but I think everyone is equal and everyone has a different skill.
“Back-to-back I just feel so proud, not of the fact that I won, but of the fact that other people in my family are proud of me.”
When it comes into existence, Logan’s dream is to play in the upcoming AFL Women’s competition and would also love to play for Victoria.
“My dream is to play AFL Women’s football when it is available in 2020 or 2018 – I’d be really proud if I was able to make it into there,” Logan said.
“I’d like to get into a girl’s Victorian team representing my state and my family as they’re the people that really got me where I am.”
The presentation nights were held last week with winners from clubs from Tooradin to Parkmore across the association.
Parkmore Pirates’ under-13s player Robert Lega-Frost won the Lindsay Patching Medal for most votes polled in the season accruing 28.
The top-age best and fairest awards went to Lauren Hojnacki (Youth Girls), Berwick’s Jake Wilson (Under-16 Premier) and Noble Park’s Murat Pekin (Under-16).
The league also announced the first four inductees to their Hall of Fame.
Max Madeley, a former administrator, secretary and president who had nearly 40 years of service to the league, AFL umpiring legend Bryan Sheehan and former AFL playing greats David Neitz and Glenn Archer were the first four people inducted.
