LAURIMAR captain Mitch Thompson was named the most valuable player for division three of the Northern Football Netball League by the competition’s coaches at the Rosbrook Medal at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday night.
Thompson said it was a great honour to be recognised by the coaches that put so much time into to the game for the second consecutive year.
“The coaches are putting their 40-50 hours a week in and if they’re voting for you every week, that’s probably the highest acknowledgement you can get in footy and I appreciate every week that they take their time to put their votes in,” he said.
Thompson said despite the season being derailed by injuries heading into the finals, it was beneficial for the club’s younger players.
“We had some injuries coming into finals but I guess in hindsight, it’s good to get the run into the younger kids,” he said.
Mernda young gun Nicolas Aleksovski won the division two under 19 best and fairest by just one vote.
It was quite the achievement for the midfielder, having just played nine games in the under 19s.
“I expected to finish fifth but to get this award, I couldn’t be more proud. I put in hard work and played a lot of senior games as well but I’m over the moon, I’m stunned, I’m speechless,” he said.
“Individual awards are good, but the team that we had is unbelievable and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Aleksovski said his best performance of the season came against Eltham.
“It was a close game in the last quarter, we were down one and I kicked four goals in the last quarter to get us over the line,” he said.
Whittlesea Football Netball Club stalwart Rod Luscombe was honoured, winning the league’s Volunteer of the Year award.
Luscombe first became involved with the club in 1956, working his way through the junior ranks and eventually playing in three senior premierships.
His work behind the scenes includes maintaining the clubrooms, the bar, kitchen and liaising with all the other groups that use the Whittlesea Showgrounds throughout the year.
Luscombe said it was great to be recognised for his hard work over the years.
“It’s been 60 years I’ve been there. I started off playing football there and it’s just continued on from that. When I finished, I just kept working for the club. I love the club and that’s the way it is,” he said.
