In a dramatic conclusion to a thrilling night at the Glasshouse, the Jack Douglas Medal for Best & Fairest in the SKOB Seniors was a tie between Mitch Brown and Billy Kanakis. Both players polled 76 votes and thus share the medal – an occurrence that was a repeat from 2017 when the medal was shared by Gerard Gleeson and Lachie Sullivan. In a further twist to the night – the Best and Fairest award in the SKOB Saints Premier team was also a tie between Bree Doyle and Alexandra Hynes.
The night was a great success with over 300 people gathered at the Glasshouse – the home of Collingwood FC – a point rammed home by Chrisso in his role as MC. He did manage to curb his enthusiasm for the black and white just enough to hold court and facilitate a smooth running of events that ensured plenty of air time for awards and acceptances whilst balancing this with opportunity for attendees to socialise and celebrate another wonderful season for SKOB.
There were highlights aplenty and all teams were equally acknowledged – not an easy task given there are nine of them and many winners to be announced. The night was kicked off with acknowledgement of recently anointed Life Members and the early reception for Robin Bowles became something of a theme for the evening. Any mention of the ever popular Bowlesy was met with huge cheers and most speakers did their best to work his name in all their speeches.
SKOB Masters were the first team announced and in their inaugural Premiership year it was a close count with Matt Shannon edging out 2 time winner Dave Sheehy by a single vote. It was then over to Masters player and co-coach of the Saints Blue team, Chris “Short and sweet” Morley to announce Alexandra Jones as the winner of the B&F with runner up Molly Howard and Samantha Atkins taking the Coach’s award. Maddy Pattison balanced her social media commitments this year to take out the goalkicking. Coach of the Saints Premier (Gold) Tom Purcell then gave a quick speech that reflected on his great pride in leading the SKOB Saints who have made such a brilliant impact to the Club in their brief exisitence with SKOB. Maragaret Gleeson capped a fantastic season and was recognised with the Coach’s award, whilst Bree Doyle and Alexandra Hynes tied for the newly named Lisa Ring Perpetual Trophy. Lisa was on hand to present the trophy and the two winners gave passionate and glowing acceptance speeches. The goal kicking award was won by Sarah Cameron who had another great year for the Saints.
Coach Tony “The General” Phillips was able to announce the winner of the under 19 Section 5 awards – amongst various references to his own playing career – with Ed Bourke the winner of the B&F, Ryan Dossitor runner up and the Coach’s award going to Hugh Gastin. Lewis Spinazolla was the leading goal-kicker. The Premier Reserve Under 19's had a great season that culminated with a Grand Final appearance and coach Phil McCabe thanked all his players for their efforts and the wild ride they were all a part of. Connor Delaney was the winner of the Best and Fairest in a close battle with Runner-Up Jack Davidson. Phil gave the Coach’s award to Liam O’Meara and Josh Willmott won the goal kicking award to round out a great year. In the Premier Under 19's team, the awards were taken out by Aiden Celini (B&F), Sam Milne (Runner Up), Nicholas Gauci (coach’s award) and Christian Masson Moyle won the goal kicking. It was a tremendously challenging year for the Under 19 Premier team. They fielded over 80 players throughout the season as they sacrificed their own team’s fortunes for the betterment of the Club. It was wonderful to see the significant number of Under 19 players in the Senior Premiership winning team and this contribution was rightly acknowledged on the night.
The Thirds Gold were on hand to celebrate winning back to back Premierships in Premier Thirds this season and Coach Jarrod McMaster was glowing in his praise for all his players. Michael Shanahan took out the Curly Allen trophy for Best and Fairest, with Troy McMaster as Runner Up and Jack Ryan taking home the Coach’s award. Ed Ring had an amazing season in front of the sticks and took out the goal kicking award for SKOB and for the competition, hauling in 63 majors including an incredible 15 in one match alone. The Thirds Green team had their own challenges this season with unavailability hurting them mid-season. Featuring mostly under 23 age players they were competitive throughout and Coach Ian Ledder was genuine in his acknowledgement of the players ability to overcome adversity. The Best and Fairest was taken out by Haydon Reinwald with Dominic Xaiz as runner-up (and contender for best name in the comp category). The Coach’s award for most improved player went to Nicholas Bird and the goalkicking award was won by James Jaensch – great names all of them.
In the reserves, Liam Mahoney won the Jack Chapman trophy for best and fairest despite playing many games in the Seniors this year. Karl Wissell was the Runner-up after an ultra consistent year returning from serious injury that took out his 2017 season. Timothy Tyler took the Coach’s award home whilst the ever popular Lachie Nankervis won the goalkicking award to rapturous applause from the gallery.
As mentioned at the beginning, the Seniors Trophy and Jack Douglas Medal was shared by Mitch Brown and Billy Kanakis who could not be split on 76 votes each. Sam Critchley, whose season was cruelly cut short with a bad injury in the Second Semi Final, won the Dennis Davies runner’s up trophy, whilst Lachie Farrugia capped an amazing debut season that saw him star in the Grand Final for the Seniors and take out the award for Best First Season player. The People’s Player, Shaun Kennedy, was recognised with the Coach’s award and Lachie Sullivan voted best player in the Finals. Billy Kanakis won the Des Shiel trophy for goalkicking (and also took out the VAFA competition goalkicking award) for his stellar season booting 60 goals. Coach Tom Williams gave a stirring speech (helped on by name dropping Robin Bowles’ for effect) and spoke of the incredible resilience that his players were able to demonstrate in this very challenging season. A total of 47 players represented the Seniors in 2018 – an extraordinary number in any year, let alone one that saw SKOB top the table at season's end, then go on and take the ultimate prize in the Grand Final for the second year running. Anthony Lynch gave an emotional speech, sending off Jay Schultz and Stephen Gilham and recognising their significant contribution to SKOB in such a short period. He spoke of the depth of leadership that resonates in the playing group and serves as a great portent for the future of the Club.
The evening was also a recognition of the contribution made off the field by many great volunteers and supporters. Kim Whelan was the recipient of the Stockland Volunteer of the Year award for a magnificent season whilst John and Kate Di Natale were joint winners of the Michael O’Kelly Trophy for Best Clubman Award. Their efforts not only this year, but for the past number of years have been tireless and the award is a right acknowledgement of their contribution. Congratulations go to the Di Natale’s and to all award winners, and our thanks go to Lisa Ginies for all her efforts in putting together another amazing event.
St Kevin’s Old Boys’ Football Club
2018 Football Awards
UNDER 19 SECTION 5 AWARDS
Best & Fairest: Edward BOURKE
Runner-up Best & Fairest: Ryan DOSSETOR
Coach’s Award: Hugh GASTIN
Leading Goalkicker: Lewis SPINAZZOLA (20 gls)
UNDER 19 PREMIER RESERVE (2) AWARDS
Best & Fairest: Connor DELANY
Runner-up Best & Fairest: Jack DAVIDSON
Coach’s Award: Liam O’MEARA
Leading Goalkicker: Joshua WILLMOTT (47 gls)
UNDER 19 PREMIER AWARDS
Best & Fairest:
(Les Radford Perpetual Trophy) Aidan CELLINI
Runner-up Best & Fairest: Sam MILNE
Coach’s Award: Nicholas GAUCI
Leading Goalkicker: Christian MASSON MOYLE (13 gls)
SKOB MASTERS AWARDS
Best & Fairest: Matthew SHANNON
Runner-up Best & Fairest: David SHEEHY
Coach’s Award: Jake IRELAND
Leading Goalkicker: Jesse SEVEN (28 gls)
SKOB SAINTS PREMIER RESERVE AWARDS
Best & Fairest: Alexandra JONES
Runner-up Best & Fairest: Molly HOWARD
Coach’s Award: Samantha ATKINS
Leading Goalkicker: Madeleine PATTISON (13 gls)
SKOB SAINTS PREMIER AWARDS
Best & Fairest: Bree DOYLE Equal
(Lisa Ring Perpetual Trophy) Alexandra HYNES B&F
Coach’s Award: Margaret GLEESON
Leading Goalkicker: Sarah CAMERON (16 gls)
THIRDS GREEN AWARDS
Best & Fairest: Haydon REINWALD
Runner-up Best & Fairest: Dominic XAIZ
Most Improved: Nicholas BIRD
Leading Goalkicker: James JAENSCH (20 gls)
THIRDS GOLD AWARDS
Best & Fairest: (John Allan Perpetual Trophy) Michael SHANAHAN
Runner-up Best & Fairest: Troy McMASTER
Coach’s Award: Jack RYAN
Leading Goalkicker: Edward RING (63 gls)
RESERVES AWARDS
Best & Fairest: (John Chapman Perpetual Trophy) Liam MAHONEY
Runner-up Best & Fairest: Karl WISSELL
Coach’s Award: Timothy TYLER
Leading Goalkicker: Lachlan NANKERVIS (19 gls)
SENIOR AWARDS
Leading Goalkicker: (Des Shiel Perpetual Trophy) Billy KANAKIS (63 gls)
Best Finals Player: Lachlan SULLIVAN
Best First Year Player: (Robert Hawkins Perpetual Trophy) Lachlan FARRUGIA
Coach’s Award: Shaun KENNEDY
Runner-up Best & Fairest (Denis Davies Perpetual Trophy) Sam CRITCHLEY
Best & Fairest: (Jack Douglas Perpetual Trophy)
Equal: Mitchell BROWN Billy KANAKIS
CLUB AWARDS
STOCKLAND VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD: Kim WHELAN
BEST CLUBMAN AWARD: John & Kate DI NATALE
LIFE MEMBERSHIP Robin BOWLES John McARDLE Hartley STONE
GAMES MILESTONES:
300 GAMES MEDALLION David SHEEHY
250 GAMES MEDALLION John FOGARTY Anthony LYNCH
150 GAMES MEDALLION
David MAKOHON Jarrod NASH Karl WISSELL
100 GAMES MEDALLION
Paul DI NATALE Samuel DOYLE Julian GAMBARO
Gerard GLEESON Billy KANAKIS Shaun KENNEDY
Luke McDONELL Jack MURPHY CRUISE Henry PARKES
Nelson PRYOR Edward RING
50 GAMES
Thomas CORBOY Michael DAVY Michael Di NATALE William DOBLE Alex FAVALORO Jack GALE Brayden HAYES James JAENSCH Thomas KERR Harrison LAGASTES Liam MAHONEY Samuel McDONALD Thomas McDONALD Nicholas O’HALLORAN Haydon REINWALD Joshua SHANNON
VAFA AWARDSVAFA SENIORS BIG V REPRESENTATIVES:
William COATES Sam CRITCHLEY Gerard GLEESON
Billy KANAKIS Nicholas WOOD
WOMEN’S BIG V REPRESENTATIVE:
Sarah CAMERON Margaret GLEESON Ellie McLINDEN
VAFA UNDER 19 REPRESENTATIVE:
Sam BARNETT Cameron HODGES Ned REEVES
Michael ROMERO
PREMIER COACHES MVP AWARD: Mitch BROWN
WILLIAM BUCK PREMIER LEADING GOALKICKER: Billy KANAKIS (53 gls)
PREMIER THIRDS LEADING GOALKICKER: Edward RING (55 gls)
UNDER 19 PREMIER RESERVE B & F: Benjamin PEARCE
GRAND FINAL MEDAL – PREMIER SENIORS: Billy KANAKIS
GRAND FINAL MEDAL – PREMIER THIRDS: Zachary GINIES
GRAND FINAL MEDAL – MASTERS: Michael McCULLAGH
