Myrtleford’s Darcy Chellew snared the league’s Rising Star award last night.
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The Year 12 student beat the quality field of team-mate Will Quirk, Yarrawonga’s Matt Casey, Albury forward Rhys King and Corowa-Rutherglen’s Jed Griffin for the Richard Hamilton Medal.
The Saints were unable to field an under 18 team this season, but it allowed greater opportunity for the wingman to shine at the top level.
Chellew joined captain Matt Dussin as the club’s most consistent player over the first month, starring in the round four win over Wangaratta Rovers.
“The pressure is a lot harder, so you’ve got to cope with that, but I’m really enjoying it,” he said at the time.
Chellew showed tremendous poise, which is a wonderful trait, particularly in such a young player.
Meanwhile, Yarrawonga’s Indianna Frauenfelder claimed netball’s Rising Star award.
Frauenfelder debuted as a 14-year-old last year.
“Indianna was fantastic,” Pigeons’ coach Bridget Cassar said after the match.
“She plays goals in our 16s, but we brought her on to the midcourt, she stepped into the centre and she got a couple of turnovers defensively and just fed beautifully and found the right goalers at the post all the time.”
Frauenfelder also beat a top class field of North Albury duo Amelia Unthank and Elyse Boyer, Roo Zoe McLeish and Albury’s Bree Poole.
After that striking debut, the teenager continued her strong form this year, posting a round-high 38 goals in the round 12 thumping of Wodonga.
It’s been a rebuilding year for the Pigeons, who won’t be in Sunday’s grand final after 11 straight.
The loss and unavailability of so many premiership players pushed more responsibility on the likes of Frauenfelder and some of her younger team-mates.
After the home and away season, Frauenfelder had landed 263 goals from 355 attempts at the credible strike rate of 74 per cent.
Yarrawonga will look to stabilise its team next year after just three premiership players from 2017 contested the club’s last match, an upset loss to Albury, in the first semi-final.
Frauenfelder will be a key player next year.