A teenager stabbed to death at the weekend comes from a family with strong ties to the North Wangaratta Football-Netball Club.
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Jaxen Henderson-Gillespie died on Saturday night following an altercation with another 18-year-old from Wangaratta, Zachary Johnson.
Johnson appeared appeared briefly in Wangaratta Magistrates' Court on Monday.
He has been charged with one count of murder and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
Johnson will re-appear in court on December 2 with no application for bail made by his solicitor on Monday.
North Wangaratta Football-Netball Club president Allan Ely said the club had been left in a state of shock following Henderson-Gillespie's death.
He said Henderson-Gillespie had returned to Wangaratta to play for the Hawks last year before the season was shutdown due to COVID-19.
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Henderson-Gillespie had played seven matches at reserves level this year with the Hawks who were due to play in a finals match last Saturday before the latest lockdown hit regional Victoria was announced.
Family members have had a long association with the the Ovens and King Football-Netball League club in various positions including coaches and committee members and life members.
"He grew up as a young fellow around the club," Mr Ely said.
"His family have been involved with the club for a long, long time.
"He was a really good kid, happy, cheeky.
"It is just a big shock and I think people are still in shock.
"I don't think it has hit a lot of people as of yet and obviously with COVID it is making it hard for people to get together."
A post on the North Wangaratta Football-Netball Club Facebook page said: "Our hearts are heavy. Our club has lost one of its own."
Wangaratta mayor Dean Rees said he knew Mr Henderson-Gillespie's father and was shocked to learn of the fatal incident.
Cr Rees on Monday visited a makeshift memorial with up to 40 bouquets of flowers along the fence line near the scout hall on Vincent Road where the tragedy occurred.
"Stay safe and look after those that are close to you, tell them you love them every day because you don't know how short life can be for some people," Cr Rees said.
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