Irrewarra-Beeac star Tyler Flanigan was crowned the 2023 Mahoney Medallist at last night's vote counts at the Colac RSL. Flanigan ran away with the count winning by 5 votes over Colac Imperials Campbell Tanis with Imps Campbell Scott and Otway Districts Sam Mulgrew finishing a vote behind in third.
Scott was recognised for his outstanding season winning the Max Gray Memorial Award for the best Under 21 player.
The Val Russell Medal count was convincingly taken out by Alvie's Ruby Bowers 9 votes clear of Irrewarra-Beeac's Grace Garner.
Bowers polled 35 votes out of a possible 54 in a dominant season for Alvie who take on Irrewarra-Beeac in this weekend’s Grand Final.
The Emma McVilly Award was awarded to Leah Perkins from Colac Imperials.
The full leaderboards can be found below.
Football
CDFNL Colac RSL Seniors
Best and Fairest - Tyler Flanigan (Irrewarra-Beeac)
Runner Up - Campbell Tanis (Colac Imperials)
Leading Goal Kicker - Dominic Dare (Alvie) - 113 Goals
We are thrilled to congratulate all the players who have been crowned as winners at last night's Colac & District FNL Football and Netball Best and Fairest Counts.
The best and fairest awards include votes from all matches with the accumulated votes determining the winner(s) for each division.
The list of winners for competitions and overall leaderboard can be found below.
Netball
13 & Under
Best & Fairest - Molly Fish (Western Eagles)
Runner Up Best & Fairest - Luella Hutchinson (Birregurra)
Senior Colac Imperials Football Netball Coach Paul Liistro has been selected as the Victorian Winner Tackle Your Feelings Community Champion.
In 2022 Paul was approached to run a Tackle Your Feelings Session for coaches, with a number of COVID interruptions the session was postponed. Paul then approached Leisure Networks at the commencement of the 2023 season to re-engage the conversation in running a session. The session went ahead on Monday April 17 and was attended by 17 football and netball coaches. It was at this session that Paul’s true leadership stood out.
Leisure Networks then approached the club to run a “Player” session. Something again that Paul accepted with arms wide open. The session went ahead on Tuesday August 1st with 31 players in attendance. Again at this session Paul led his players from the front and initiated a number of conversations around mental health that the players embraced and shared their own vulnerabilities.
“The Colac Imperials Football Netball Club have never seen our club so strong off the field. The is solely due to the appointment that was made 4 years ago, Paul Liistro as our Senior Coach. Paul’s strengths are in the way he develops and maintains close relationships from our youngest members of our club to our oldest and he actually cares. Our clubs on field success this year has been due to the care he shows every individual at our club.” Carl Winchcomb – Colac Imperials Football Netball Club President
Paul will be presented with a plaque along with a number of Tackle Your Feelings footballs for winning the state award.
We congratulate Paul on winning the state award and wish him well as he goes up against the other states for the national award and 2 Grand Final tickets.
A further thank you to Leisure Networks and Tackle Your Feelings for their coordination of the program in the Barwon region.
The TYF Community Champion Award are based on the following criteria:
Driven engagement with Tackle Your Feelings at club level
Supported the mental health of a person or group of people
Promoted a culture of safety and inclusion
Implemented initiatives to develop mental health infrastructure within the club (eg. Mental health committee)
Shared their own experiences in a safe way to help others
As finals excitement has well and truly set in over the Barwon region, this coming Sunday is an extraordinarily special day for one player in particular.
South Barwon senior netballer Olivia Cameron is playing her 300th A Grade netball game. This is an incredible achievement and a product of years of hard work and commitment to the game.
Former player and coach Ainsley Corrigan highlights Olivia’s unique combination of skills and attributes that have led her to this milestone.
“Olivia would have to be one of the most versatile, consistent and creative players to have played A Grade netball. That combined with her fierce competitiveness has made her unstoppable over many years,” expressed Corrigan.
Sunday marks the most recent of many successful career milestones for Olivia.
Starting at South Barwon Football Netball Club in 2002 for the Under 13s, Olivia received the League Best and Fairest Award and her team finished undefeated, taking out the top spot in the Grand Final that year.
In 2004, Olivia played her first senior netball game for B Grade and by 2005, Olivia was not only playing for the Under 17s but made her A Grade debut that same year. Both teams won the Grand Final in both 2005 and 2006.
Olivia’s A Grade contributions continued as she remained a key player in every Grand Final from 2007 to 2016, with only 5 of these Grand Finals ending in a loss.
Outside of her achievements at South Barwon, Olivia represented her school in the Victorian Netball, and Basketball, Championships at both junior and senior levels.
Olivia was selected as a Rep player for the Geelong Football Netball League and played for the Geelong Cougars in the Victorian Netball League.
More recently, Olivia stepped away from the court to take time to bring her beautiful daughter Maggie into the world.
Olivia is known for being a great role model to those around her and is a wonderful club person whose contributions are felt on and off the court.
Current teammates Caitlin Hoiles and Tyra Fallon hail Olivia as a true inspiration who lends herself completely to the game and is generous in sharing her passion and knowledge with others.
“She is one of the most talented players that I have had the privilege to watch and play alongside. She is super versatile and a loyal club player,” said Hoiles.
“Liv is such a fierce, talented and knowledgeable player and I’m so grateful to be able to learn off and play alongside someone like Liv. She is an amazing leader with a great passion for the game. She is an inspiration and role model to all and is also always up for a laugh and a bit of fun!” told Fallon.
South Barwon’s A Grade is up against St Joseph’s in this Sunday’s GNFL Semi-Final at West Oval Reserve.
As told by Stacey Dodds, former coach and teammate, Olivia’s extensive finals experience along with her strong physicality and adaptability on the court will be sure to be an asset for South Barwon on Sunday.
“[Olivia is] one of the most determined players I have had the privilege of playing alongside and coaching. Olivia puts her body on the line every week and would do anything for her teammates. It doesn’t surprise me that she’s playing her 300th A Grade game this week as she is also a very talented player that can slot into almost any position according to where her team needs her,” stated Dodds.
Ruby Watson, another former teammate, praises Olivia’s on-court intelligence.
“Olivia Cameron is one of the smartest netballers I’ve ever played with. She somehow knows what you’re going to do, even before you know what you’re going to do,” said Watson.
Olivia’s former coach Renee Lane also acknowledges Olivia’s inner determination and pure talent.
“Versatile, agile and doggedly determined. A Legend of the mighty Swans and a pleasure to play alongside and coach,” stated Lane.
Reaching 300 A Grade games is an outstanding milestone that deserves to be widely celebrated. Congratulations Olivia on a fantastic achievement!