PAFC Newsletter 26, 2022

PRAHRAN JUNIORS GRADUATES CLASH IN AFL GRAND FINAL

(Poster artwork by Stay Stoked Media)

GEELONG speedster Max Holmes and gun Sydney on-baller James Rowbottom may be rivals in Saturday’s AFL grand final but they share a bond- both are products of Prahran Football Club Juniors.

Holmes, in a well documented race against time to take his place on Saturday following a hamstring injury scare in the preliminary final, played with Prahran from Under 12s to Under 15s while Rowbottom can boast an astonishing juniors record.

In six years from Under 9s in 2009 to Under 14s in 2014 he won the club best and fairest every year, a sure sign of a rising star of the future

Both boys played under director of coaching Wayne Oswald who described the occurrence of two former Prahran juniors in a grand final clash as “incredible.’

“It’s great for the club. Max was always a star, he won best and fairests and James was a stand out in his team,’’ he said.

Rowbottom is nephew of Channel 7 grand final commentator and former Prahran coach Brian Taylor.

FOOTNOTE: James Rowbottom’s sister Charlie, No 1 draft pick in AFLW, was awarded 3 votes for Gold Coast in last Saturday's Herald-Sun award voting while Abbie McKay, drafted from Prahran juniors, received 3 votes for Carlton AFLW.

Max Holmes in his Prahran juniors days

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION VAFA DIVISION 1 MEDAL VOTERS

PRAHRAN Assumption had four of the top 11 vote winners, equal with premiers PEGS, in the VAFA Division 1 Pepper Medal announced on Wednesday night.

Top vote winner was Rory Brodie (pictured below) with 14, an astounding feat as he only played 11 games before being sidelined with a knee injury which surely cost him victory such was his early season dominance.

Dual competition winner James Musster was again popular with umpires polling 13 votes with teammate Shaun Chapman while Basil Cleary Medallist and Two Blues best and fairest Matthew Clifford polled 12 votes.

Leading vote winners were:

Other PAFC players to vote were:

5- Joe Whiting

3- Jake Stent-Powell

2- Beau Adams, Jesse Waters

1-   Jayden Williams, Zac Podmore

PRAHRAN JUNIORS AWARDS

Last Sunday the Club joined together for the final official event at Toorak Park for season 2022 and announced the winners of each team’s Best & Fairest and Club awards.

The Club award winners were:

1. RH Minter Memorial Trophy - awarded to the person judged the Best Junior Club Person for their contribution to their team, other players/teams or the Club- Pia Juricic and Billy Martin.

2. Peter Spargo Cup - awarded to a person within the club, be they a volunteer, coach, or official for outstanding service to the club and the community-  Dror Erez.

3. Jamie Gray Cup - awarded to the person at the Club displaying best governance/ commitment/ communication/ organisation such as a team manager, coach or assistant- James Noonan.

4. Pam Crewes Award- this trophy is awarded to the most promising footballer and this year's winner is Oscar Cheetham (U 15s)

5. Sam McKay Trophy- this trophy is awarded to the B&F winner in the oldest girl's team and will be announced by the team at their presentation which is still to be held.

6. Rupert Steele Trophy- this trophy is awarded to the B&F winner in the oldest boy's team) and was awarded to  was awarded to Marcus Middendorp (U 17s).

Last Wednesday night, the SMJFL held their end of season awards that included League awards as well as the League Best & Fairest awards for each competition. 

Prahran was very well represented (we think it is a record number!) and we congratulate our winners who were:

Sid McLachlan- Under 11 Div 1- Best & Fairest winner
Luca Piasente- Under 11 Div 6- Best & Fairest winner
Felix Shanahan- Under 11 Div 6- 2nd Best & Fairest winner
Eve Baillie- Under 13 Girls Div 2- 3rd Best & Fairest winner
Pippa Van der Venne- Under 13 Girls Div 2- 3rd Best & Fairest winner
Gaby Noonan- Under 13 Girls Div 2- Best & Fairest winner
Luke Politis- Under 13 Div 5- Best & Fairest winner
Stella Smith- Under 14 Girls Div 1- 3rd Best & Fairest winner
Pia Juricic- Under 16 Girls Div 1- Best & Fairest winner

We also congratulate Camilla Coventry for being named a finalist for the SMJFL Sportsmanship Award. Fantastic achievement!

The League also recognised our 10 year players: Anthony Liakakos, Fergus Willoughby- Gough, Freddie Bede, Jake McPhee, Will Simpson, Max Kaufman and Sam Erez.

TOORAK PARK UPDATE

THE final newsletter of the season will be next month when we learn more about our new venue for the 2023 season while the Toorak Park surface is being renovated.

All club memorabilia and records will be stored at Spectrum On Chapel while the new facility at Toorak Park is being built.