Tara Murray
Dijana Vasilevska capped off a stunning first Western Region Football League season with Caroline Springs, claiming the league best and fairest award.
Vasilevska joined the Lakers from Melton in the Ballarat Football League, making an instant impact at her new club.
She would play 16 games as the Lakers capped off the division 1 season with their first premiership.
On Thursday night, Vasilevska was named the winner of the women’s division 1 best and fairest award.
Vasilevska finished on 17 votes, five clear of Manor Lakers Jaimi Paten. It was a good night for the Lakers women with Jacinta Kondis named the female rookie of the year.
Werribee Districts’ Dillon Viojo-Rainbow was named the winner of the Barry Priest Medal, for the best player in division 1.
He finished two votes clear of Caroline Springs’ Mitchell Bongiovanni with Altona’s Josh Bench one vote further back.
Vijio-Rainbow said he had no idea that he would be in contention for the medal until the last couple of rounds.
He said for him it was one of his best seasons in recent times.
“It’s been one of my better years since returning from the VFL,” he said. “I’m just going out and playing footy now and stringing games together this year.
“For me, I’m just enjoying football. I’m loving playing football like when I was 13, 14.”
Four Caroline Springs players finished in the top 10 with Liam Read, Max Tessari and Ryan Allan also polling well.
Lakers’ Dylan Laurie was named male rookie of the year.
In other awards, Shaun Campbell won the division 2 best and fairest for a second straight year.
Campbell finished on 22 votes, five clear of Point Cook Centrals’ Haidyn Shade.
Wyndhamvale’s Mackenzie Parker and Nathan Williams finished a further five votes back.
Campbell had earlier been named captain of the team of the year for a second straight season as well.
He guided his side to a grand final, which she lost to Point Cook Centrals.
In division 3, Albanvale’s Liam Montrose won the division 3 best and fairest on 17 votes, three votes clear of teammate Reece Duffield.
Braybrook’s Nicholas Papakalodoukas was a further vote back in third, while Brookers premiership captain Aidan O’Rafferty finished fourth.
In the women’s division 2 competition, Wyndhamvale’s Mariah Burton was the runaway winner on 25 votes.
Point Cook Centrals’ Madeline Johnson finished runners up on 16 votes. West Footscray’s Kathleen Gannon finished third, while Caroline Springs’ Kiera Whiely and Caitlyn Volpe rounded out the top five.
In other awards, the Suns Dean Cachia was named senior coach of the year while Williamstown Juniors Ellyse Gamble was named the female coach of the year.
Point Cook Centrals’ Rebecca Hicks won the division 1 netball best and fairest award, while Point Cook Centrals’ Te Pono Aukaha won the netball division 2 award.
