Club Warehouse Rising Star
The Club Warehouse Rising Star Award is presented at the end of the season with the winner coming from one of the 18 nominations over the course of the home and away season.
Below are this year's nominees for each round.
To see a complete list of past winners of the award 
click here.
Round 5 - Gerard Gleeson - St Kevin's OB
Gerard Gleeson, a versatile midfi elder, played in the 1st XVIII at St Kevin’s College in Year 10. He fi nished 4th in the Best & Fairest behind Tom Liberatore, Mitch Wallis (both AFL) and Dylan Conway (VFL). For the next 18 months Gerard was diagnosed with OP. Hartley Stone, his St Kevin’s coach, said “The determination he displayed throughout this period was of an exceptional level”. After success as a member of the APS Premiership side in 2012, he went straight to SKOBFC after a pre-season at Sandy Dragons. Daniel Harford, SKOB coach, says “Gerard has been enormously committed to improving his play since the day he arrived in preseason. For a 1st year school leaver, he has a body ready for Senior football and, with more time at the level to understand how important his mental preparation is, should have many fine years ahead of him”.
Round 4 - Jack Soloman - St Bernard's
Jack Solomon returned to form last week, kicking 6 goals against Collegians in a strong display at full forward for St. Bernard’s first XVIII. The 19 year old combined his physical strength with strong hands and quality finishing in an impressive display, albeit a last quarter team fade-out dampened what was a quality individual game from Jack. In the absence of Andrew Merrington, young Jack has been pivotal as a strong marking target deep as well as a lead up target for the improving Bernard’s team. Jack worked very hard in the pre-season to secure a spot with Essendon on their VFL list, and his efforts thus far in season 2013 reflect a growing maturity and improved fitness base, as well as the benefit of some 1:1 coaching from specialist coach, Dean Laidley. Congratulations from all at St Bernard’s on Jack’s nomination as this week’s VAFA Rising Star.
Round 3 - Ed Weatherson - Old Trinity
Ed came to Old Trinity arrived at the club from school in 2011 and in round 2 was promoted to the senior team against Old Xavs at just 17 year old, and most importantly Old Trinity won that day. Since then Ed has been a first XVIII regular barring small periods of injury and shows great leadership at 19 years old. Ed has now played 21 senior games and 13 at U19 level. This year he has played every game and with a strong pre season behind him has gone to the next level. Ed was our best player in Round 1 with 4 goals and also our best in Round 3. Ed is currently studying a Bachelor of Education and is the grandson of our former President, Captain and founder of the club John Weatherson and he is proud to continue the Weatherson tradition. Old Trinity are delighted that Ed has been nominated as the rising star.
Round 2 - Chris Mangoni - St Bedes/Mentone Tigers
Young Chris Mangoni has certainly made a big impact on his introduction into VAFA Football and St Bedes/Mentone Tigers. Last year's Sandringham Dragons Captain has led from the front in the 2 games so far to be the Tigers best player on both occasions. In the character building win last Saturday, Chris was given the task of curbing the influence of Old Carey's Woodrow Medallist Cam Howat, a job he did with great aplomb, a job that went a long way to securing victory for his side. A very likeable young man, and popular amongst his peers, all at SBMT look forward to the youngster's continued involvement with our club as he grows and develops his football career. Well done Chris a most worthy winner of the Round 2 Rising Star Award.
Round 1 - Josh Ward - Beaumaris
If you want to find a player who gets the best out of himself, then look no further than Beaumaris youngster Josh Ward. Josh played all his junior football at Beaumaris, starting in the under 9s, and from an early age turned himself into a team leader through his ferocious attack at the ball. This eventually got him into the Sandringham Dragons’ TAC squad, but in the very last cut made, the coaches told Josh he wasn’t required. Despite this disappointment, Josh set about training even harder. Every day in the off-season he’d do something, whether it be a gym session or going on a run. A scholarship to Mentone Grammar at the start of 2011 saw Josh briefly play in that school’s First 18. He later transferred his schooling to Brighton Grammar and when his school wasn’t playing, Josh returned to Beaumaris where senior coach Jason Mifsud had no hesitation in putting him into the seniors, despite the fact that Josh was still a qualified U19s player. John was a member of the Beaumaris senior team that played in last year’s Premier B grand final and last weekend made his Premier debut. Josh is extremely fit this year benefitting from doing a pre-season at Port Melbourne. Josh may be required to play games at Port, but after his display in round 1, Beaumaris will certainly be hoping that he spends more time at Beauie and not the Burra.
