Stavrou, Malliaras claim highest honours on VAFA Awards Night

Old Xaverians captain, Marcus Stavrou, and Caulfield Grammarians midfielder, Irena Malliaras, capped off their sensational 2021 seasons as the best and fairest William Buck Premier players.

In last night’s final VAFA Awards Night of the year on RSN Carnival, Stavrou polled three votes in the final round to finish on 14 and edge past Collegians’ Dave Mirra (13) and Old Melburnians’ Gus Borthwick (12). In one of the most thrilling counts in recent memory, there were three lead changes in the final round with the top three all polling the maximum three votes.

Earlier in the night, Field’s star Irena Malliaras skipped away with her first William Buck Premier Women’s B&F, polling 16 votes ahead of SKOB’s Ellie McLinden (11) and Marcellin’s Olivia Dikranis (10). Malliaras was unstoppable in the first half of the season as she polled 13 votes in the first six rounds.

Brede Seccull (Old Haileybury) and Lewis Diggins (Beaumaris) tied on 17 votes for the GT Moore Medal in Premier B Men’s, becoming the first dual winners since Robert Lawson (Fawkner) and Lincoln Burns (Banyule) in 1993.

Mac Cameron delivered the performance of the night as the Monash Blues ruckman polled 23 votes from 10 games to dominate the Zachariah Medal count in Premier C Men’s.

In the women’s sections, it was Ainslee Elliot (Monash Blues) who kick-started a successful night for the Blues with the Premier B Women’s gong, while Adele Kerley (Mazenod) and Maddy Tilley (SBMT) were also dual winners in Premier C.

It was a SKOB double in the Premier Coaches MVP Award, with Josh Wallis and Bree Doyle catching the eye of the coaches. Doyle finished 13 votes ahead of teammate Jess Joyce, while Wallis beat Stavrou, Will Edwards (Caulfield), Dave Mirra and Tom Jok (SKOB).

The Mecwacare Men’s and Anytime Fitness Women’s Rising Stars were announced, with livewire forwards Eve Sheehan (MUWFC) and Ed Nichols (Old Melburnians) considered the best young talent in the competition. In his seven games, Nichols kicked 18 goals and polled six Woodrow votes. He slotted at least two goals in all but one game, including a five-goal haul against Uni Blues. Nominated in Round 4 following her match-winning performance against Fitzroy-ACU, Sheehan kicked six goals and was named in the best five times, polling eight votes in Premier B Women’s.

Finally, the best umpires were recognised for their outstanding season, with Daniel Silfo (Umpire of the Year) and Campbell Hymans (Most Promising Umpire) taking home the top gongs.

Award Winners

William Buck Premier Men’s: Marcus Stavrou (Old Xaverians) – 14

Premier B Men’s: Brede Seccull (Old Haileybury) & Lewis Diggins (Beaumaris) – 17

Premier C Men’s: Macgregor Cameron (Monash Blues) – 23

William Buck Premier Women’s: Irena Malliaras (Caulfield Grammarians) – 16

Premier B Women’s: Ainslee Elliot (Monash Blues) – 14

Premier C Women’s: Adele Kerley (Mazenod) & Madeleine Tilley (SBMT) – 14

Mecwacare Men’s Rising Star: Ed Nichols (Old Melburnians)

Anytime Fitness Women’s Rising Star: Eve Sheehan (MUWFC)

Premier Men’s Coaches MVP: Josh Wallis (St Kevin’s OB) – 50

Premier Women’s Coaches MVP: Bree Doyle (SKOB Saints) – 52

Umpire of the Year: Daniel Silfo

Most Promising Umpire: Campbell Hymans