Round 11 VAFA Men’s Rising Star: Maahi Patel

The VAFA congratulates Maahi Patel from Williamstown CYMS, who has been nominated as the Round 11 VAFA Men’s Rising Star.

Maahi (17 years old) made his senior debut in Round 10 and has kicked a total of four goals in his first two games. He then went on to represent the Big V Under 19’s side, which defeated the Goulburn Valley League on the weekend.

What the club said:

Maahi joined the CYs in 2025 as a 16-year-old, eager to challenge himself by stepping into our Under 19s program and testing his abilities at a higher standard.

A respectful young man, Maahi and his family have embraced the club and its supportive culture from day one. Currently in Year 12, he is balancing the demands of his studies with his football commitments.

“Supporting Maahi’s football journey has been a genuine collaborative effort. In 2026, he has balanced commitments with our U19s, his final year of school, and his first exposure to senior football. His progress is a testament to the hard work he put in over summer to improve his fitness and develop his overall skill set.

Maahi has been a key forward target for the U19s throughout the first half of the season, combining strong leading patterns with a safe pair of hands. He is always looking for ways to improve and is eager to learn, which makes him a pleasure to coach.

It has been incredibly rewarding to watch his development so far, and we’re excited to continue supporting him on that journey.”

Con Terzoglou (Senior Coach) & Dan Neave (U19s Coach)

Maahi joined the podcast last week – listen from 42 mins to hear from him.