Sport

Pigeons celebrate premiership season presentation dinner

By Yarrawonga Chronicle

Oct 3, 2023

Seniors award winners: Jamie Smyth Award - Mark Whiley, Best in Finals - Michael Gibbons, CT Runnalls (B&F) Award and Chronicle Award - Willie Wheeler, Runner Up Best and Fairest - Cam Wilson and Rising Star - Ned Pendergast. Photo by Les_Garbutt

On Thursday, September 28 in the wonderfully arranged Anzac Lounge at ClubMulwala, in excess of 200 Pigeons were in attendance for the 2023 Premiership Season Presentation Dinner.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Hosted by Phil Conway and arranged by life member and Club Secretary Vicky Long, the night honored the individual performers who contributed to such a fine year.

2023 was a year which saw all of the open aged teams make the top 3. Two losing on preliminary final day (the reserves and A Grade), one a Grand Final (B Grade) and the C Grade and Seniors capping off their seasons with premierships.

It was the club’s 3rd C grade flag and 6th seniors flag: ’59, ’89, ’06, ’12, and ’13 (and now 2023).

There were many special award winners but none more popular than the two additions to life membership.

Firstly, Pat Bye, who has been a trainer with the Pigeons for several years but his volunteering at the club goes far beyond the Saturday.

From ensuring every single item within the club is in its right place, to ensuring at every training session the players have everything and anything available.

Life Membership was awarded to Pat Bye. Photo by Les_Garbutt

Pat is a bedrock of the YFNC and life membership a great recognition of his years of service. Secondly, Matthew Grinter, 250 games, 4 X reserves premierships as coach and/or player in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

Further, and as detailed by Club President Ross Mulquiney, following Matt taking over responsibility for the Pigeons reserves following the 2009 season the 2nds have only missed playing in the Grand Final 4 times (with 3 of those 4 seasons still finishing in the top 3).

The success and depth of the YFNC playing list is in no small part due to Matt’s efforts.

Life Membership was also awarded to Matt Grinter. Photo by Les_Garbutt

In the netball the Tracey Gillies medal was won in landslide by super star defender Hannah Symes. Hannah has travelled from Albury all year to drive her Pigeons and the award was well deserved.

The B Grade was taken out by another returning mother in Caity Seymour and C Grade similar again with the experienced Alisha O’Dwyer taking the top gong.

In the juniors rising stars, Morgan McRae and Kendal Connell saluted.

On the football field first year player Ned Harvey took home the award for the Thirds and Max Hemphill took home the Reserves from Beau Seymour.

The Seniors was a tight affair with William Wheeler capping off his 2023 with both the CT Runnalls medal and the Chronicle Award.

The Godfather’s award was a joint award to recognise the impact of Phil Conway and Nathan Tresize upon junior football in the community and the Best Club Person of the Year, the John Dempsey Award was won some 41 years after her father won the award by Bridget Cassar.

This year the club also introduced a new award to recognise the contribution of Franc Vodusek with an award struck for one footballer and netballer that has demonstrated commitment to their sport and the club over their journey and through their on-field performances significantly impacted upon YFNC.

The inaugural winners were Mylah Kennedy and Ryan Bruce.

Life Membership

Pat Bye and Matt Grinter.

Seniors

CT Runnalls (B&F) Award and Chronicle Award - Willie Wheeler.

Runner Up Best and Fairest - Cam Wilson.

Jamie Smyth Award - Mark Whiley.

Best in Finals - Michael Gibbons.

Rising Star - Ned Pendergast.

Reserves