Max Riley (middle) was named the Junee Jaguars most outstanding men’s player of 2023.
A big turnout of past and present players gathered for the Junee Jaguars’ end-of-season presentation at Junee Ex-Services Club.
With around 70 supporters in attendance, the club shined the light on their best and brightest players, along with the hard-working volunteers who make it all happen year in and year out. “It was a great night,” Junee men’s football coach Scott Mutimer said. “15 Life Members came back, which was great, and we had a good mix of the old and new crew. “We’re trying to get the old and new back together and gain momentum going into next season.” Mutimer, who stacked the deck, coaching the men’s Gardiner Shield and Blake Trophy teams, won the 2023 Coach of the Year award.
Max Riley was deemed the Most Outstanding Player in the men’s teams, and Mutimer said it was well-deserved recognition for a strong season in both grades. “Max played a lot of both grades for us, and he won the best and fairest in third grade and was second in the best and fairest counting for reserves,” Mutimer said. “He is a young fella that keeps improving, and it was really good to see him recognised for a strong season.” Amy Hanlon was named Most Outstanding Player in the women’s Leonard Cup side. “As far as I’m concerned, she has always been one of their better players, and there would have been a few in contention, but she is a worthy winner in my eyes.” It’s an exciting time to be a Jaguar, with the club preparing for the 2024 Football Wagga Wagga competition. While Junee is still some time away from fielding a men’s first-grade team in the Pascoe Cup competition, plans are in place to field a third men’s side, which will compete in the fourth-grade Nankivell Cup competition.
The club also hopes to build on a good platform in the women’s and field a Madden Shield reserve-grade team that complements the current Leonard Cup. “We’re still a year or two away from playing in the Pascoe Cup, but there has been some really good talk about fielding a fourth-grade team, which will add to our seconds and thirds,” Mutimer said. “If we can do that next year and keep building, the plan would be to try and get a Pascoe Cup team up and running the following year. “It’s important to have as many teams as we can, as it gives the juniors somewhere to go, and I’m sure having a fourth-grade team will attract a few older heads back to the game.” In more great news, the club is gearing up to host their popular six-a-side competition, which will commence on November 8 and run each Wednesday through to February 28.
The Junee Independent will have more on this competition and how to get involved in next week’s edition. With the 2023 winter season wrapped up and the summer competition set to kick off, the club is also setting their sights on 2024, with the Junee Jaguars Soccer Club hosting its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, November 9, at the Junee Ex-Services Club, commencing at 6 p.m. If you want to help out or get involved with the committee, it’s the perfect place to start.
2023 Jaguars award winners Leonard Cup Most Outstanding Player: Amy Hanlon Leonard Cup Player’s Player: Jasmine Phillips Leonard Cup Coach’s Award: Tootsie Lamb Leonard Cup Most Improved: Aimee White Leonard Cup Rookie of the Year: Siana Graham Men’s Most Outstanding Player: Max Riley Men’s Rookie of the Year: Jay Prior Gardiner Shield Player’s Player: Chris Sweeney Blake Trophy Player’s Player: Max Riley Gardiner Shield Most Im proved: Dylan Peters Blake Trophy Most Improved: Emerson Gill Gardiner Shield Coach’s Award: Lochie Phillipse Blake Trophy Coach’s Award: Bryce Flagg Club Persons of the Year: Annete Foley and Lochie Phillipse Coach of the Year: Scott Mutimer. Roy Woodall Player’s Medal: Ethan Sainsbury Genelle Keough Player’s Medal: Amy Hanlon and Prue Credlin.
