Sunraysia football crowns junior best-and-fairest winners

IRYMPLE’S Archer Hammond still has unfinished business this season after taking out the Sunraysia under-18 football best and fairest award on Monday night.

The talented youngster, who is also part of an emerging star on the basketball court with the Mildura Heat, finished on 20 votes to hold on by three from Robinvale Euston’s Dante Brigante.

Hammond made his winning move between rounds 13 and 15 when he polled eight of a possible nine votes as his Swallows team locked in top spot.

Hammond will hope to add a premiership medal to the collection as Irymple start their under-18 finals campaign this weekend when they take on Robinvale Euston in the second semi-final. Mildura and South Mildura clash in the first semi-final on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the under-16 football vote count saw a tie between Mildura’s Zac De Rosa and Robinvale Euston’s Pasquale De Luca.

The pair finished the thrilling count on 19 votes each, with De Luca’s Eagles’ team mate Matthew Camera four votes back on 15.

The two young guns will square off on Saturday in the second semi-final when the top-placed Eagles take on the Demons between two of the traditional powerhouse junior clubs.

The under-14s provided a thrilling count with some big numbers posted by four emerging stars of the competition.

Wentworth’s Russell Clark was crowned the winner with a whopping 34 votes, which included 10 best on grounds, to defeat South Mildura’s Armano-Jacom Scullino, who was named best on ground on eight occasions for the Bulldogs this year.

Irymple’s Sam Tassone also enjoyed a big night, posting 29 votes with six best on ground performances, while Red Cliffs’ Tom Connelly polled votes in an incredible 13 games to finish with 27 votes in an ultra consistent season.

See the full vote counts in Wednesday’s Sunraysia Daily