WAVES AFL CLUB HONOURS OUTSTANDING YOUTH AND JUNIOR PLAYERS AT 2023 AWARDS PRESENTATION

Beach 365, September 11, 2023, The Waves AFL Club came alive with excitement as they celebrated their young talents and dedicated volunteers during the annual 2023 Junior and Youth Awards ceremony. Held once again at the picturesque Beach 365, the event was a testament to the club’s commitment to nurturing young talent and fostering a sense of camaraderie within their ranks.

This year’s recipient of the prestigious Mark Veit Volunteer of the Year award was none other than Kieranne Whennan. In her very first year with the club, Whennan’ s unwavering dedication and countless hours of service were recognized and applauded. Her contribution extended from the junior ranks right through to the senior grades, making her a true asset to the Waves AFL Club.
This year’s ceremony saw the introduction of the new “Player of the Carnival” award for juniors, generously donated by the Hayhoe family. This award aimed to recognize and honour the young players who had demonstrated commitment, leadership, and sportsmanship on and off the field during the end of year junior carnival. The winners of the junior awards were as follows:
Under 8’s Category:
Coaches award: Jaxon McPhail
Most improved: Jobe Leckie
Player of the Carnival: Jack Patterson

Under 10’s Blue Category:
Coaches award: Tahlia Cook
Most improved: Mason Abbott
Player of the Carnival: Harrison Wheeler

Under 10’s Yellow Category:
Coaches award: Chaz Doherty
Most improved: Zyric Brown
Player of the Carnival: Hudson Perry

The Under 12’s team, which not only made it to the finals this year but also stepped up on multiple occasions to support the Under 14 side, a special thanks goes out for their exceptional contributions. Hudson Wisewould emerged as the Best and Fairest player, with Jordan Moriarty leading the goalkicking charts with an impressive 9 goals at the presentation.
Under 12’s Category:
Most improved: Billy Cameron
Coaches award: Jack Booth
Runner up Best and Fairest: Jordan Moriarty and Evanis Johnson
Best and Fairest: Hudson Wisewould
Leading goal kicker: Jordan Moriarty 9 goals

The Under 14’s team, known for their tenacity and grit throughout the 2023 season, should be praised for their unwavering commitment and sportsmanship. Award presentations saw Callum Charlesworth secure the Best and Fairest award, while Edric Brown led the goalkicking tally with 6 goals.
Under 14’s Category:
Most improved: Pheonix McEwan
Coaches award: Koby Gallop
Runner up Best and Fairest: Edric Brown
Best and Fairest: Callum Charlesworth
Leading goal kicker: Edric Brown 6 goals

As the ceremony concluded, it was evident that the Waves AFL Club has a bright future ahead, with a group of talented young players and a community of dedicated individuals who are committed to nurturing and celebrating their achievements on and off the field. Congratulations to all the award recipients and the Waves AFL Club for another successful year of junior and youth development.

The Waves AFL Club would like to take the opportunity to commend all their coaches and extend special recognition to Junior Youth Coordinator Ash Charlesworth for his exceptional commitment to the club’s success. In a heartfelt gesture, the club would also like to extend their gratitude to all the dedicated volunteers who play an integral role in managing and ensuring the success of their teams. The club recognizes the invaluable contributions of these volunteers and continues to thrive due to their unwavering support