Five finalists named in new Albany sportsperson of the year award plus junior, senior and veteran nominations

The 2023 Albany sportsperson of the year awards finalists have been revealed. A total of 24 athletes have been announced as finalists across four categories, headlined by the Wellington and Reeves Albany sportsperson of the year, with winners to be announced next week. Five inaugural finalists have been named ahead of the gala awards ceremony at Retravision Stadium on February 15. Star AFLW defender Sophie McDonald, WA premier league hockey premiership player Julia Keymer, Collingwood ruckman and AFL premiership player Darcy Cameron, WAFL Team of the Year member Jacob Blight and Australian volleyball young gun Tully Bew are the five in contention for the major award. The awards, which have not been recognised since 2018, will also see a junior, senior and veteran winner announced. From nominations received, a judging panel selects monthly winners in those three categories who become finalists for the overall honour. The Albany sportsperson of the year is a new category, open to high-level State, national or international-level athletes that may not live in Albany but have been a resident here for at least two years. In juniors and seniors there are 12 finalists while five athletes will be in the running for the veteran title. Teague Valli (cricket), Jasmine McRae (basketball), Hamish Wilkes (mountain biking), Demi Burns (athletics), Maddison Manoli (equestrian), Billy McRae (basketball), Harrison Ponsford (football), Zoe Mills (hockey), Evie Famlonga (hockey), Amelia McDonald (equestrian), Abbey O’Donnell (mountain biking) and Keely Berry (basketball) are the junior finalists. Nathan Crudeli (cricket), Christine Murray (swimming), Coen Marwick (cricket), Laurie Dowsett (speedway), Laura Cinanni (football), Natasha Faithfull (racing), Taylah Orzel (football), Darren Parkes (hockey), Jeff Mak (table tennis), Connor Bunce (soccer), Amy Kennedy (equestrian), Damien McAleese (triathlon) are the senior finalists. Leila Mann (bowls), Barb Wilson (athletics) Bill Beeck (speedway), Steve Hurley (shooting) and Ian Beeck (football) are the veteran finalists. The awards will be announced on Thursday, February 15 with former rugby league player Matt Fuller the guest speaker at the event.