Polonia’s Small wins premier league gong

The Great Southern Soccer Association held its gala season presentations last Saturday night, crowning the fairest and best players in all their senior competitions.

A large crowd gathered in the pavilion at the North Road soccer grounds to crown the award winners from 2018.

Polonia midfielder Nathan Small was recognised for his terrific league season by winning the men’s premier league fairest and best award.

Small prevailed over runner-up and teammate Jack McNamee while Caledonians star Ben Grey filled third place.

Rovers striker Jeffrey Liso scored 11 goals in the league competition to win the golden boot award, four goals clear of Albany-Bayswater’s Daniele Maggi.

In the women’s league A awards, the fairest and best gong was a tie as Denmark gun Zara Whooley and Polonia’s Mel Mettam could not be separated on votes.

After a terrific season that also yielded 12 goals, Port Albany’s Gabrielle White finished runner-up and Caledonians’ Steph Grant was in third place. As she did last season, prolific scorer Laura Hunt won the golden boot award after bagging 15 goals.

Royals’ Johannes Leeflang claimed the men’s reserves fairest and best award from Cowan Dibble and Kieran Loveridge (14 goals) won the golden boot.

Port Albany’s Joanne Orr was named the women’s league B fairest and best player, defeating Lola Sims while Steevie-Lee Coulson’s haul of 46 goals won her the golden boot award.

The men’s social/vets top award went to Polonia’s Caleb Castlehow and the golden boot was a tie on 19 goals between Sam Jackson and Christopher Bielecki. Orr and Castelehow were crowned the inaugural Max Loveridge medallists.

Jared Wiegele was awarded the Andy Walsh rising star award.