Whooley, Hunt take top honours

Polonia midfielder Tom Hunt and Denmark star Zara Whooley have been recognised for their outstanding individual seasons, claiming the men’s and women’s premier league fairest and best awards respectively on Friday night.

The Great Southern Soccer Association held their gala awards night at the pavilion alongside their grounds on North Road, wrapping up the 2019 senior season, with more than 100 people in attendance.

Hunt was acknowledged as the best and fairest player in the men’s top-tier competition, playing a leading hand in his team, Polonia, winning the league and cup double.

Hunt was a dominant force throughout the regular season and polled accordingly to edge out runner-up Beau Timmer from Phoenix.

After yet another women’s premier league title, Denmark young gun Whooley was named the fairest and best player for the second straight year.

Whooley was last season a joint winner of the same award but in 2019 finished the sole recipient of the gong, after her side went through the league season undefeated.

Polonia’s Parker Wingard took home the Andy Walsh Rising Star award while teammate Jared Wiegele won the men’s premier league golden boot trophy after scoring 20 goals in 15 league matches.

Ebony Thomas from Denmark won the women’s premier league golden boot award, finishing with 21 goals for the season highlighted by a six-goal haul against Port Albany.

In the other awards announced on the night Royals’ Trevor Pocock won the men’s reserves best and fairest and The Vets’ Peter Slebos took out the men’s social/vets award.

Royals’ Jonathon Darby and Old Boys’ Williams MacDonald won the men’s reserves and social/vets golden boot awards respectively.

Rovers’ Melina Franklin and Grammar Blue’s Lola Sims won the women’s reserves and social fairest and best awards respectively.

Sims netted 35 goals to win the golden boot trophy and Libby Morris was the women’s reserves golden boot recipient.

The Loveridge Award, for the players who polled the most votes across all competitions went to Slebos (men) and Whooley (women).