The Muswellbrook Eagles Football Club have announced the winners of their 2021 season awards after a difficult year hampered by COVID restrictions.
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Eagles committee member Hamish McTaggart said the club had made the decision to announce the award winners on social media as ongoing COVID restrictions meant the club was unable to host a traditional presentation evening.
The Eagles fielded three senior men's teams in 2021 and will be looking to do so again in 2022.
The club's Friday night All Ages Men's Team finished third in their competition before COVID restrictions ended their chance at finals glory.
Clinton Lanesbury and Brad Kane shared the Golden Boot award for most goals scored in the season, while Josh Galvin received the coaches award.
Mark Thorley took out both the Player's Player and Most Outstanding awards .
The Eagles also fielded a Saturday team in the Hunter Valley Zone League competition after a three year absence.
"Both the first and reserve grade zone teams got off to excellent starts to the season," Mr McTaggart said.
"Player availability and injuries hurt the momentum of both sides through the middle part of the competition with both teams finishing in fourth place with finals football looming before COVID cut short the season."
In the reserve grade side, Levi Hartin took home the Coaches Award and Most Improved, while Josh Forrester was awarded the Player's Player and Most Outstanding awards.
In the first grade team, Shawn Honeysett took out the Player's Player and Most Outstanding awards, as well as the Mick Middleton Award for most outstanding senior player overall.
The club said Honeysett had been with the Muswellbrook Eagles since playing in the juniors and "had grown into one of the best players who would be the first on any coach's team sheet."
"He was the backbone of the First Grade side and thoroughly deserves this award."
Douglas Thomson and Liam Shepherd nabbed the Golden Boot awards for the reserve and first grade sides respectively.
After a forced break in 2020, Mr McTaggart said the club's junior sides had an impressive level of participation in 2021, fielding four regional traveling sides as well as organising a locally based junior competition.
"The U9's and 11's traveling teams both performed well in strong MiniRoos competitions, while our U13's team took to the full side pitch for their first year putting in an admirable display in the toughest division for their aged category," he said.
"Likewise our U14's team were entered into the top A grade division for their age and were amongst the Club's top placed finishers and performers, ending the season in third place.
"Placing this well in the top division was quite an achievement and the club are very proud of these young players."
The club awarded the John Kane Award for most outstanding junior player overall to Under 14s player Brode Van der Werf.
"Brodie has a bright future and the determination he shows on the pitch is remarkable," the club said.
"He's an outstanding young player and a big future awaits him."
Another major award was given to Sean Henderson, who was named Club Person of the Year for 2021.
"Not missing a Saturday game all season, Sean treated injuries, strapped the wounded and got all the men back on the pitch," the club said.
"The time Sean dedicated to the club this year is greatly appreciated by all and we are so very thankful to have him around the club."
With many of the Eagles' teams bound for finals football before the premature end to the season, Mr McTaggart said there was a sense among the club of what might have been.
However the club already has an eye on the 2022 season as they look to build on their strong performances in 2021.
The Eagles also paid tribute to one of their major sponsors the Muswellbrook RSL Club for their support throughout the 2021 season.
The full list of awards for the Muswellbrook Eagles FC 2021 season are included below:
MUSWELLBROOK EAGLES FC 2021 AWARD WINNERS
Traveling Juniors
U9's Traveling
- Coaches Award - Darcy Edmonds
- Most Improved- - Jasper Terzian
- Players Player- - James Clement
- Most Consistent - Cooper Van der Werf
- Most Outstanding - Logan McFawn
U11's Travelling
- Coaches Award - Zac Robinson
- Most Improved - Jacob Vesic
- Players Player - Elijah Bristow
- Most Consistent - Caleb McTaggart
- Most Outstanding - Jayden Kelleher
U13's Travelling
- Coaches Award - Campbell Smith
- Most Improved -Jonah Andrews
- Players Player - Caleb Bristow
- Most Consistent - Lachlan Francis
- Most Outstanding - Bailey Wilton
- Golden Boot - Bailey Wilton
U14's Travelling
- Coaches Award - Noah Hines
- Most Improved - Luke Vesic
- Players Player - Thomas Cahill
- Most Consistent - Andreas Flampoulidis
- Most Outstanding - Brodie Van der Werf
- Golden Boot - Andreas Flampoulidis
Senior Men's Teams
Friday Night All-Age Men
- Coaches Award - Josh Galvin
- Most Improved - Luke Howard
- Golden Boot - Clinton Lanesbury & Brad Kane
- Players Player - Mark Thorley
- Most Consistent - Nathan Cridland
- Most Outstanding - Mark Thorley
Hunter Valley Zone League Men - Reserve Grade
- Coaches Award - Levi Hartin
- Most Improved - Levi Hartin
- Golden Boot - Douglas Thomson
- Players Player - Josh Forrester
- Most Consistent - Taylor Windle
- Most Outstanding - Josh Forrester
Hunter Valley Zone League Men- First Grade
- Coaches Award - Christopher Henderson
- Most Improved - Will Rankin
- Golden Boot - Liam Shepherd
- Players Player - Shawn Honeysett
- Most Consistent - Hamish McTaggart
- Most Outstanding - Shawn Honeysett
Major Club Awards
- Major Sponsor Appreciation Award: Muswellbrook RSL Club
- Club Person of the Year: Sean Henderson
- John Kane Award Most Outstanding Junior Player Overall: Brodie Van der Werf
- Mick Middleton Award Most Outstanding Senior Player Overall: Shawn Honeysett