Lucas Rocci claims historic Morrish Medal while Georgie Prespakis keeps NAB League Girls awards in family
Western Jets defender Lucas Rocci etched his name into the history books with a shock Morrish Medal win while Georgie Prespakis kept the NAB League Girls award in the family.
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Western Jets are celebrating their first ever Morrish Medal after Lucas Rocci saluted on Sunday night.
The 18-year-old defender polled 17 votes to claim the NAB League best-and-fairest award ahead of Sandringham Dragons’ captain Ryan Byrnes on 14.
Calder Cannons’ Ned Gentile, Eastern Ranges’ Mitch Mellis and GWV Rebel Jay Rantall finished equal third on 13 votes.
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However, the Cannons did have reason to celebrate after Georgie Prespakis claimed the NAB League Girls best-and-fairest.
It’s back-to-back awards for the Prespakis family after Maddy claimed the award last year before going on to win AFLW Rising Star honours.
At just 16, Prespakis will have to wait until 2021 to enter the AFLW Draft but was a comfortable winner with 20 votes ahead of Western Jets captain Elisabeth Georgostathis on 15.
The @NABLeague Boys Team of the Year 2019.@Eastern_Ranges' Darren Bewick named Coach of the Year. pic.twitter.com/1SkvOeu1Vv
— Ben Higgins (@ben_higgins84) August 25, 2019
Incredibly, Rocci earned all his votes with a sensational patch of form from Round 5 to 13 when he claimed maximum votes in five games and two votes in another.
The Jets - a foundation team in 1992 - were the only club never to produce a Morrish Medallist.
Rocci, an Aberfeldie (EDFL) junior broke the drought with a strong season off half-back where he averaged 17 disposals, four marks and three tackles in 13 games.
It also earned him a place on the interchange in the NAB League Team of the Year alongside fellow Jets defender Darcy Cassar.
The win is sure to put the 175cm backman on the AFL radar after he missed out on Vic Metro selection and an AFL Draft state combine invite.
Sandringham Dragons scored the most Team of the Year nods with four, as Fischer McAsey, Josh Worrell, Jack Mahony and Byrnes all included.
The @NABLeague Girls Team of the Year 2019.@NthKnights' Marcus Abney-Hastings named Coach of the Year. pic.twitter.com/NQwEYDoHOi
— Ben Higgins (@ben_higgins84) August 25, 2019
Prespakis averaged a competition-high 24 disposals and kicked 12 goals as Calder went all the way to the NAB League Girls grand final.
The 165cm midfielder polled in seven of eight games - including six maximum three-vote performances.
The Sunbury Lions junior also earned a spot on the half-back flank in the Team of the Year, as did fellow Cannons Felicity Theodore and Georgia Patrikios.
Premiers Northern Knights dominated the Team of the Year with five nominations; Sarah Sansonetti, Ellie McKenzie, Gabby Newton, Nell Morris-Dalton and Britney Gutknecht.
Unbelievably, the Cannons have produced a best-and-fairest winner in all three seasons of the Girls competition.
Chloe Molloy claimed the inaugural award in 2017, together with Dandenong’s Bridie Kennedy before Maddy Prespakis and Geelong’s Nina Morrison shared the spoils in 2018.
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