Great Scot wins medal

 

September 7 2009

Shepparton News

Connor Campbell capped Shepparton South's dominant home and away season by winning the Goulburn North East Football Association best and fairest on Saturday night.

The Scot polled 22 to votes to win from reigning medallist Frank Bazzano of Cobram and South teammate Stuart Vance on 20 each.

Being rested in the final game of the season because he was on two accumulated yellow cards failed to cost Campbell the medal after both Bazzano and Vance also failed to poll in the last round.

Dominant early season form from Stuat Vance, which included a run of four hat-tricks, had him in the lead after 11 rounds on 17 votes and at the time seven clear of fifth-placed Campbell.

But Campbell made his run to the medal with a streak of 12 votes in five games between round 13 and 17.

Tatura's Spiro Vourgaslis finished fourth with 15 votes, while Shepparton split its votes between a consistent Andy Ingham (fifth with 13) and a late run from midseason recruit Marquin Smith (equal eighth with 10).

"It was a mixed feeling because there's a few good players in our team, I wasn't really confident of actually winning, it's a bit of a surprise," Campbell said.

"I've won a few awards back home, it's a bit different with player of the year because it's not best and fairest, if you get sent off you can still win."

The 29-year-old from Dingwall played with Elgin City in the Scottish lower divisions while following his lifelong dream of being a professional footballer.

He thanked Shepparton in his medal acceptance speech for bringing him to Australia and starting a new chapter in his life.

"I think I've been more consistent in a role I've enjoyed playing," he said.

"I came over here as a forward for Shepp and didn't really produce, in the finals I played midfield and started to come into games.

"I want to stay here in Shepparton and keep playing, my girlfriend (Katrina Jewell) is here and I want to win premierships with Shepp South."

Holly Dimstas had to prove herself as a young leader in women's Goulburn North East Football Association this season and was rewarded on Saturday when she took out the league best and fairest award.

Dimstas, 19, had to coach her Shepparton United team alongside fellow teenager Danielle Zeqir at the start of the season while also focusing on captaining the team and battling injury.

The midfielder polled 27 votes to edge out Shepparton forward Suzan Tanrikulu in the last round on 25.

Dimstas' physical play and eye for goal earned her consistent votes through the count, before a run of 11 votes between rounds 14 and 18 reeled in a five-vote lead from Tanrikulu.

Having played for nine years, Saturday was Dimstas' first league best and fairest.

"It's a big shock to me, I really thought Suzan had won the award," she said.

"Even though I'm still captain now it's still something extra to coach the team, George (Traianidis) stepped in to coach us by round six.

"I actually felt like I did nothing for most of the year but my teammates told me I did a lot."

Dimstas has received extensive treatment to play each week and thanked United's staff for keeping her in match condition.

"I still am injured and still playing, I won't play summer league because I need to see specialists to fix up my back," she said.

"I think there are microtears near the side of my spine, but there might be something else they need to find.

"I know I have to push through to the rest of the year for the girls."

Tatura's Rosemary Scrimizzi and Numurkah's Gabby Gasparroni finished equal third on 15 votes, while Benalla's Chloe Bennett, Cobram Victory's Imogen Head and Shepparton South's Maddy McGuffie tied for fifth on 13.

Shepparton South's Daniel Nardella has continued his consistent and outstanding form in men's division two by again winning the top goal-scorers award in conjunction with the league best and fairest.

Nardella, who is legally blind, scored 19 goals for the season to go with his best and fairest medal.

In the under-16 boys division, Tatura's Cody Sellwood won for the second year running, while Kialla United's Alashoush Abdulameer scored 35 goals to be top scorer.

In the junior girl's division, Shepparton's Isabel Cook won the best and fairest, while 38-goal Shepparton South player Chelsea Clarke was top scorer.

Recent Victoria Country call-up Joseph Hogarty of Tatura was the under-14 best and fairest, while Shepparton's Steven Young won the golden boot with 31 goals.

Cobram Victory's Ryan Grant was the boys' under-12 league medallist, while 25-goal striker Henry Coghlan was top scorer.