A pair of Picola United talents have picked up major awards at the Picola District Football Netball League presentation night.

Matthew Jorgensen was named the senior football rising star, with teammate Tom Daniel also nominated.

Jorgensen was a key piece in the Blues’ strong campaign, which ended in an elimination final against Tungamah.

“Matty Jorgs had a hell of a year, especially the second half of the year,” outgoing coach Rhys Woodland said before the finals series.

“His run and carry has been unreal for a young kid. I’ve been really impressed.

“He’s always shown a lot of promise as a junior, but now to come into senior footy and play the way he has, he’s had a great year.”

The Blues had a second star make an impact at the presentation, as under-14 footballer Beau Griffiths took out his grade’s best-and-fairest and goal-kicking awards.

Griffiths kicked a mammoth 120 goals in the season and will look to add to his tally when his side seeks a premiership against Berrigan on Saturday.

Both the senior football and A-grade netball best-and-fairest awards were won by players hailing from NSW clubs, with Berrigan’s Lochie Conboy and Tocumwal’s Rhiannan Maxwell saluting in their respective counts.

A healthy crowd gathered at Moama Bowling Club on Monday night to celebrate a bumper season, and in the senior football race, there was no denying Conboy the prestige of securing his maiden Pearce Medal.

The goal scoring midfielder beat out runner-up Bailey Bell, of Katandra, by a single vote with a tally of 25.

It caps a fantastic year for Conboy, who re-joined the club in 2025 and helped lift the Saints from 10th in 2024 to fourth in 2025 as well as a semi-final berth.

Other major award winners were Strathmerton’s Harry Parsons netting the reserves best-and-fairest, and Tungamah’s Ned McKeown claiming the leading goal kicking gong.

Champion club merits went to Deniliquin Rovers, Waaia’s Mitch Cleeland was named coach of the year and administrator of the year honours went to Shannon Doyle of Tungamah.

Meanwhile, it was a Blood with a nose for league merits who snared the Lukies Medal.

Maxwell, who netted the 2023 Murray Netball League A-grade best-and-fairest while plying her trade for Deniliquin, laid claim to the PDFNL equivalent with 29 votes following a standout year for the gun goaler.

It’s the second Lukies Medal collect for Maxwell, who won the award back in 2018 while playing for Blighty.

Like Conboy, Maxwell aided her Tocumwal side to an improved fourth place finish and semi-final appearance.

Katamatite’s Sharni Hazelman rounded out in second in the Lukies Medal count on 25 votes, while Katamatite’s Natalie Lukies, Katunga’s Rachael Howden and Deniliquin Rovers’ Abby Whitehorn won the respective B, C and C-reserve best-and-fairests.

Carissa Bulmer took out the coach of the year title as her Deniliquin Rovers received champion club status, while fellow Rover Hazel Glowrey was bestowed the netball rising star award.

On the junior netball front, the best-and-fairest titles went to Strathmerton’s Ashlee Dyson (17-and-under), Jerilderie’s Ruby Neessen (15-and-under) and Rovers’ Lara Redden (13-and-under).

Last but not least, Tocumwal’s Logan White clinched the respective under-17 best-and-fairest, with Dookie United duo Adrian Lakeman and Matthew Kitto named junior coaches of the year.

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Sunday, 22nd January 2023

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