It’s been an amazing week for our Alumni including multiple medal and award winners. Here is how they went..
AFLW
Congratulations to Monique Conti on winning the AFLW Best and Fairest award for 2023. After being close to winning the ‘W Award’ a few times in the past, this year she took her game to another level with an average of 28.5 disposals, 5.8 tackles and 7.3 clearances per game.
She now becomes the first Richmond AFLW player to win the award. Monique now adds to her impressive list of achievements in the game including being a five-time All-Australian, five-time club champion, once at the Western Bulldogs and four times at Richmond, a premiership player and best on ground in a grand final.
Taekwondo
Our congratulations to MSA Alumni and current Taekwondo Program Coach: Leon Sejranovic, who was awarded the prestigious Victorian Institute of Sport 2XU Rising Star Award. Leon was presented with the award at the VIS Awards of Excellence last week, and this tops of an outstanding year for Leon.
This Award is presented to an athlete who is eligible to compete in the 'age grade' category of their sport (maximum age U23) who has achieved outstanding sporting results during the year and excelled away from competition. At 21 years of age, Leon won a Bronze Medal at the 2023 World Taekwondo Championships in Azerbaijan – a remarkable achievement.
Para Table Tennis
A fantastic result for MSA Alumni Nathan Pellissier in the past week at the Oceania Para Championships claiming gold medals in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Nathan confirming on the weekend he has now locked in spot for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Congratulations Nathan
Pacific Games
Our Alumni have also been in the Solomon Islands competing in the 2023 Pacific Games. Congratulations to Danny Vojnikovich who won Gold in the Judo Men’s 90kg Competition and also Gold in the Mixed Teams Comp. Taekwondo athlete Reba Stewart won Gold in the Welterweight 67kg Female competition, while in Swimming, Johann Stickland was 4th in Men’s 50m Breststroke for Samoa.
Hockey One
HC Melbourne have just missed out on a Grand Final spot by losing to the Brisbane Blaze in a penalty shootout in the semi-final of the Hockey One Men’s Competition. Playing without star players and MSA Alumni Cooper Burns and Nye Roberts, the HC Melbourne team lost to Brisbane 10-9 in the shootout after finishing tied at 3 all after 4 quarters. HC Melbourne went on to claim 3rd place in the competition when they beat the Tassie Tigers. Congratulations to the boys and also coaches Andrew Smith and Jessie Workman for a great season.
AFL Draft
Congratulations to Emerson Jeka who was picked up by Geelong in the rookie draft last week after being delisted by Hawthorn at seasons end.
AFLW Preliminary Finals
Brisbane v Geelong – Lions won by 4 points.
Georgia Prespakis had 21 disposals, 4 tackles 6 clearances.
Nth Melbourne v Adelaide – North Melbourne won by a point
North Melbourne - Amy Smith had 5 possessions and 2 tackles and will now play in the AFLW Grand Final this week.
A League
Seb Pasquali come on the field for Western United at the 67th min while Matt Grimaldi also came on in the 76th min in United’s 3-1 loss to Adelaide United.
A League Women
Naomi Chinnama started for Melbourne City in their 3-2 over Sydney.
Newcastle United had a 4-3 win over Canberra with MelindaJ Barbieri coming on in the 89th minute.
Annabel Martin played in the Central Coast’s 2-1 loss to Melbourne Victory.
International Football
Connor Metcalfe came on in the 24th min in FC St Pauli’s 3-2 over Hansa
Badminton
Jacob Schuler played men’s singles in the Bahrain International Challenge and lost in the round of 32 in 3 sets. Jacob now heads to Wales for his next competition.