Sport
Quigg secures runner-up at Bushrangers’ best-and-fairest, Warburton and James clinch MVP accolades
Seymour’s Nick Quigg has capped a superb year of football, finishing runner-up at the Murray Bushrangers’ best-and-fairest on Friday night.
The Bushrangers’ co-captain finished on 21 votes, one shy of eventual joint-winners Ryan Eyers of Corowa Rutherglen and Noah Bradshaw of Wodonga.
Shepparton Swans’ young gun Max Clohesy rounded out his fantastic year with a fourth-placed finish on 17 votes.
Mooroopna’s Coby James took out the under-17 Ashley Cox most valuable player award, while Swans star Oliver Warburton was awarded the Leon Higgins under-16 MVP trophy.
Bushrangers regional talent operations lead Mick Wilson said Quigg’s leadership and on-field courage this season had been deservedly rewarded.
“Quiggy was our joint-captain for 2022; he’s a tremendous on and off-field leader, highly respected by his teammates and club people, staff and volunteers,” Wilson said.
“That would be exactly the same at Seymour, he’s just a terrific person, he’s a bit of an on-field leader, but he leads with his actions and not words.
“He was duly rewarded with being runner-up, he’s an under-18 player and the two John Byrne medallists Ryan and Noah are both under-19 players, so Nick was our highest polling under-18.
“Any other year he’d be the outright winner after it changed during COVID to an under-19 competition.”
Quigg’s midfield teammate and Swans talent Clohesy finished five votes shy of top spot, having missed a number of Bushrangers’ games early in the season.
Wilson said it made his fourth-placed finish all the more impressive.
“Max missed a little bit of footy with some representative games earlier in the year, to finish only a few votes behind is a really good effort,” Wilson said.
“He started off the year in a defensive role, but then he transitioned into the midfield and played really well there, he’s a very similar player to Nick, just a really in-and-under type player and tremendously courageous.
“He’s highly respected by everyone around the club and his teammates.”
Mooroopna product James also saluted on the night, bringing home the under-17 Ashley Cox MVP award despite missing the majority of the season with a shoulder injury.
Wilson said big things were sure to come for the young gun next year.
“Coby unfortunately suffered an injury mid-season, he dislocated his shoulder and had a shoulder reconstruction and only played seven games in the end,” Wilson said.
“He’s a standout in his year and it shows how highly regarded he is, we’re really looking forward to getting him through the rehab phase and then doing a massive pre-season.
“He’ll be a really key player for the team next year, hopefully he’ll get some opportunities at VIC Country and national level, he’s already had a training camp with the under-18s as a bottom ager this year with Vic Country, hopefully he’ll get that opportunity again next year.”
Rounding out Goulburn Valley’s award winners was Warburton, who secured the under-16 Leon Higgins MVP award.
“Ollie was the only under-16 player that played in the under-19 competition,” Wilson said.
“He played the last two games of the season for the Bushrangers and that included our final against Sandringham who were the eventual premiers.
“He was a bit injured against Sandringham and the week before in his debut against Bendigo he played quite well.”
Adding to the accolades achieved by Goulburn Valley products, Tongala talent Harley Reid put the cherry on the cake with an All-Australian selection after a blistering year for Bendigo and Victoria Country.