Cassidy, Kain claim top Burra awards

BRILLIANT on-baller Lachlan Cassidy and classy defender Alice Kain have claimed Sebastopol’s top individual football and netball honours for 2025.

Cassidy – the BFNL’s Henderson Medal winner in 2021 – was rewarded for another outstanding season for the Burra by the topping the club vote count ahead of runner-up Jack Bambury.

The pair were two of the architects behind a strong second half of the season that pushed the Burra to within one win of a finals spot.

Bambury collected dual awards, winning the most improved trophy.

In other senior football awards, Luke Phillips was honoured as the best young player, while Ryan Birthisel snared the coaches award.

In a busy netball season for the young Burra goal keeper, Kain made it back-to-back A-grade best and fairest wins.

Kain, who also played in the Victorian Netball League (VNL) Reserves competition with Bendigo Strikers, topped the voting ahead of fellow defender Tahlia Watts.

Wing defence Jamie Luhrs won best team player.

The Burra finished the season in ninth place with a 4-14 record, level on points with East Point (eighth) and one win behind Melton (seventh).

Heading the club awards, David Dower was honoured with life membership.

Senior football

Best and fairest: Lachlan Cassidy

Runner-up: Jack Bambury

Best young player: Luke Phillips

Most improved: Jack Bambury

Coaches award: Ryan Birthisel

Reserves football

Best and fairest: Ryan Noether

Runner-up: Chris Jeffrey

Best utility: Jake Lawler

Most improved: Jack Cooper

Best young player: Seth Letcher

Coaches award: Dayne Furness

Under-18.5 football

Best and fairest: Tristan Quick

Runner-up: Jye Mullane

Most improved: Ned Mills

Best young player: Ryan Geedes

Coaches award: Blake Wilkinson

A-grade netball

Best and fairest: Alice Kain

Runner-up: Tahlia Watts

Best team player: Jami Luhrs

 

B-grade netball

Best and fairest: Bianca Snowden

Runner-up: Georgia Pidgeon

Coaches award: Rylee Kelly

C-grade netball

Best and fairest: Eliza Rickard

Runner-up: Charlotte Lawler

Best team player: Bridget Brady

D-grade netball

Best and fairest: Monica Menz

Runner-up: Samantha Lawler

Best team player: Taliah Kelly

E-grade netball

Best and fairest: Kate Littlehales

Runner-up: Niamh Lewis

Coaches award: Alana Hallam

Under-19 netball

Best and fairest: Makayla Wright

Runner-up: Maddie Lewis

Best team player: Imogen Wright

 

Club awards

Outstanding contribution to netball: Bridget Brady

Peter Taylor Award (contribution to football): Jayden Severino

Roy Browning Award: Bill Leathem

Ian Rowe Club People of the Year: Adam Rickard and Bessie Thompson

Life membership: David Dower