WESTERN Jets captain Lucas Rocci made history, becoming the first ever Western Jets’ Morrish Medallist after taking out the award in 2019 polling 17 votes. Rocci won the count by three votes from Sandringham Dragons’ skipper Ryan Byrnes, with Calder Cannons’ Ned Gentile, Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels’ Jay Rantall and Eastern Ranges’ Mitch Mellis just behind on 13.
Rocci lead throughout the count, holding a one-vote lead at the 10-round update over Gold Coast SUNS Academy member Hewago Paul Oea – who had only played five games but still polled 11 votes – and Byrnes. He maintained the lead by Round 14, sitting on 17 votes, four clear of Byrnes, with Murray Bushrangers’ Jye Chalcraft and Mellis’ seven votes behind on 10. While Rocci did not poll a vote in the final three rounds, he lead by enough to consolidate the win.
In season 2019, Rocci averaged 18.9 disposals, 4.3 marks, 3.8 tackles and 5.1 rebounds per game, stepping up as a crucial player in Western’s defensive back six. His averages across the board lifted, and while he missed out on Vic Metro selection in 2019, proved that his form never wavered by earning the NAB League Boys’ highest honour.
Club-by-club voting top vote-getters:
Bendigo Pioneers = Thomson Dow 6
Brisbane Lions = Bruce Reville 5
Calder Cannons = Ned Gentile 13
Dandenong Stingrays = Hayden Young 7
Eastern Ranges = Mitch Mellis 13
Geelong Falcons = Keidan Rayner 6
Gold Coast SUNS = Hewago Paul Oea 11
GWS GIANTS = Tom Green 7
Gippsland Power = Riley Baldi = 9
GWV Rebels = Jay Rantall = 13
Murray Bushrangers = Jye Chalcraft 10
Northern Knights = Josh D’Intinosante 9
Northern Territory – Stephen Cumming 3
Oakleigh Chargers = Matt Rowell 12
Sandringham Dragons = Ryan Byrnes 14
Sydney Swans = Kyle Martin 6
Tasmania Devils = Oliver Davis 8
Western Jets = Lucas Rocci 17
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2023 Vic Country Hubs released
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Crows conundrum as Dons’ Davey delight
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Great effort by young ‘Ace’ from Papua New Guinea; 11 votes from 5 games. Very much hoping he gets drafted as would be the first true PNG footy system player to be drafted rather than international rookie/scholarships. If so – it’ll be the evolution of PNG footy that previously has seen guys like David Meli, Peter Labi, John James, Donald Barry, Gideon Simon, Amua Pirika and Stanis Susuve; make it to the fringes, into squads, and play pretty good footy at the 2nd tier (NEAFL, VFL etc). Many of these guys have starred for PNG in the International Cup and helped lift the top end standard of that tournament.