THE youngest player in Gisborne's team, James McFarlane, and a team-mate not much older, Ryan Webster, were two of the brightest stars in yesterday's All Seasons Bendigo Football-Netball League seniors grand final clash.
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Playing on a wing, McFarlane was the architect behind three of Gisborne's first-quarter goals.
The 18-year-old was brilliant in the opening term and never let up.
By match end, McFarlane had earned the VCFL medal.
Although he qualifies to play under-18s, McFarlane has become more than just a player in the senior team, he's a star.
McFarlane's smile was almost as bright as the VCFL medal and a second premiership medal glistening around his neck in the rooms after the match.
'‘To be the VCFL medal winner was a surprise,'' he said.
‘‘I thought I won a fair bit of the football and did okay, but the main thing was to do what I could to help the team win.'' It's the team ethos that is so strong at Gisborne, and one McFarlane has followed since he lined up for the Bulldogs in the under-11s.
McFarlane said he and his team-mates learnt a lot from the second semi-final loss to Golden Square.
‘‘Their midfield attacked really well in that match, so we knew we had to lift and use the ball a lot better.'' After a few days celebrating, McFarlane's focus will be back on Year 12 VCE studies and a return to Gisborne Secondary College after holidays.
While McFarlane and many team-mates celebrated a second premiership win, if not more, Ryan Webster was rapt to have achieved his first at senior level.
Webster, 19, returned to Gisborne after spending last season playing in Perth.
The Gisborne half-back flanker earned the Nalder medal as best afield in the 2006 BFL grand final.
It was not only Webster's ability to limit the impact the Golden Square half-forwards had, but also his linking with team-mates to rebound from the back half.
‘‘To be playing alongside Marcus Barham and Rod Sharp is fantastic,'' Webster said.
‘‘They are great footballers and have really helped me improve my skills a lot.'' Webster said the challenge was to now achieve a premiership hat-trick.
‘‘It's something the club has not done in the BFL, so that's a great challenge,'' said the sports administration student at Victoria University, Sunbury.
