Rising Star Nominee’s – Round Six

Women’s Round Six Rising Star nominee

Name: Nellie Hicks

Club: Kiama Power

Age: 16

Position: Full Back

Senior Games Played Before 2019: 12

Junior Club: Kiama Power

Favourite activity outside of football: Nellie loves going to the beach with friends and being creative

What is the one thing we don’t know about this Rising Star that they are well known for around the club? Nellie loves to chat

What role do they play for the club both on and off the field? Nellie is only 16 but is a great leader. She is great at talking in front of a group and helping to explain the drills at training to some of the newer players. Nellie provides a positive vibe around the club with her infectious smile and enthusiasm towards her footy. She is often first to training and last to leave. These qualities are so rare to find especially with someone so young.

The night before the game what will they be doing? Nellie will be snuggled up watching the footy with her family

Do they have any pre-game superstitions? Nellie likes to wear ankle socks under her club socks and has done so for as long as she can remember!

Reason for nomination this round: After coming off her senior representative performance the week before, Nellie helped our team to seal the victory over Shellharbour this week. She played in the full back position for the majority of the game and if it wasn’t for her, the game could have turned out very differently. She had a massive impact of the game and in the last quarter, Nellie worked hard to force a number of goal attempts through for behinds where if they had of all been goals we would have lost the game!

Coach Quote: Nellie grew up playing footy in Kiama as a junior and began her senior footy just last year playing 12 games in the senior women’s side for Kiama. She not only shines in the local competition, but also in representative footy where she was the youngest player in the South Coast Women’s side.

Nellie is an absolute joy to coach and has proven that she can play any position on the field and do it well. This was seen just last week where she played as a half forward, while this week Nellie played at full back. She can also play in the midfield too! Wherever she plays, she gives it 100%.

Nellie is often the youngest player in the team but carries herself as if she has played 400 games. She is a great leader in the club and will no doubt go on to achieve great things both in local and representative footy in the years to come.

 

Men’s Round Six Rising Star nominee

Name:  Matt Stamoulos

Nickname: Stamos

Club:  Northern Districts Tigers

Age: 17

Position:  Forward Flank or Forward pocket

Junior Club: Northern Districts Tigers

Senior Games Played before 2019: 8

Favourite activity to do outside of football:  Fishing

What is one thing that we don’t know about this Rising Star that they are well known for around the club?  Always putting in 110% and his groovy hair style.

What role do they play for the club both on and off the field?  Coming from the junior Club, Matty has been an inspiration for the younger cubs coming through the ranks. He is a quiet natured, likeable young guy who is admired by his team mates and likes to fish!

The night before the game what will they most likely be doing?  Hopefully sleeping !!!

Do they have any pre-game superstitions?  His hair !!!!

Reason for nomination this round:  Matty had an outstanding game against Bomaderry on their home turf last week. Coming straight from Juniors with only a couple of first grade games under his belt, he held his own in a physical match and importantly never forgets he is part of a team. 

Club / Coach quote on Performance / Nomination:

“Having not  long left school, getting a job and turning 18, this young man has had a lot happen in the past 12 months. Despite all these changes he has grown as a person and as a player in confidence and strength both on and off the field. He works hard at training and is rewarded with a spot in the Premier divisions team and he does not disappoint. 

 

Keep up-to-date with all AFL South Coast related news by following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter