Lachlan Knight’s name will forever be remembered at the Western Jets.
After a brilliant season for the TAC Cup side, Knight last week won the Jets’ best and fairest award.
He enjoyed an ultra-consistent year in which he was named among the club’s best six players in nine of his 14 matches.
Western Jets region manager Shane Sexton said it was great to see Knight get a prolonged run after injuries halted his progress in previous years.
“Lachlan should be really proud of his season,” Sexton said.
“It’s the first time he has had a run at a footy season in a very long time. He’s had both his shoulders reconstructed over the past couple of years but has got himself up and running and he has been playing excellent footy.”
Recovering from shoulder injuries was the theme of the night for the top end of the Jets’ best and fairest leader board.
Mitchell Norton came second in the voting, also bouncing back from operations.
The longer the season went, the better Norton looked, the teenager being named his side’s outright best player in two of his final four matches.
“Mitchell has had quite a few setbacks over the journey,” Sexton said. “He also had both shoulders needing reconstruction.
“He’s a terrific player. We would have been a hell of a lot better last year if he’d been up and about.
“In his first year as a 17-year-old he kicked about 20 goals in his first six games.
“Towards the end of the year he was flying and playing great football.”
Sexton said he expected both Knight and Norton to play strongly next year.
Also in the best and fairest, Jackson Volpato was named the club’s best defensive player, Brayden Monk received the ‘most courageous player’ gong, and Wilson Berry was crowned ‘most consistent’.
Oscar Junker received the best first-year player award and key defender Liam Carter won the coaches’ award.
“Liam really developed his footy this year and he also played some games at Williamstown in the VFL,” Sexton said.
“He played on all the good tall forwards in the competition and was rarely beaten. He improved his offensive play a lot this year, as well.”
With the Jets missing out on finals this season, the club has quickly turned its attention to 2016.
All exit interviews with top-age players have been held as they await November’s national and rookie drafts.
Invitations for the Jets’ summer training will be sent out this week.
Torin Baker will return to the club as head coach next season.
