Hillside brothers Victor and James Micallef made it a night to remember at Essendon District Football League’s awards night on Saturday.
The brothers both play for the Sharks’ senior side in division 1, and were both invited to be in the mix for an award … but neither could have predicted what would happen next.
They both polled 16 votes to win the W. Hutchinson medal, for the best and fairest player in division 1, finishing two votes clear of Craigieburn spearhead Cameron Cloke.
Sharks’ football manager Cole Harvey said the Micallef brothers were the first picked for midfield each week.
He said they thought Cloke, who was ineligible after being suspended, would poll the most votes.
“Both boys are fairly modest and they didn’t say too much about being invited,” Harvey said. “For the boys to win, and both still young, it’s unbelievable. They both still have their best football ahead of them.
“To have two brothers in the same team both winning, I don’t know whether it’s happened before in the league.”
Harvey said the brothers were among the hardest working players at the club, barely missing training over the past two years.
“It’s just rewards for the work they’ve put in,” he said. “Both are pure midfielders. Vic is a brute of a player, while Jimmy is pretty strong as well.
“Jimmy is a bit more skillful, whereas Victor is an absolute beast. Both are competitive boys, who hate losing.”
Victor was named on the wing in the division 1 team of year, his second consecutive selection. James missed out on being selected, but Jackson Volpato and Brandon Colletta made it three Sharks in the team of the year.
It capped off a good night for the Sharks, with Lachlan Rayner winning the division 1 under-18.5 best and fairest award.
Rayner played just 11 regular season matches for the Sharks in the under-18.5s to poll 21 votes, two votes clear of Westmeadows’ Reece Desira.
He also played in the Sharks’ under-18.5 premiership and made his senior debut, playing four games.
“He just stands out,” Harvey said.
“He’s a ruckman, and so much bigger and stronger than a lot of his opponents.
“To poll so many votes in not that many games shows how good he is.”
In premier division, Aberfeldie’s Luke Blackwell took out the R.S Reynolds medal, while Moonee Valley’s Ned Wilson won the division 2 best and fairest.
