They were crucial cogs in the Parkes Panthers side that was undefeated in the AFL Central West (AFLCW) Tier 2 competition this season, and Mitch Stubberfield and Jonathan Morell were acknowledged accordingly for outstanding individual seasons.
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With current restrictions impacting leagues and clubs' ability to celebrate their seasons formally, the AFLCW took to social media to announce their end of season awards last week.
The awards were split across four evenings, with Morell awarded the Leading Goalkicker gong on September 20 and Stubberfield announced as the Tier 2 Best and Fairest on September 23.
The week concluded with the inaugural induction of three members to the new AFLCW Hall of Fame on September 24.
AFLCW competition and development coordinator Casey White spoke highly of the hall's introduction.
"We have four life members, but nobody is really sure where the next of those will come from," he said last week.
"As such, we decided there was a real opportunity to bridge the gap between the club's own recognition strategies and our league's life membership.
"I expect now that we've had a first induction, we will see more people from the early seasons put forward nominations and share their journey within the league," said White.
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Stubberfield, a no nonsense but silky-skilled midfielder who is almost flawless by foot, coaches the Panthers, and said Morell was a surprise success story.
"Coming into this season we weren't sure what to do with Jono, and in the first couple rounds we put him on the flanks and on the wing," he said.
"However we weren't seeing the impact we wanted to given the athlete he is.
"As it happened, we were short a full forward and with his strong hands and jump from a basketball background, we thought we had nothing to lose," said Stubberfield.
Stubberfield said the change reaped immediate reward, with Morell kicking the most goals of the entire competition, and also winning the Panthers Best and Fairest award.
"He absolutely dominated our forward line," he said.
"He took on the position and made it his own, and was willing to ask questions and really wanted to get better.
"There weren't many back men that could keep up with Jono, and he was our most dangerous target - especially when we had clean ball out of the centre.
"I believe he will get better and better with each season he gets under his belt," said Stubberfield.
Congratulations to both players for their individual awards, and bring on 2022!
AFL CW Tier 2 Best and Fairest
Top five Parkes vote getters
- 12 votes: Mitchell Stubberfield
- 10 votes: Braeden Snow
- 9 votes: Ethan Morton
- 7 votes: Ryan Alexander
- 3 votes: Jarryd Harrison, Jonathan Morell
AFL CW Tier 2 Leading Goalkicker
Top five Parkes goalkickers
- 26 goals: Jonathan Morrell
- 22 goals: Braeden Snow
- 12 goals: Michael Livingston
- 11 goals: Mitchell Stubberfield
- 8 goals: Ethan Morton
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