Around the grounds in Hume and Whittlesea

Brooke Plummer. (Joe Mastroianni). 265355_31

AFLW

Several Northern Knights and Calder Cannons players have been invited to the AFLW draft combine. More than 100 players have been selected for the combine, which will be state-based this year. The combine will be shorter this year with just one physical test, the two-kilometre time trial. Cannons trio Reese Sutton, Abbey McDonald and Heidi Woodley, along with Knights’ Brooke Plummer, Lulu Beatty and Rylie Wilcox will have the chance to impress AFLW recruiters at the combine.

NAB League

Ava Jordan claimed the Northern Knights best and fairest award for the 2022 NAB League Girls season. The Knights announced their award winners on Friday night with Jordan winning from Rylie Wilcox and Winnie Buckley. In other awards, Mia Haas won the coaches award, Buckley won the rising star and Jess Nursey won the players players award.

Big V

It was a big night for Whittlesea Pacers in Big V men’s division 2 on Saturday night, with four players celebrating milestones. Jason Dirkx played game 250, Brendan Hughes marked 200 games, Ashley Bryar played game 200 and Christopher Petroro played game 150. The night was topped off with a big win against Maccabi Warriors, 100-67. Dirkx top scored with 24, while Jorden Adnam scored 23 off the bench. The win was the Pacers third for the season.

NPL

Whittlesea Ranges tough run of results continued on Saturday in the National Premier League 3 competition. Facing Box Hill United, neither team was able to score in the first half. United opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, before captain Dean Lorenzi levelled the scores. United regained the lead in the 76th minute and it would be enough to get the win, 2-1. The Ranges sit bottom with one win. In the NPL competition, Hume City lost 2-1 to Oakleigh Cannons.