Tahlia Sanger, Ange Gogos and Tom Blamires all grew up playing community footy in Victoria. Image: Josh Chadwick / AFL Photos
AFL Victoria congratulates all award winners announced at Monday night's VFL & VFLW Awards, including a number of players who grew up playing footy at Victorian community clubs.
Southport Sharks co-captain Jacob Dawson and Darebin Falcons star Ange Gogos (Lambert-Pearce Medal) were crowned the Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW best and fairest winners.
Both players completed the double by also being named the Coaches MVP, with Gogos sharing the rebel VFLW Coaches MVP with Williamstown midfielder Emily Eaves in the first tie in the award’s history.
Gogos began her football career in 2011 with Melbourne University in the Victorian Women's Football League, before going on to play in an AFLW premiership with the Western Bulldogs in 2018, before joining Darebin.
Collingwood midfielder Tahlia Sanger was awarded the Debbie Lee Medal as the VFLW Rising Star. In her debut season, Sanger was selected in the rebel VFLW Team of the Year, finished fifth the Coaches MVP voting and featured in Collingwood’s Grand Final team.
Sanger played her entire junior footy career at the Frankston Dolphins Junior Football Club in the AFL South East competition.
Frankston recruit Tom Blamires was recognised for an outstanding first season with the Dolphins after joining from Sandringham by claiming the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as the most promising player in the Smithy’s VFL aged 24 or under.
Blamires played junior footy at a host of SMJFL clubs including East Sandringham, East Brighton and Brighton Beach. Before joining Frankston, he played VFL for the Sandringham Zebras.