2026 Awards Night Wrap Up

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2026 Polytan Hockey Victoria Awards Night last Friday, 18 September 2026.
It was an incredible evening, held at the iconic Marvel Stadium, with 380 guests coming together to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the Victorian hockey community.

Congratulations to all of our finalists and winners! The room was filled with celebration, cheers, laughter and plenty of memorable moments. The atmosphere was truly electric, making it a fantastic night for everyone involved.

We would also like to extend a huge thank you to our wonderful partners, Polytan, for helping make the evening so special and for joining us throughout the night. Your passion and dedication to hockey have always been evident, and your support of this event was a wonderful reflection of that commitment.
A special shout-out and thank you also goes to our fantastic MC, Michael van Dorsser. Michael led the evening with poise, energy and plenty of humour, keeping the night running smoothly while ensuring our guests were entertained throughout.

With his experience hosting Hockey One game days, Michael brought that same personality, professionalism and enthusiasm to the Awards Night, helping create an unforgettable evening for the Victorian hockey community.Thank you again to everyone who joined us in celebrating another wonderful year of hockey in Victoria. We look forward to celebrating with you all again next year!

All photos are available here, thanks to Mark Avellino from Mark Avellino Photography. 
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Without further ado, here is the list of the exceptional award recipients from the unforgettable 2026 Hockey Victoria Awards Night:

2026 Life Member Inductees
•    Joshua Burt 
•    Andrew Hodder 
•    Colin Batch 
2026 Award of Merit
•    Lynette Delaney
•    Ian Ritchie 

2026 Community Awards
Polytan Community Club of the Year Finalists
Craigieburn Falcons Hockey Club
Doncaster Hockey Club
Echuca Moama Hockey Club
Torquay Hockey Club (Winner) 
 
HCM Hookin2Hockey Club of the Year Finalists
Craigieburn Falcons Hockey Club
Essendon Hockey
Altona Hockey Club (Winner)
Footscray Hockey Club
 
Administrator of the Year Finalists
Dominique Naylor – Melbourne Razorbacks Hockey Club
Rachel Black – Bayside Powerhouse Hockey Club
Christopher Wall – Frankston Hockey Club (Winner) 
Kylie Brilliant – Melton Hockey Club
 
Coach of the Year Finalists
Adam Brown – Essendon Hockey (Winner)
Charlie Hamilton – Bayside Powerhouse Hockey Club
David Herrity – Melton Hockey Club
Wouter Von Voorst - Doncaster Hockey Club
 
Official of the Year Finalists
Juliette Pinkerton – Hockey South West (Winner) 
Matthew Threlfall – Essendon Hockey
Narelle Kay Kneebone – KBH Brumbies Hockey Club
Mitchell Payne – PEGS Hockey Club
 
2026 Officiating Awards
Jim McDowell Medal – Most Promising Junior Umpire (Girls): Phoebe Creek
Jim McDowell Medal – Most Promising Junior Umpire (Boys): Daniel Ryan
Mike Taylor Medal – Most Improved Junior Umpire (Girls): Isobel Skillern
Mike Taylor Medal – Most Improved Junior Umpire (Boys): Luca Kaltner
Dieter Lau Medal – Best Junior Umpire Umpiring Seniors (Girls): Keiko Rice
Dieter Lau Medal – Best Junior Umpire Umpiring Seniors (Boys): Mitchell Wilson
Elaine Dunk Award – Female Umpire of the Year: Iris Milham
David Saleeba Award - Male Umpire of the Year: Tim Sheahan
Technical Official of the Year Award: James Stewart

2026 State Representative Awards
Viper of the Year: Sophie Murphy
Max Campbell Award - Viking of the Year: Liam Henderson

2026 Vic League Awards
Leading Goal Scorers
Men’s Vic League 1
Ammar Rasheed, Craigieburn Falcons Hockey Club – 40 Goals 
Women’s Vic League 1 
Alanna Ward, Monash University Hockey Club – 27 Goals 
Men’s Vic League 2 
Michael Somerton, St. Bede's Hockey Club – 21 Goals

Women’s Vic League 2
Jessica Marsh, Frankston Hockey Club – 17 Goals 
Men’s Vic League 3 
Matthew Zurrer, Gippsland Strikers – 55 Goals 
Women’s Vic League 3
Emma Ladd Gibbon, Melbourne High School Old Boys Hockey Club - 29 Goals

Best & Fairest Awards
Women’s Vic League 3
3rd – Madison Hall, Latrobe Valley Hockey Association – 19 Votes 
2nd – Eleanor Patterson, Melbourne High School Old Boys Hockey Club – 20 Votes 
Winner: Martha Kalomo, Croydon Ranges Hockey Club – 23 Votes 
Men’s Vic League 3 
3rd – Finn Rosenwald, La Trobe University Hockey Club – 18 Votes
2nd – Scott Marks, Gippsland Strikers - 19 Votes 
Winners: Matthew Zurrer, Gippsland Strikers – 26 Votes 
  
Women’s Vic League 2
3rd – Parneet Kaur, Craigieburn Falcons Hockey Club – 13 Votes 
2nd – Kate Sandry, Knox Hockey Club – 21 Votes 
Winner: Zoe Lewington, Greater Dandenong Warriors Hockey Club – 24 Votes 
 
Men’s Vic League 2
3rd – Joshua Shipton, Frankston Hockey Club – 17 Votes 
3rd - Abu Mahmood, Bayside Powerhouse Hockey Club – 17 Votes
2nd – Riley Woodyatt, Brunswick Hockey Club – 20 Votes 
Winner: Rory Kennedy, Brunswick Hockey Club - 27 Votes 
 
Women’s Vic League 1
3rd – Stephanie Scott, KBH Brumbies Hockey Club - 25 Votes 
2nd – Emma Hatton, Hockey Geelong Sharks - 26 votes 
Winner: Alanna Ward, Monash University Hockey Club - 33 Votes 

Men’s Vic League 1
3rd – Connor Zimmerman, Old Xaverians Hockey Club - 23 Votes 
3rd - Nitish Neupane, Craigieburn Falcons Hockey Club – 23 Votes 
2nd – Flynn Boyd, North West Lightning – 24 Votes 
Winners: Charlie Cross, Old Xaverians Hockey Club – 34 votes 
 
Vic League Team of the Year

Men’s Vic League 3

Women’s Vic League 3

Men’s Vic League 2

Women’s Vic League 2

Women’s Vic League 1

Men’s Vic League 1

2026 Premier League Awards
Leading Goal Scorers
Lou Dobson Medal - Women’s Premier League Leading Goal Scorer
Winner: Evie Stansby - Waverley Hockey Club – 18 Goals 

Colin Batch Medal - Men’s Premier League Leading Goal Scorer
Winner: Finn Hodder - Hawthorn Hockey Club - 27 Goals
 
Best & Fairest Awards
Don & Pam Vincent Award – Women’s Premier League Best & Fairest Award
3rd – Jessie Dean, Mentone Hockey Club – 25 votes 
2nd - Emily Hamilton-Smith, Southern United Hockey Club - 26 Votes 
2nd - Kristina Bates, Camberwell Hockey Club – 26 Votes 
Winner: Evie Stansby - Waverley Hockey Club- 28 Votes 

Fin McNab Award - Men’s Premier League Best & Fairest Award 
3rd – Connor Tuddenham, Footscray Hockey Club – 27 Votes  
2nd – Duncan Jackson, MCC Hockey Section – 31 votes 
Winner: Evan Kimber - Hawthorn Hockey Club - 34 Votes 
 

Premier League All-Star Teams

Women's

Men's