Sport

Violet Town stars recognised at KDL presentation night

By Josh Huntly

Sep 28, 2026

A number of Violet Town stars were recognised for their fine seasons at the 2026 KDL presentation night.

The Kyabram District League has brought the curtain down on its 2026 formalities with the competition’s presentation night taking place at the GV Hotel on Thursday evening, and a trio of Violet Town stars were among those recognised for their fine seasons.

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Young gun Koby Ross notched the biggest win for the Towners on the night, taking out the KDL’s Football Rising Star award after a superb season in which he made his senior debut.

Featuring 14 times for the under-18s side, Ross booted 33 goals and was named in his side’s best on 10 occasions, with a seven-goal haul against Longwood the highlight of his thirds season.

Remarkably, despite playing only 13 regular season games, Ross finished equal-second in the Jim Inch Medal under-18 best and fairest, polling 21 votes.

But it was his work at senior level which was the most impressive, with Ross earning his spot in round one against Nagambie before playing a further eight senior games in a brilliant senior campaign, quickly looking comfortable at the level and earning three mentions in the best against Undera, Murchison-Toolamba and Girgarre.

Ross is no stranger to the spotlight at the league presentation night, either, having last year won the under-15 league best and fairest while also claiming the leading goalkicker award in a stunning campaign.

The under-15 leading goalkicker award has remained at Violet Town in 2026, too, with Parker Jeffrey taking out the gong after booting 56 goals in a brilliant year, which also saw him poll 18 votes to finish equal fourth in the under-15 league best and fairest.

Back at senior level, Nathan Abley was named on the bench in the Team of the Year, with the 2026 Violet Town senior best and fairest racking up 14 appearances in the Towners’ best from 16 games.

Abley’s inclusion is made even more impressive given Violet Town’s lack of on-field success in 2026, with the Towner one of only four players in the final squad whose team won less than seven games for the season.

Elsewhere, a number of other Violet Town players earned top 10 finishes in their respective grade medal counts, with Tyson Pilcher finishing ninth in the under-18 football count, as did Isabelle Goodson in the under-13 netball, Ashlea Antonis placed sixth in the under-17 netball, and Thalia Ellis earned an equal eighth finish in the C Grade medal.

In the night’s top awards, Longwood captain Jye Formosa took out this season’s McNamara Medal with 19 votes, the Redlegs star’s exquisite season rewarded after featuring in his side’s best in 13 of the 16 games he played.

Since arriving at the club in 2023, Formosa has been one of the league’s most damaging midfielders in the competition, helping Longwood rise back up the ladder and again threaten for finals this year.

It’s not the first time Formosa has topped the vote count, but he was ruled ineligible to take out the 2023 award due to suspension.

This year, the opposite was true.

Nagambie’s Tom Barnes topped the vote count with 24 following a season where the Lakers spearhead booted 107 goals and ended with a premiership medal around his neck.

He too suffered the same fate as Formosa three years ago, ineligible to win due to suspension.

Meanwhile, Merrigum maestro Breanna Baker took out the A-grade netball competition’s top honour.

The Bulldogs star took out the Rita Warren medal with 26 votes ahead of Tallygaroopna’s Bree Giles (23 votes) and Shepparton East’s Lauren James (20), capping off a strong season that helped Merrigum back to finals.