PROMISING South Mildura youngster Peter Minniti has been named the Brian Weightman Medallist for 2019.
Minniti polled 60 votes from four matches to claim the award.
Playing mainly across half-back, Minniti was a standout for Sunraysia during trial matches for the V/ Line Cup, which will be held during the September school holidays in Shepparton.
Mildura’s Josh Goss finished second with 47 votes while Red Cliffs’ Bayley Kelly was third on 37.
All three players are in line to be named in the under-15 Pioneers V/ Line Cup squad.
Football development manager for Sunraysia Trevor Ryan said Minniti had gone into the selection process as one of the lower profile players, but had been a standout throughout the 15-week selection period.
“He was one player going into the academy games who didn’t have the profile of one or two others in our team,” Ryan said.
“Across the four games he really stood up and was competitive and consistent across half-back.”
The V/Line Cup competition is one of the first steps many aspiring young players take.
Ryan said it was the first insight many had into what was required to make it into the Bendigo Pioneers’ programs.
“This is the first step of their pathway when you want to talk serious pathways,” said Ryan.
“The under-15 V/Line Cup just rolls into under-16 Pioneers and then you roll under a bottom age under-17 NAB League player for the Pioneers.
“The V/Line Cup competition will open their eyes up to what level they need to be at going forward and it does make a lot of kids sit up and realise they need to work on weaknesses and fitness things going forward.”
Selection trials for the Sunraysia academy players who have made through to the next stage will be held in Swan Hill next week.
A squad of 57 will then be named, before being cut to 48.
Players named in the final 48 will compete against sides from other regional NAB League teams in the week-long carnival.
Story and photo courtesy of Sunraysia Daily
