The Kookaburras Captain Ryan Downey capped off a great season winning his second Best & Fairest Award recently. The MVP and Mike Powers Medal recipient did so despite breaking his hand 4 weeks before the USAFL National Championships. Downey did play at the USAFL Nationals in Florida with the hand heavily padded, a true sign of his commitment to the game, his club and his teammates, however during the regular season he was able to accumulate 76 votes too hold off the fast finishing Seth Stokes with 68 votes, who took the runners-up trophy and Best 1st Year Player Award.
The Kookaburras celebrated the end of the 2019 season with a full count of the MVP voting meticulously organized as always by Life Member and club statistician Jim Batten, with other awards going to Will McDonald for Best Clubman, Kyler Johnson for Most Improved & Coaches Award. Jeff Whitlock received the Goal Umpire Appreciation award for continued efforts during the year despite not being able to play and Andrew Schoppe was awarded Top Volunteer.
Chase Trujillo who also tied for 3rd in the MVP voting with Braden Medders on 48 votes, picked up the Best at Nationals Award with some great games in Sarasota.
Leading goalkicker for the year was Tom Gultom who slotted through 33 goals from his 8 games.
The Kookaburras Annual General Meeting was also held on the night with Wayne Kraska re-elected as returning President, Ryan Downey moving into the Secretary's role and Braden Medders taking up the Treasurer position. We welcome new on the Board this year long time supporter of Aussie Rules football in Atlanta Sandy Lawrence, elected as VP and Jim Batten retained a Member at Large role. The Kookaburras continue to look for interested people in getting involved in the promotion or organization of Australian Rules Football in Atlanta. Contact us if you can help or know someone with some resources to help.
