Sport
4 September, 2025
Power juniors shine
KOLORA-Noorat had a successful night at last week’s Warrnambool District Football Netball League junior best and fairest count.
Leo Beasley took out the under 15 football best and fairest, while Jade Byron won the under 13 netball best and fairest.
“It’s a well-deserved win, he had a really good year,” Power under 15 football coach Shane Scanlon said of Beasley’s win.
“He was our best nearly every week so it wasn’t a surprise, we felt he was as good a player as any in the competition.”
Beasley polled 33 votes, ahead of Dennington’s Damon Warburton on 26 votes.
Beasley was named in the best for the under 15 Power in 15 of his 16 appearances in 2025, while also kicking 33 goals.
“He’s probably a natural forward but we needed him in the midfield where he is also very good,” Scanlon said.
“It was hard to give him a spell as our numbers were tight, but he did have a license to drift forward which he did to great effect.”
Scanlon added that Beasley, the captain of Kolora-Noorat’s under 15 team, was well liked and a natural leader.
Hard work has also been a part of Beasley’s development, and he was rewarded with selection to train for the under 15 V-Line Cup squad.
“Leo is just a natural footballer, he’s not overly tall but has really good skills and is strong with both feet.
“He puts in and trains with the seniors as well; I’m really looking forward to seeing his continued development.”
Beasley made his senior debut in the final round of the season, playing alongside older brothers George and Fred, something Scanlon said had been in the wings for a while.
“We’d discussed him playing senior footy all year even though he is only 15, the last round when we had some under 18s who’d been playing in the seniors go back ended up being the perfect opportunity.
“He kicked a goal with his first kick which got a big reaction from his under 15 teammates as well as the seniors who all got around him.”
For Jade Byron, the win made it back to back wins in the league under 13 netball award.
Byron polled 40 votes, with Nirranda’s Chloe Burleigh in second place with 34 votes.
“She’s basically a little superstar,” Kolora-Noorat 13 and under netball coach Meg Kenna said.
“She’d never played netball before when she joined us in 2022 when we were short and needed her to play.”
Kenna said Byron had mainly played in goal defence for the Power under 13s but was very versatile.
“She can play anywhere, she’s a natural talent who soaks up anything you tell her.
“She’s played a lot of 17 and under netball this year too, she plays mainly mid court there and definitely holds her own at that level.”
Byron has been captain of the Power’s 13 and under team for the past two years, represented the WDFNL at interleague level in 2025 and is on the talent ID pathway.
“Jade’s a natural leader who puts in 100 per cent at training,” Kenna said.
“She’s just such a positive, ripper kid.”