sport, local-sport, sam weddell, northern territory football league, waratah, southern mallee giants
SOUTHERN Mallee Giants footballer Sam Weddell has taken out the best-and-fairest award for Northern Territory Football League club Waratah. Weddell relocated during the summer to continue playing football and said it was an honour to take out the award in his first year at the club. “I wasn’t really expecting to win it,” he said. “We were told before the count it was going to be tight. I had a pretty good start to the season so I thought I might have had a chance.” Weddell featured in the top grade in the Northern Territory Football League – the premier league. His side finished sixth on the ladder out of eight teams and missed the finals cut. It is often difficult for southern recruits to adapt to the conditions in the north and Weddell said he found it tough at first. “The start of the season was during the build up before the wet season and it was really hot and humid every training,” he said. Along with Weddell, Brock Orval of the Giants also travelled to Darwin for the season. Weddell said they were both looking forward to returning to Victoria as the Giants prepare to tackle the Wimmera Football League for the first time. “I can’t wait to get back – the whole club is excited for the Wimmera League,” he said. “We will definitely be competitive and right up there.” Laharum’s Robbie Miller has also been plying his trade up north, and will feature in a preliminary final this week for the Waratah’s second side in division one.
