Melville & Staines big winners from 2024 Hockey WA Annual Awards

As excitement and anticipation built toward the 2024 Stiles Electrical Premier League Grand Final Day, the Perth hockey community turned out to Optus Stadium to celebrate the efforts of their peers throughout the season.

Players, coaches and officials swapped out their hockey uniforms and dressed to the nines on Monday night during the Hockey WA Annual Awards, where Melville City’s Jake Staines and Whitford's Elyssa Melville were the big winners of the night, claiming the Olympian's Medal and the Charlesworth Medal respectively.

Canberra import Staines featured in all but one game throughout the 2024 Stiles Electrical Premier League home and away season, racking up 23 votes a year after being pipped by a single vote for the top accolade.

“I was pretty nervous going into the night and during the count,” he said.

“It feels great to get some acknowledgement for how hard you worked during the year.

“You never really strive for individual achievements in a team sport, it’s just a bonus.”

The win also sees Jake join his brother Ben as Olympians’ Medallists, after Ben won the medal in 2022.

“It feels good to join Ben as an Olympians’ Medallist,” he said.

“I always think his form is top-notch so to be recognised at the same level is good.”

Elyssa Melville pulled off a prestigious double win, claiming her first Charlesworth Medal after racking up 22 votes, and winning back-to-back Rechelle Hawkes Youth Player of the Year awards.

Melville shined for Whitford once again during the Stiles Electrical Premier League season to become one of the youngest Charlesworth medallists.

The 20-year-old joins elite company as one of few players to have won the Charlesworth Medal and the Rechelle Hawkes Youth Player of the Year, joining Kate Denning (2010) and Georgia Wilson (2014).

Melville is also the first player to win back-to-back Rechelle Hawkes Youth Player of the Year awards since Amy Lawton in 2020 and 2021.

“I’m pretty stoked - a bit shocked but very happy,” she said.

“The Whitfords crew, they got me to where I am today so I’m super happy I got this for us.

“With the Hockey One season coming up, I’m hoping to have a good tournament and play as much as I can and progress as far as I can.”

YMCC’s Max Freedman has continued to prove he is a rising star, winning the Paul Gaudoin Youth Player of the Year award for the second time after being named a joint winner with UWA’s Cambell Geddes last year.

The award comes off the back of becoming a three-time WA Under-21 National Championship player, being announced as part of the Burras squad that will compete at the Sultan of Johor Cup in October, as well as joining the Perth Thundersticks Men’s team for the first time.

For the first time, the Hockey WA Annual Awards shined a spotlight on the best of the best from the Premier League Division 2 competition, with YMCC’s Bente Baekers and Wesley South Perth’s Shaun Shackley named as the division’s Players of the Year.

Baekers won the Women’s Player of the Year award after a dominant season with YMCC., dominating on the turf and scoring 43 goals throughout the season to contribute to the team’s minor premiership.

Shackley claimed the Men’s Player of the Year award after a strong season with Wesley South Perth, racking up 39 goals amid consistent performances to help earn his team a finals berth.

Reds Hockey Club’s Brodee Foster was awarded the Eric Pearce Top Goal Scorer for Men award for the first time in a tight race for the trophy that was decided when he scored a hat-trick during his team’s Round 22 match against North Coast Raiders to finish with 27 goals for the season.

The win also marks the first time a player from the Reds Hockey Club (fka Old Aquinians Hockey Club) won the trophy since Michael McCann won it in 1998.

Victoria Park young gun Beatriz Monger-Molowny was awarded the Jackie Pereira Top Goal Scorer for Women award for the first time after scoring 16 goals throughout the home and away season.

Monger-Molowny’s efforts mark the first time a player from Victoria Park Xavier Hockey Club has won the award.

Modernians-OGM’s Heath Cremasco was named the Fairest & Best Goalkeeper for Men, while Wesley South Perth’s Elizabeth Duguid won the Fairest & Best Goalkeeper for Women award.

Following standout performances during the 2023 Hockey One season, Elizabeth Duguid and Ben Rennie were named the Perth Thundersticks Players of the Year.