Football
8 October, 2025
Easson stars at Laharum awards night
Laharum Football Netball Club recently celebrated the 2025 season with their end-of-season awards nights, where midfielder Daniel Easson took home best and fairest for the club’s senior football side.
Along with winning the best in finals award, Easson backed up his 2024 best-and-fairest season, capping off a strong two years since returning to the club last year.
Quick to credit others before himself, Easson praised the various coaches who have contributed to his growth as a player over the years.
“In my nine or 10 years away from Laharum I was pretty fortunate to play under some great coaches at the Monash Blues where I played in Melbourne,” Easson said.
“Paul Groves was my coach initially, and he went on to coach the Western Bulldogs AFLW side, and Mark Passador for a couple of years.
"Those guys, as well as Shan back in the day and Shan and Robbie (Miller) the last couple of years, I've been pretty fortunate throughout my footy career to play under experienced and talented players and coaches.
“I attribute whatever success comes my way to those guys.
"They've been massive and I enjoy playing under them.”
Having returned to his home club last year, Easson says it feels odd being one of the veterans, and he is excited by the team’s ongoing development, having recommitted to Laharum for 2026.
“The last couple of years, getting an opportunity to play a final last year and then this year win two finals, it's a pretty big step forward,” Easson said.
“We're hungry for more success.
“Hopefully we go away this offseason and pick up a couple of players, and I think everyone is kind of sticking around and keen to give next year a red-hot crack.
“I loved coming home the last couple of years.
"It was a 10-year gap between when I played here as an 18-year-old and last year was 28, so I exited this side as one of the youngsters and come back as one of the veterans, which is a weird feeling.”
Runner-up to Easson in the vote count was co-coach Shannon Argall.
Other award recipients for the senior side included Will Miller taking out most consistent, Phil Butsch winning most determined, Alec McCallum being named most improved, and Connor Walsh receiving the coach’s award.
For Laharum’s A grade netball side, Ema Iredell was awarded best and fairest, beating out sister Maddie and Olivia Jones-Story, who finished second and third in the count, respectively.
Receiving the coach’s award was Courtney Taylor, while Jemma Thomas was best under 21 player.
For the club’s women’s football side, Catherine O’Dea took out the best and fairest, with Violet McGennisken being runner-up.
In other team awards, Ema Iredell was named most consistent, Paige Prentice was awarded most determined, Kate Oleinikov was most improved, the coach’s award went to Ruby Manson and Tarah Bond was awarded for being the league's leading goal scorer in the inaugural Wimmera league women’s football season.
Other football results included:
- reserves best and fairest: Daniel Down, runner-up: Ben Peucker; most determined: Dylan Cross; most consistent: Brodie Foster; best utility: Josh Haby; coach’s award: Tarykn Benbow
- under 17s best and fairest: Angus Mintern, runner-up and seniors most promising: Chase Whelan; most consistent: August Koch; most determined: Justin Mutch; best utility: Nash McKenzie; best first year player: Luca Goudie; best team player: Matthew Quick
- under 14s best and fairest: Joel Plazzer, runner-up: Angus Crute; most consistent and best in finals: Luke White; most determined: Lachie Dunn; best utility: Bailey Dridan; best first-year player: Judd Benson; coaches award: Hamish Mintern and Riley Wilson
- under 11s future star award: Cooper Steadman; most improved: Henry Eagle
- under 14.5 girls football best and fairest: Chloe Butsch and Claudia Penny, runner-up: Georgia Foster; most consistent: Evie Martin.
Other netball results included:
- B grade best and fairest: Hannah Plazzer, runner-up: Tarah Bond, third: Piper Brown; coach’s award: Bec Sudholz
- C grade best and fairest: Isobel Cameron, runner-up: Emily Humphries, third and coach’s award: Adele Rohde
- C Reserve best and fairest: Charli Watts, runner-up and best in finals: Bridget MacInnes, third: Mel Ellifson; coach’s award: Hailey Puls
- under 17s best and fairest: Ava Bell, runners-up: Imogen Dunn and Hannah Plazzer, third: Lani Watson; coaches award: Mollie Scott
- under 15s best and fairest: Maya Przibilla, runner-up and best in finals: Georgia Foster, third: Sienna Wood; coaches award: Eden Dunn
- under 13s best and fairest: Ava Smith, runner-up and best in finals: Steph Plazzer, third: Maya Smith; coaches award: Meg Arnel.