Kirby starts favourite for CHFL rookie of the year

THE Central Highlands Football League is bubbling with young talent eager to be named rookie of the year.Two CHFL clubs were unable to find a player who fitted the nomination criteria but the 12 others are all in with a solid chance of taking out the award.Four of the nominees played every senior match for their respective clubs.Glenn Kirby starts as a heavy favourite after playing every match for Daylesford and was the Bulldogs' best in their grand final loss.Hepburn's Beau Ryan has a premiership medallion around his neck and is also fancied, as will Creswick's Steve Patterson who had a stellar year in the middle of the park.Ash Munari was a dominant player for Gordon and finished runner-up in The Courier player of the year competition, while Darren Bruty (Beaufort), Dan Milne (Clunes), Bryce Mullane (Dunntown), Brad Knowles (Learmonth) and Nathan Mahoney (Springbank) all had fantastic seasons.The award will be presented at the Mid City Motel tonight with former Richmond defender Andrew Kellaway the guest speaker.CHFL Rookie of the Year NominationsBallan: nil (no player fits the criteria) Beaufort: Darren BrutyBruty has played 100 junior games for Beaufort and this year played 14 games at senior level.Taking up a position either on the wing or half-forward, Bruty has good pace and reads the game well, and was a highlight for the Crows against Daylesford in round 15.Bungaree: Josh BrownIn his second year at Bungaree, Brown has played nine senior matches.With playing coach Jayden Reid in the midfield, Brown filled a role as a key forward in the seniors, while in the reserves he played as a forward and ruckman.Buninyong: nil (no player fits the criteria)Clunes: Daniel MilneMilne played every game for the Magpies seniors this year, being part of a fast-improving defence and experienced midfield.He has not missed a training session this season and has proven to be a strong club man who has shown a great willingness to learn.Creswick: Steve PattersonThis small crumbing forward-cum-winger is quick, a good over-head mark and played every match this season for Creswick.He was consistently among the highlights and his side's best players.His biggest highlight this season was kicking five goals in round 14 against Ballan.Daylesford: Glenn KirbyKirby lined-up in every match for the Bulldogs this season including four finals matches.He was Daylesford's best player in the grand final and often goes unnoticed as a midfielder that does a run-with or tagging role on the opposition's best player.Dunnstown: Bryce MullaneDebuted in round two and quickly secured a spot in the team.The small forward proved to be a good rover and has shown strong on-field leadership, even in his debut year.Gordon: Ashley MunariMunari finished runner-up in The Courier player of the year award and also was his club's highest vote getter in the Geoff Taylor medal.He was also the Eagles leading goal-kicker with a tally of 20.Hepburn: Beau RyanIs the leading junior in the CHFL and has played senior football for Hepburn on and off since his senior debut as a 15-year-old.This year, Ryan was able to consolidate his position in the senior side to become a member of the 2008 premiership side.Learmonth: Brad KnowlesAfter playing the 2007 season in the under-18 side, Knowles played in last year's finals series with the Learmonth seniors.In 2008 he spent a majority his time in the senior side, particularly during the Lakies' 11 game winning streak.He is a versatile player in both the forward line and defence.Newlyn: Lachlan ShawShaw played 12 senior games and five reserves games this year and polled six votes in the CHFL reserves best and fairest.He has played all his football at Newlyn and achieved more than 100 matches as a junior.In his first year of senior football, Shaw was able to hold down key positions at full-back, centre half-forward and on the wing.Springbank: Nathan MahoneyMahoney took some convincing that he was ready for senior football at the start of the year but finished up playing all 17 matches for his senior side.He was among the Tigers' best on nine occasions and maintained his fitness through the season despite working in Melbourne.Waubra: Lachlan VassIn his third year of football, Vass played nine senior games and seven reserve games in 2008.Playing as a back pocket or half-back, he was named in the best twice for the seniors and six times for the reserves. Prior to 2008, he had played just 18 games of football.