Skip to main content

News

2026 BFNL Rising Star Award - South Bendigo Nominees

News
2026 BFNL Rising Star Award - South Bendigo Nominees
Published on:
30 July 2026

As part of our 2026 BFNL Rising Star Award presented by Bart n Print, we are going through each Club's nominees and next is South Bendigo FNC.

The Bloods have nominated Logan Howell & Chase Poyser as their football nominees and Mia Smith & Lily McKee as their netballers. 

Lily McKee

Lily has enjoyed an impressive transition from the goal circle into the midcourt, where she has become an influential Wing Attack through her versatility, coachability and strong netball IQ.

A key driver of South Bendigo's attacking play, McKee consistently provides strong leads, makes excellent decisions with ball in hand and creates opportunities for her teammates through her relentless work rate.

Her positive attitude, commitment to continual improvement and willingness to contribute both on and off the court make her a valued member of the club.

Lily's development has been recognised through selection in South Bendigo's Under 17 team and as a training partner for the BFNL Under 15 Representative Team. She also gives back to the game as a badged umpire across both the CVNA and BFNL C Grade competitions, further demonstrating her dedication to the sport.

Mia Smith

Mia has quickly established herself as one of South Bendigo's most promising young netballers through her exceptional game awareness and versatility.

A natural defender, she possesses an outstanding ability to read the play, anticipate opposition movements and shut down key players, while her pinpoint passing consistently creates attacking opportunities in transition.

This season she has also embraced an important role through the centre, continuing to develop the attacking side of her game while maintaining her trademark composure under pressure.

Mia's outstanding junior career includes the MCDFNL Under 15 League Best and Fairest, the Maryborough Giants Under 15 Best and Fairest, selection in the MCDFNL Under 15 Interleague Team, representation with the North Central Under 15 State Titles team, and most recently, selection in the 2026 BFNL Under 15 Representative Team—recognition of her exciting talent and continued development.

Chase Poyser

Chase has emerged as one of South Bendigo's most exciting young footballers, earning his place in the senior program through his fearless attack on the contest and uncompromising defensive mindset.

A hard ball winner who thrives in one-on-one situations, Poyser consistently puts his body on the line, applying relentless tackling pressure and winning possession in the toughest areas of the ground.

His no-fuss attitude and willingness to do the team-first roles have made him an invaluable contributor throughout the season. His outstanding form has also been recognised at Talent League level, where he has played 12 matches for the Bendigo Pioneers in 2026, been named among the team's best players six times, and currently leads the Talent League Under 18 Boys competition for tackles with 71—highlighting his exceptional work rate and defensive commitment.

Logan Howell

Logan has developed into one of South Bendigo's most dangerous young forwards, making an impact at both Under 18 and senior level with his strong marking, clean hands and reliable goal-kicking.

Adding a new dimension to the Bloods' forward line, Howell has consistently found the scoreboard while also presenting as a strong aerial target and working tirelessly for his teammates.

His impressive football journey includes finishing runner-up in the Maryborough Football Club Under 18 Best and Fairest in 2024, joining the Bendigo Pioneers train-on squad in 2025, claiming South Bendigo's Under 18 Leading Goal Kicker Award after booting 39 goals from just 11 BFNL matches, and earning selection in the 2026 BFNL Under 18 Interleague team, where he was appointed captain.

These achievements reflect his outstanding leadership, consistency and exciting future in the game.

Latest Articles