18 September 2017

Aquinas College, Ringwood, student Ben White has stunned suburban league football fans by winning his eighth successive best and fairest award.

Ben, who plays for Bayswater in the Eastern Football League, was named the competition’s most valuable player in the under-17s, but says he’s still aiming for a grand finals win.

I have been in a total of five final series, making the grand final twice but unable to pull off a win,’ Ben says, ‘losing by one point in under 14s.

Along the way I have been lucky enough to win eight best and fairest awards.’

Despite the acclaim, Ben describes himself as a “kid who just enjoys his footy”.

My love for the game started in the living room and the backyard, where my brother Ryan and I would go head to head,’ he says.

After a couple of split open heads and a few broken blinds mum thought she better sign me up for Auskick.’

Bayswater club officials fear Ben’s relative lack of height has given AFL recruiters second thoughts about signing the young star.

But his Aquinas coach, Paul Jess, praises his hard work, resilience and constant efforts to improve his game.

‘Hopefully that knock on the door will eventually come,’ Paul says.

‘In the meantime, we look forward to Ben helping Aquinas College achieve more success over his final year with us.’

Ben brought his 2017 football year to a strong close as part of the Aquinas team winning Division 2 of the Herald Sun Shield with a crushing 13.13.91 to 4.3.27 victory over Woodleigh College.

For more read the article in the Knox Leader 13 September 2017.