A personal goal to become a better leader paved the way for Redland midfielder Hayden Bertoli-Simmonds to realise his full potential.
The 21-year-old was elevated to the Bombers leadership group for the first time at the beginning of the year, where took his game to a new level to win the 2016 NEAFL Rising Star Award at the competition’s awards night on August 21.
A Morningside junior, Bertoli-Simmonds won a NEAFL premiership as a top-up player for Brisbane in his debut season in 2013.
He switched to Redland last year to further his footballing opportunities, and now joins an elite group of Rising Star winners since the competition’s inception in 2011.
NEAFL Northern Conference winners Andrew Boston (2012) and Josh Smith (2013) – who won his award with Morningside before switching to Redland – were drafted by Gold Coast and Collingwood respectively.
Redland duo Paul Hunter (2014) and Matt Uebergang (2015) were snapped up by Adelaide and Fremantle when the NEAFL merged into a single league.
Bertoli-Simmonds, who beat the likes of ex-Collingwood rookie Michael Manteit, Sydney leading goalkicker Matt Wilson, and top draft prospects Brad Scheer and Jack Bowes, said it was a shock to win the award from what is regarded as the most talented list of nominees in the competition’s history.
“I thought Manteit had a pretty good year, and Bowes and Scheer and those Under-18s boys have had really good years, so I wasn’t sure which was it was going to go,” he said.
“To go after Josh, Matt and Paul, who I am good mates with, that means a lot. To be recognised alongside those guys who are now playing AFL, it’s very humbling. I’m pretty lost for words.”
Bertoli-Simmonds earned his nomination in Round 1 when he polled maximum NEAFL MVP votes in a 10-point win over Canberra.
He polled the second-most MVP votes for his club in 2016, where the former Lions Academy member averaged 23 disposals, seven tackles and five inside 50s a game.
With six players from the Bombers being drafted to AFL clubs last year, Bertoli-Simmonds wanted to take on more responsibility on the field this season.
Bertoli-Simmonds said he was confident he could produce a breakout season in 2016 after gradually improving his performances over the past three years.
“I still thought there was definitely times throughout the year where I could have tried to be a bit more consistent with my performances, but I set a bit of a goal at the start of the year to take on more responsibility within the group,” he said.
“In terms of the previous years before that, I think it’s been a gradual build in confidence and building body and stuff like that - and it’s continuing to improve.
“I guess I tried to give myself the best preparation to have a good year, and it’s probably been my best so far.
“It got made easier with six blokes getting drafted last year. There was a midfield spot available with Josh Smith leaving, and I tried to take a responsibility for that.”
Redland midfielder Blake Gewar was named in the NEAFL Team of the Year, while forward Luke Rogerson won Goal of the Year for his match-winning, left-foot snap against Sydney University at Tidbold Park.
