PORT Adelaide teenager Scott Burnett has been rewarded for a highly impressive 2011 season, winning the two most significant prizes in the SANFL Under 18 competition.
The Club congratulates Scott for winning the McCallum Tomkins Medal for the best player in the league, along with the Macca’s Cup Most Valuable Player Award for the fairest and most brilliant performer in competition.
Scott - who was recruited into the Magpies’ Youth Talent Squad from the Salisbury West Football Club - adds the prizes to his 2010 Club Best and Fairest Award, an honour he could again claim in 2011.
Port Adelaide Development Manger Julian Farkas says Scott had enjoyed another outstanding season, playing 14 games at Under 18 level and the last five games of the year in the Reserves.
“Playing Reserves has been a step up for Scott but he’s earned the opportunity and we are sure he will continue to develop,” Julian said.
“He dominates in the 18s with his extremely good clearance work and his burst of speed.”
Standing just 166cm tall and weighing 72kg, Scott plays mostly in the midfield but has proved effective forward, kicking 17 goals in the Under 18s including two bags of four goals.
“His best asset is his clearance work, but he’s not too bad up forward,” Julian said.
“But the midfield is his go and that’s where he’ll ply his trade in the future.”
Scott won the McCallum Tomkins Medal by two votes and will be awarded the prestigious prize at the Magarey Medal count on 20 September.
He claimed the Macca’s Cup Most Valuable Player Award following his nomination for his effort against Sturt in Round 10, in which he tallied 37 possessions, kicked two goals and took 10 marks.
Five Magpies were nominated for the award during a season in which the Club finished on top of the Under 18 ladder. Scott was awarded the title by a judging panel headed by SANFL Talent Manager and State Under 18 Coach Brenton Phillips. He receives a medal and $1000 in prizemoney from McDonalds.
After being promoted for the last five games of 2011, Scott is qualified to play in the Magpies Under 18s and Reserves finals campaigns.
Julian believes Scott is a League footballer in the making.
“He’s shown he can do it in the Under 18s and has had his opportunity in the Reserves,” Julian said.
“With his (lack of) height he will need to be persistent and have a red hot crack in the pre-season, but we don’t want to see him back in the Under 18s.
“I’m sure with persistence and hard work he’ll be pushing for league selection next year.”
Scott is also a strong chance of taking back-to-back Port Adelaide Under 18 Best and Fairest Awards, having featured in the best players 9 times this season.
