JL goes back-to-back-to-back

prestonfc.com.au
Aug 31
3 min read

Bullants superstar Jean-Luc Velissaris wins a third consecutive Laurie Hill Trophy.

Jean-Luc Velissaris has capped off another strong season to make history, going back-to-back-to-back to be awarded the Laurie Hill Trophy at the Bullants' 2025 best-and-fairest night.

Velissaris polled a total of 137 votes from his 18 games to win the award for the third consecutive season.

He becomes the only player in the Northern Bullants era to win the best-and-fairest for three seasons in a row, and just the second player in Preston history to achieve the feat (Ted Henrys won Preston's best-and-fairest award three times between 1951 and 1953).

It adds to his already impressive record at the club, including an Alan Joyce Trophy (2022), two Past Players' Player of the Year awards (2023 and 2024) and 98 club games, having played his 100th VFL game in round 21.

JL's 2025 by the numbers

292 kicks (average 16.2)
198 handballs (average 11.0)
490 disposals (average 27.2)
86 tackles (average 4.4)
80 marks (average 4.4)
17 goals

Patrick Fairlie took home the Ray Shaw Trophy as the club's second best-and-fairest with 112 votes. His consistency was shown all year on the stats sheet, making it fitting that it was also his third consecutive season (and in his third season as an Ant) winning the award.

In a season where he played his 50th VFL game, John Jorgensen won the Alan Joyce Trophy as our third best-and-fairest with 71 votes. Jorgo also took home the Jamie "Spider" Shaw Award as the club's leading goalkicker for the second year in a row, booting 28 goals for the season (an increase from the 25 he kicked in 2024).

Deng Andrew won the Peter Weightman Award as our most courageous player. Having waited until round 8 to make his VFL debut, Deng showed significant development to become a valued part of our backline and play all remaining twelve games.

Christopher Scerri was rewarded for his form as another emerging star, receiving the W.K. Deacon Award as our best first-year player in 2025. Having come straight from Strathmore under-18s into senior VFL footy, Chris played all 18 games and averaged 12.4 disposals.

Bullants stalwart Peter Darcy was recognised as Best Clubman for 2025, taking home the Oscar Lipson Award. Known as familiar face to every person who walks through the gates at Cramer Street, 'Darc' has been volunteering at the Bullants for decades.

Stasi Annou, a member of the media and marketing team at the Bullants since 2024, won the Presidents Award for her dedicated volunteer work.

Additionally, Sam Donegan was officially presented with the Harold Martin Medal for his best-on-ground efforts in the Battle of Bell Street loss to Coburg a month prior in round 18.

Tributes came throughout the night for all the club's players, coaches, staff, volunteers and supporters, with a strong contingent of around 100 people packing out the Genis Steel Oval function centre on Friday.

Club President Neil Howard congratulated all the winners and spoke highly of senior coach Rohan 'Woosha' Welsh after Friday evening.

Woosha was on crutches throughout the summer and hospitalised in March. This meant Rocky Iannello was the stand-in coach in round 1 and still played a significant leading role in round 2 when Woosha first returned, followed on with his continuous work alongside the entire coaching staff for the remainder of the year.

Howard said:

"The lost (now found) Preston blood came to the fore when Rohan spoke. By the time he finished addressing the presentation, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Rohan spoke from the heart, and spoke the truth. He spoke about the fight, the spirit, the camaraderie, the trying times, the lost 2024 season, his personal health, his own determination, and the mettle of the players.

His voice cracked at times, but what I found refreshing about his speech was that he cleared the air, he banished the deadwood, and he spoke about a fighting spirit we haven’t felt for seasons. Listening to him and watching the people in the room with mouths agape, he told it as it should be told.