Football
2 November, 2025
Dual winners claim Demons' best and fairest
Benjamin Janetzki and Jasper Gunn are dual recipients of the Horsham Football Netball Club's best and fairest for seniors this season.
Tyler Blake finished as runner-up.
Gunn made the move to the Demons from Kalkee in the Horsham District Football Netball League last season and was among the best for his side in 13 of the 16 games he played this year.
Janetzki has played the majority of his footy with the Demons and was one of the best for his team in 12 of his 14 games in 2025.
While Gunn said he had a consistent season, he said there was still plenty of room for improvement.
He played an important role in encouraging the side's youngsters this year and said a highlight had been seeing the growth and improvement in these players from the beginning to the end of the season.
And Gunn said these players had the opportunity to stand up, with a few of their more experienced players being injured during the season.
"We definitely faced some challenges throughout the year with a few of our more senior players going down with injuries," he said.
"This resulted in them missing quite a bit of footy but it also gave the boys who are younger an opportunity to get some footy in seniors under their belt."
For Gunn it came as a complete surprise to claim the best and fairest but he said it was "cool" to win it alongside Janetzki.
He attributed the success to consistently training and having a team-first mentality.
"That definitely comes down to having good teammates as well," he said.
Gunn has already committed to Horsham again for next season and says he is looking forward to achieving better results in 2026 with his side.
"Hopefully we will see plenty of improvement from this season," Gunn said.
"With a new coach coming in, the boys will be looking forward to getting stuck into preseason and hopefully climbing the ladder."
Meanwhile, Janetzki is hoping the fact that the Demons played better together at the end of last season will hold them in good stead heading into 2026.
The Demons claimed only one match in the season just ended and that was in round 16 against Warrack.
Janetzki, who booted three majors in the match, said for him the victory was the highlight of the season.
He said the win was for their supporters, most of who were boundary side game in, game out all season.
"The amount (of support) we had in the rooms after the win, that was pretty special," Janetzki said.
"It was a good reward, especially at the end of the year.
"We'd gone so many rounds without a win and then to finally get one in the last few rounds of the year was special to the boys and a lot of the supporters as well."
While he started the season in the middle, Janetzki ended the season playing more forward after an injury at work limited his possibilities.
"For the time (the footy) was in there, it was fun and it was good to get on the end of a few," he said of playing in the forward line.
But he said he thought the change in positions would be the downfall in him potentially winning the best and fairest just as the competition heated up in the count.
"I was up there but I knew this injury was coming and I was expecting not to do well in the last five games," he said.
"How it all panned out was pretty special."
Like Gunn, Janetzki has already recommitted to the Demons and says he is also looking forward to a more successful year.
"They have everything ticking over better for next season, with a few recruits and having kept the core group," he said.
"It will be good to bond together for another 12 months."
Other award winners in seniors included: most consistent Rhys Barber, most determined Samuel Janetzki, best first-year player Jackson Hoffmann and coaches' award Billy Carberry.
Awards were also presented to the following players:
- reserves: best and fairest Bradley Hartigan, runner-up Ryan Backhouse, most consistent Sam Bigham, most determined Allistair McKinnon, best utility Oliver Hier, coaches' award Colby Anderson
- under 17s: best and fairest Chaz Smith, runner-up Harry Millar, most consistent Zavier Purdue, most determined Zac Martin, most improved Judah Pumpa, best utility Christian Wait, coaches' award Iden Kleinitz
- under 14s: best and fairest Chavi Sulic, runner-up Nate Ellis, most consistent Archie Knight, most determined Baxta Wade, most effective Chace Hall, best utility Mason Rodgers, best team player Flynn Mibus
- netball – A grade: best and fairest Georgie Carberry, runner-up Imogen Worthy, best in finals Georgie Carberry, coaches award Keely Pope, best under 21 player Imogen Worthy
- B grade: best and fairest Brianna Luciani, Phoebe Uebergang and Sarah Miller, runner-up Georgia Baxter, best in finals Georgia Baxter, coaches' award Sarah Miller
- C grade: best and fairest Georgie Hobbs, runner-up Macey Kalms, best in finals Macey Kalms, coaches' award Erika Reinhard
- under 17s: best and fairest Karla Hallam and Zarli Knight, runner-up Ruby Janetzki, best in finals Zarli Knight, coaches' award Lexy Wade
- under 15s: best and fairest Malaya Willmore, runner-up Ryder Thomas, best in finals Ryder Thomas, coaches' award Poppy White
- under 13s: best and fairest Luella Burke, runner-up Jenna Lockhart, best in finals Lexi Kleinitz, coaches' award Pixie Farr.
Life membership was awarded to Craig Heard while Ricky Nelson was acknowledged as the best clubperson and Ella Hallam received the Nikki Dewit Award.