Doveton ball magnet Michael Henry is the first player nominated for the ‘2006 Gazette Young Gun’ award.MICHAEL Henry may be small in stature, but the Doveton playmaker is big on ability and that has earned him the first nomination for the ‘2006 Gazette Young Gun’ award in the Casey Cardinia League.
Henry’s name was put forward several times in 2005 as among the best youngsters running around the league, but as he was still eligible for under18s, he just missed the cut, despite being named as an interchange player in the Pakenham Gazette Team of the Year.
A new season has brought the just turned 19yearold premiership player new challenges and his efforts as one of the prime movers in Doveton’s two seasonopening victories has seen him earn the year’s first accolade.
Henry played all his junior football at Endeavour Hills and came under notice as a talented prospect after his under17 season with the combined Endeavour HillsDoveton side.
Nicknamed ‘Pickles’, Henry has quickly gained a reputation as a fierce and fearless rover who, despite being named captain of the Doves under18s last year, spent the whole season in the senior team.
He now lives in Narre Warren, but calls Doveton home and is content playing with and learning his football from his talented teammates.
He is a keen St Kilda supporter and cited new Narre Warren coach Aussie Jones as his idol, but gave credit to others as big influences on his football.
“At Doveton it’s really blokes like Bully (Clint Wilson), Jussy (Justin Hill) and Matty Miller who have introduced me to the club and made me so welcome here,” he said.
“Also Alan Mowat, who was my under16’s coach at Endeavour Hills. I learned a lot off him.
“I love Doveton and I’m happy here. If I got asked to go up higher, I’d probably give it a go, but this is my club,” he said.
