Faceoff star Stock claims Brighton’s first Isaachsen Trophy in 53 years

Brighton faceoff star Jackson Stock has claimed the 2023 O.C Isaachsen Trophy after beating out MCC’s Steven Stojkos and Phoenix’s Ethan Moir to claim the Lacrosse Australia’s highest individual accolade awarded in Men’s field lacrosse.

The O.C Isaachsen Trophy is awarded to the highest individual honour awarded in Men’s Field Lacrosse each year, with the O.C Isaachsen Trophy awarded to the player who scored the highest number of best player votes during the course of the Australian field lacrosse season, with the votes awarded in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia aggregated to determine a winner.

Stock enjoyed a dominant season for Brighton Lacrosse Club in South Australia throughout 2023, bursting onto the national lacrosse scene this season whilst also making his debut for the Australian senior team at the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championships in San Diego. Back home, Stock become a dominant force in the South Australian competition dominating the faceoff all season with sublime hands in the middle and elite athleticism. Stock’s contribution was a key to yet another deep run by Brighton which saw Brighton make the 2023 South Australian Grand Final.

After claiming South Australia’s Memorial Medal, Stock was thrilled to claim the Isaachsen, “winning the Isaachsen Trophy means the absolute world to me” said Stock, “to win an award of this prestige shows that hard work, dedication and discipline can get you anywhere you want to be in life”.

On reflecting on his season, Stock was quick to reflect on his Brighton team, “I had a lot of fun this season with the boys, obviously didn’t get the result we wanted but it’s definitely been a big learning curve and it makes me so keen to play next season”.

“This award is as much about those that have supported me in lacrosse, Mango, Jock, Tom Freeman, Anson Carter, Jack Woodford and the entire Brighton Lacrosse Club community, my family, my beautiful girlfriend who’s pretty rad and especially Jesus Christ because if he wasn’t with me though this journey I wouldn’t be where I’m at with lacrosse”, said Stock, “I have also been lucky with the support I received from the Aussie team this year especially my coach Glenn and my fellow faceoff players, Tim Graham and Sean Clarke who helped me fix little things in my faceoff game”.

Brighton coach Mark Mangan praised Stock for his dominant season, “Jackson was an absolute standout for us at Brighton this season. Jackson excelled on multiple fronts and was rewarded with his debut for Australia in San Diego and the South Australian Memorial Medal” said Mangan, “Jackson was simply dominant in the faceoff all season winning an astounding 95% of his draws. Jackson was the engine that drove us all season and his execution was instrumental”.

Stock is the first winner of the Is O.C Isaachsen Trophy in 53 years, and is Brighton’s third winner following Michael Aldenhoven (1964) and Michaell Raggatt (1970). This is the 24th time in the 67 year history of the O.C Isaachsen Trophy that the award has been won by a South Australian and the second year in a row following Garrette Briggs win in 2022.

The O.C Isaachsen Trophy was donated by Cedric Isaachsen to the Australian Lacrosse Council (ALC) in 1963. He was a remarkable man who had a distinguished military career, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and earning the honour of Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), followed by a distinguished legal career. Mr. Isaachsen was President of ALC 1962-65, then Vice-President for 14 years until 1979. He was elected as a Fellow of the ALC in 1994. He lived in South Australia and died in 2009, aged 97 years.

2023 O.C Isaachsen Trophy Winner, Jackson Stock - Brighton Lacrosse Club