Trio of first time nominees stake claim for 2023 O.C Isaachsen Trophy
24 November 2023
Lacrosse Australia have announced that the three finalists for the 2023 O.C Isaachsen Trophy will be MCC’s Steven Stojkos, Phoenix’s Ethan Moir and Brighton’s Jackson Stock this year.
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.
The winner of South Australia’s Memorial Medal and this year’s South Australian nominee is Jackson Stock from the Brighton Lacrosse Club. Stock burst onto the national lacrosse scene this season, making his debut for the Australian senior team whilst becoming a dominant force in the South Australian competition. A faceoff specialist with sublime hands in the middle, Stock was an essential cog in Brighton’s run into the 2023 final where his faceoff craft gave the Bombers first use more often than not. “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. 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” said Brighton Coach Mark Mangan. Stock would be the third winner of the O.C Isaachsen Trophy from Brighton following Michael Aldenhoven (1964) and Michaell Raggatt (1970).
The winner of Victoria’s V.P Healy Memorial Cup and this year’s Victorian nominee is Steven Stojkos from the MCC Lacrosse Club. Stojkos lead his MCC squad this season back into the Victorian State League finals series after a tremendous year, with the MCC goalkeeper taking charge of one of the stingiest defences in the country. “There were countless times throughout the season where we were down and out and we were brought back to life by some Steve Stokes magic between the pipes. Steve has been a huge asset to our club and one of the best keepers in the country since he made the move over from Western Australia almost 8 years ago. I’m thrilled that he’s finally getting the recognition that he deserves” said MCC Coach Nick Kiloh. Stojkos will be the first ever winner of the O.C Isaachsen Trophy from MCC.
The winner of Western Australia’s Regal Cup and this year’s Western Australian nominee is Ethan Moir from the Phoenix Lacrosse Club. A 2022 Australian U20 representative, expectations in 2023 where always going to be high for the young star out of Phoenix however Moir more then stepped up, leading the Phoenix offence, and his team, to their first finals berth in decades. Moir was a dominant playmaker out West, scoring and creating for teammates despite drawing the best defender from the opposition each week. “Ethan’s endless work ethic made him an absolute stand out for us this season. Ethan was entrusted with a lot of responsibility for our young group and it was often up to Ethan to set the tone for us. Ethan not only showed that he was up to that task, leading us back to the finals, but more importantly he continued to mature and develop as leader of our club on and off the field” said Phoenix Coach Nathan Rainey. Moir will be the first ever winner of the O.C Isaachsen Trophy from Phoenix.
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.
The winner of the O.C Isaachsen Trophy will be announced on the Lacrosse Australia Facebook page on Friday, 1 December 2023 at 7.00pm (AEDT).
