WA's Walker and Copeland named Best Players in Australia

The Lacrosse WA Board congratulates Lachlan Walker on being awarded the O.C Isaachsen Trophy and Madison Copeland claiming the Shelley Maher trophy for 2019.

Walker is the first Wanneroo-Joondalup player to be awarded the honour and the seventh West Australian male in nine years. The Isaachsen Trophy is awarded to the fairest and best player Australia-wide in the most senior men’s State competition home and away qualifying round matches, based on votes awarded by match referees. 

Walker, who was a member of the 2018 Australian Men’s Team, recently won Lacrosse WA’s Men’s State League Fairest and Best Award, the Cann-Griffin Trophy for highest point scorer and made the LWA All Star Team.  This year Walker also coached Wanneroo-Joondalup’s Division 2 team to a premiership and made the ALA All Star team captaining West Australia at the Senior Nationals.

Copeland has finished her season with an astonishing amount of silverware.  Not only was she a member of the 2019 U19 Australian Women’s team that won the bronze medal at the 2019 U19 Women’s World Championship, she was the lone Australian player chosen for the 2019 World Team.  Madison was also LWA's Runner up Women’s State League Fairest and Best, made the LWA All Star Team and won the Kuljak medal for best player in the women’s state league grand final where East Fremantle won their fifth premiership in a row.

The Shelley Maher Trophy is also awarded to the fairest and best player Australia-wide in the most senior women’s State competition home and away qualifying round matches, based on votes awarded by match umpires.   Votes for both trophies are adjusted based on the number of games played in each state to ensure fairness.

WA has consistently done well in winning the Isaachsen Trophy with past winners including Brad Goddard (2010, 2018), Matt Diver (2011), Thomas Graham (2013, 2016) Daniel Kennedy (2014), Mitchell Kennedy (2017) and Cam Evangelho (2018).  Copeland is the second West Australian to win the Shelley Maher with the first winner, Jessica Kennedy, also from the East Fremantle Lacrosse Club.

There is no rest in the off season for Madison or Lachlan with both players vying for positions in the next Men’s and Women’s Australian teams with their first state based camp shortly and the Southern Crosse Tournament in Melbourne in January.

Congratulations once again Madison and Lachlan, a great way to end your spectacular seasons.

Other articles from Nov 2019:

• WA's Walker and Copeland named Best Players in Australia