Nic Holdsworth won the VAFA Under 19s best and fairest after a stunning season with the Williamstown CYMS Football Club. 87362_04 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By LIAM TWOMEY
THE future is looking bright for the Williamstown CYMS Football Club, and leading the charge is rising star Nic Holdsworth.
The skilful midfielder is captain of the club’s under 19s side and recently capped off a stunning year by winning the competition’s best and fairest award.
Holdsworth was a picture of consistency during his 17 appearances for the CYs this season and was named in the club’s best performer on 14 occasions, including all finals matches.
He also impressed Williamstown coach Mathew Montebello, who described Holdsworth as a workaholic on the field.
“He is the sort of bloke that never plays a bad game,” Montebello said.
“Nic is the heart and soul of the group and he leads by example. He played four games in the seniors this year, and you couldn’t speak more highly of the kid. He is the future of the footy club.
“I said to someone yesterday, I could coach for 100 years and I wouldn’t coach someone that would be the way he is. I am rapt that I have him, he is almost like a second coach out there.”
Holdsworth is well known around the western suburbs football scene having gone through the Western Jets TAC Cup system as a junior.
While enjoying his time at the Jets, he said it was the atmosphere of a club like Williamstown that he liked most about playing football.
“It was fantastic to have that learning experience down at the Jets,” he said.
“I learnt a lot about footy as a game and about myself and how I go about it. I suppose the TAC Cup system probably doesn’t have the same atmosphere that a club like the CYs has got.
“For me, that’s what footy is all about. The moment that footy becomes a choir or something like that, it’s probably not worth playing anymore. It is all about mateship and getting out there with 22 mates.”
While his personal year was outstanding, it was also a great season for the CYs under 19s, which made the grand final before losing a tight contest to Old Geelong last week.
The result has left the future of Holdsworth up in the air, with the young gun set to consider entering the VFL system next season.
However, the CYs is where his heart will always be.
“I’ve thought long about it, and I was hoping that we might get over the line in the grand final. Then I would start to think about looking at the VFL system,” he said.
“There is sort of unfinished business at the CYs now to try and win a flag.”
