HERITAGE ROUND 13 PLAYERS OF THE DAY — DENZEL VEIKUNE & TESSA GOOD
Heritage Round 2026 produced two individual performances worthy of the occasion. Congratulations to Denzel Veikune, named Men’s Player of the Day and recipient of the Craig Morton Medal, and Tessa Good, whose debut performance for the Premier Women was one of the finest seen in the Eagles’ women’s program. Two deserving winners on a historic day at The Nest.
DENZEL VEIKUNE — MEN’S PLAYER OF THE DAY | CRAIG MORTON MEDAL
Denzel Veikune was at his best on Heritage Round, delivering a standout performance in the 1st Grade’s 48–34 win over Wests that earned him not just the Player of the Day honours but also the Craig Morton Medal — voted by the Eagles Old Boys on the day.
The Craig Morton Medal carries special significance on Heritage Round, awarded by the men who built this club and know what it takes to perform in the red and black. That Denzel earned their recognition speaks volumes about the quality of his performance.
Well done Denzel. A deserving winner on a very special day.
TESSA GOOD — PREMIER WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE DAY
Club debuts don’t come much better than this.
Tessa Good came off the bench in the 18th minute of the Premier Women’s 61–10 demolition of Wests, and her immediate impact was felt across every phase of the game. For those watching, it felt like she had been duplicated — every time Wests broke the line or spread the ball, Tessa was there, making her presence felt in the most direct way possible.
Relentless at the breakdown, selfless with ball in hand, and creating space for her teammates with every carry — Tessa’s performance drew comparisons with the playing style of Women’s coach Darragh O’Byrne in his own playing days. Not the biggest on the pitch, but consistently hitting the hardest and winning every collision.
It was that kind of debut. The kind that makes the whole club stop and take notice.
A stellar performance that played a significant role in one of the Eagles Women’s biggest wins of the 2026 season. Welcome to the Eagles family properly, Tessa. We can’t wait to see what comes next.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH AWARD WINNERS
Denzel and Tessa — two completely different performances on the same afternoon, both absolutely deserving of recognition. On Heritage Round, on a packed Nicholls Oval, with the Old Boys watching on — they both delivered.
FOLLOW EVERY MOMENT
Follow the Gungahlin Eagles on our Social Media accounts for live match-day updates, scores, photos, and all the action and beyond. Don’t miss a thing this season.
