From 1947 to 2011 the Harold Ball Memorial Trophy was awarded to the best first year player. Ball won the club's Best First Year Player award in 1939 and died before World War II. In early 1946 Ball's mother donated a trophy for the best first year player, and from there the award was named after Ball.
From 2012 it has been presented to the 'Best Young Player' - in 2022 the rules were given as eligible players needing to have played less than 33 games and be under 21-years-old at the start of the season.
Best First Year Player
| Year | Winner |
| 1933 | Les Jones |
| 1934 | Allan La Fontaine |
| 1935 | Ray Wartman |
| 1936 | Unknown |
| 1937 | Unknown |
| 1938 | Dick Hingston |
| 1939 | Harold Ball |
| 1940 | Col McLean |
| 1941 | Ted Cordner |
| 1942 | Donald Cordner |
| 1943 | Unknown |
| 1944 | Esmond Downey |
| 1945 | Roy Stabb |
| 1946 | Len Dockett |
Harold Ball Memorial Trophy
Media
Argus - 26/02/1943
Sun - 07/02/1946