Netball medal wins spread across five clubs
Netball medal wins spread across five clubs
FIVE clubs shared in the spotlight as medal winners in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s fairest and best awards announced on Monday night.
Calling of votes for A-reserve, B-grade, B-reserve, and 17-and-under was broadcast on Radio Fresh fm 101.5 and streamed on Facebook.
Presentation of the awards will be held at this Sunday night’s Michelsen Medal and Betty Thompson Medal vote counts at Bendigo Club in Strathdale.
It was a dramatic finish to calling of votes in A-reserve for the Jenni Holborn Medal.
After 15 rounds it was Kangaroo Flat’s Emma Moroney who led the way on 20 votes.
A best-on-court performance from Strathfieldsaye’s Lucy Spalding in the 17th round to earn three votes meant she drew level with Moroney.
Neither player gained a vote in the final and 18th round as they were locked on 20 votes after Kylie Ellis had called the last card.
Superb in the mid-court and able to switch to defence, Moroney made a hot start to the season as she was adjudged best on court in rounds three, four and five.
Votes in nine of 16 matches included the maximum three in rounds seven and 12.
By the halfway mark of the vote count, Spalding had polled 12 votes after being named best on court in rounds one, three, five and six.
There was another maximum in the 10th round, two votes in the 12th, and then three in the 17th.
A big season for the gun goaler included 14 matches in A-reserve and four in A-grade.
Spalding will take to the court at Queen Elizabeth Oval this Saturday as Storm takes on Sandhurst in the preliminary final.
The Dragons scored an 11-goal win against Storm in the qualifying final.
The season for Moroney and her team-mates ended in a five-goal loss in an elimination final showdown with Maryborough.
Athletic defender Shae Denahy capped another brilliant run with Castlemaine to earn the Carol Bingham Medal as fairest and best in B-grade.
In a brilliant start, Denahy gained the maximum three votes in rounds three, four and five.
A run of votes in five consecutive matches from rounds 10-14 added 12 votes to her tally.
Best on court in six matches for a team which finished sixth on a 5-11 record was a remarkable effort by Denahy as she claimed the medal on 25 votes.
Runner-up was Gisborne’s Emma Joyce on 18 votes.
A key player in the Bulldogs’ run to a 14-2 record and second place, Joyce will be on court this Saturday in the preliminary final against Kangaroo Flat.
Just two votes separated Gisborne’s Taylah Ranieri and Strathfieldsaye’s Chelsea Crapper for the B-reserve award.
Ranieri’s accuracy in the goal circle played a key part in Gisborne’s win-loss tally of 14-2 in the home-and-away series.
In the race for the medal, Ranieri was best on court in four matches and gained votes in another six matches to finish on 22 votes.
Runner-up on 20 votes, Chelsea Crapper will take to the court this Saturday as Strathfieldsaye faces Sandhurst in the preliminary final.
The top two in the medal race were recently opponents in the qualifying final which went Gisborne’s way, 67-30.
Storm stuck back for a three-goal win against Kangaroo Flat in the first semi-final.
It was another outstanding season by Maryborough’s young gun Ella Patten who became the first player to win the Carol Sing Medal in consecutive seasons.
The goal defender was adjudged best on court in eight matches for the Magpies.
A great streak included a tally of 13 votes across five games in a row.
The maximum three votes in rounds 16, 17 and 18 gave Patten a final tally of 28 votes.
A hectic season for the teenager included nine matches in A-reserve.
Patten also represented Bendigo FNL at 17-and-under level and North Central Region at the state titles.
The Magpies’ run was ended in a two-goal loss against Strathfieldsaye in the first semi-final.
This season’s Bart ‘n’ Print Rising Star award went to Gisborne’s Dasha Taylor.
The talented mid-courter played five A-grade and three A-reserve matches for Gisborne.
Highs for Taylor in ’24 include selection in the 19-and-under state squad, being in the Bendigo Strikers development team, and representing Elmer in open level at the state titles.
Other finalists for the Rising Star award were Castlemaine’s Kyla Byrne; Golden Square’s Daisy Stringer; Maryborough’s Ella Patten; Sandhurst’s Claire McGee; and South Bendigo’s Eden Clifford.
Best in the netball representative programs were South Bendigo coach and gun defender Alicia McGlashan for open, and Golden Square’s Holly Swatton for the 17-and-under team.
Votes were cast by coaches after each tournament, match.
Sandhurst’s dominance in many netball contests was reflected in its goalscoring tally of 4618 to earn the Coffee Storm-sponsored champion netball goalshooting club
