KANGAROO Flat goal attack Ruby Barkmeyer was a runaway winner of the Betty Thompson Medal as fairest and best in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL A-grade netball for the ’26 season.
Barkmeyer was nine votes clear of Sandhurst centre and the previous season’s Thompson medallist, Shae Clifford after the final card was called by Kylie Ellis at Sunday night’s vote count at Bendigo Club.
It’s also the first Medal win by a designated goaler since Kangaroo Flat’s Joanna Brown did 20 years ago.
At four rounds to go in the ’26 race it was Barkmeyer and Clifford who led the race on 25 and 21 votes.
Barkmeyer earnt two votes in round 15 and the maximum in the 17th and 18th rounds to be an emphatic winner on 33 votes.
Clifford earnt three votes in Sandhurst’s round 18 clash at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
It was another maximum of three votes for Barkmeyer in the last round at Strathfieldsaye’s Triple M Park.
“The individual accolades are not what you strive for,” Barkmeyer said shortly after being presented with the medal by Gisborne great Tiana Newman who in career of 300-plus games was a triple premiership player and dual Betty Thompson medallist.
“A premiership is what I and all the team are chasing,” Barkemeyer said.
Family links for the Barkmeyers to Kangaroo Flat stretch back many seasons.
“Kangaroo Flat is an amazing club to be with,” Ruby said.
Long-time A-grade coach Jayden Cowling was credited by Barkmeyer as being a key driver in the team’s success, not just through tactical nous but the way to keep training fun and keen to do.
A key cog in Sandhurst’s mid-court set-up, Meg Williams was fourth on 19 votes.
The consistency of Gisborne defenders Kirby Elliott and Tilly Shepherd earnt 20 and 17 votes as they finished in third and fifth place.
An historic moment was in the 12th round when Broadford’s Caitlin Hinrichsen became the club’s first player to poll an A-grade vote.
Hinrichsen earnt one vote in Broadford’s match played on Golden Square’s court at Country Vet Oval in Wade Street.
The night included presentations across all grades of netball.
A-reserve, Jenni Holborn Medal: Ella Wicks, Kangaroo Flat, 25 votes; Elle Gilchrist, Sandhurst, 17 votes.
Carol Bingham Medal, B-grade: Olivia Fenn, Gisborne, 20 votes; Paige Campbell, South Bendigo, 18 votes, and Rylee Connell, Gisborne, 18 votes.
B-reserve: Megan Kelly, Kangaroo Flat, 19 votes; Sophie Ingram, Kangaroo Flat, 17.
Carol Sing Medal, 17-and-under: Ese Phillips, Sandhurst, 26 votes; Peyton Chambers, Kangaroo Flat, 22.
15-and-under medal: Elle Gilchrist, Sandhurst, 18 votes; Ava Hope, Golden Square, 17.
The Bart ‘n’ Print Rising Star was Sandhurst’s Harriett Whiteacre.
Best for representative teams were Kangaroo Flat’s Ruby Barkmeyer, open; Strathfieldsaye’s Lexie Fennell, 17-and-under; and Sandhurst’s Evie Gretgrix, 15-and-under.
Sandhurst poured in 4844 goals to earn the Coffee Storm goalshooting award.
