The Northern Football Netball League has announced the 2021 Netball Awards.
Already the most decorated player since the inception of the NFNL netball competition in 2008, Stacey Gannon created more history by claiming the Section 1 best and fairest for the fifth time.
Gannon polled 14 votes to finish two ahead of North Heidelberg 3 teammates Georgia Alexander and Alexis Lieschke. Olivia Ellis from North Heidelberg 1 finished third on 10 votes.
It was the third-successive season Gannon took home the Section 1 best and fairest after winning the award in 2018 and 2019. She also claimed the honour in 2010 and 2012.
Gannon featured in all ten of her club’s consecutive Section 1 premierships between 2010 to 2019 and was again instrumental in guiding Diamond Creek 1 to this year’s minor premiership.
The Section 2 best and fairest also created a sensational story, with Chelsea Jones of North Heidelberg 5 taking out the award.
Jones only turned 15 years of age midway through the season but was the clear standout player in the eyes of the umpires.
The young gun polled 19 votes to finish six ahead of Leona Hristovska of Ivanhoe 1. 2019 winner Shannon Tresider again earned a podium finish, this time coming in third place with 10 votes in her first season with Montmorency.
Caitlin Ryan became the first Panton Hill player to win an NFNL netball best and fairest with a thrilling win the Section 3 vote count.
The defender polled 14 votes to edge out Whittlesea’s Daina Peet by a single vote. Peet’s teammate Rachel Kemp finished third on 11 votes.
Others to win best and fairest awards were: Dakota Blade (Section 4); Kendra Vann (Section 5); Emma Sargeant (Section 6); Taylah Simpson (Section 7), Khala Angelkoski (Section 8), Emma Hyatt (Section 9), Ella Stoward (Section 10), Renee Utting (Section 11), Dominique Tepu (Section 12) and Rebecca Dighton (Section 13).
Rachael McKenzie was crowned Netball Umpire of the Year, Emma Stalenberg named the Most Improved Netball Umpire, while the leading goal shooters for all competitions were also recognised.
The NFNL congratulates all award winners and place getters on their outstanding performance during the 2021 season. More information on the presentation of all awards to their respective winners will be announced once lockdown measures have eased.
Continue below for all the results from the 2021 NFNL Netball Awards.
BEST AND FAIREST
Section 1
1st – Stacey Gannon (Diamond Creek 1) – 14 votes
2nd – Georgia Alexander (North Heidelberg 3) and Alexis Lieschke (North Heidelberg 3) – 12 votes
3rd – Olivia Ellis (North Heidelberg 1) – 10 votes
Click here for full vote listing
Section 2
1st – Chelsea Jones (North Heidelberg 5) – 19 votes
2nd – Leona Hristovska (Ivanhoe 1) – 13 votes
3rd – Shannon Tresider (Montmorency 1) – 10 votes
Click here for full vote listing
Section 3
1st – Caitlin Ryan (Panton Hill 1) – 14 votes
2nd – Daina Peet (Whittlesea 1) – 13 votes
3rd – Rachel Kemp (Whittlesea 1) – 11 votes
Click here for full vote listing
Section 4
1st – Dakota Blade (Ivanhoe 3) – 21 votes
2nd – Ebony Capicchiano (Heidelberg West 1) – 16 votes
3rd – Brooke Chadwick (Thomastown 1) – 14 votes
Click here for full vote listing
Section 5
1st – Kendra Vann (Hurstbridge 1) – 18 votes
2nd – Rupinder Kaur (Heat 2), Rechelle McSwain (Thomastown 2) and Ruby Sommerville (Thomastown 2) – 12 votes
3rd – Hailey Elkington (Northcote Park 2) – 9 votes
Click here for full vote listing
Section 6
1st – Emma Sargeant (Diamond Creek 5) – 15 votes
2nd – Gabriella Menabue (North Heidelberg 6) – 14 votes
3rd – Tahlia Brander (Whittlesea 2) and Ellen Bruno (Bundoora 4) – 9 votes
Click here for full vote listing
Section 7
1st – Taylah Simpson (Watsonia 2) – 12 votes
2nd – Chloe Knight (Montmorency 3) – 10 votes
3rd – Vanessa Moles (Heat 3), Zoe Sommerville (Thomastown 3) and Sarah Williams (North Heidelberg 7) – 9 votes
Click here for full vote listing
Section 8
1st – Khala Angelkoski (Lalor 4) – 11 votes
2nd – Tanisha Bartolo (Hurstbridge 2) and Elly O’Loughlin (Northcote Park 3) – 9 votes
3rd – Holly Ditchfield (Montmorency 4) – 8 votes
Click here for full vote listing
Section 9
1st – Emma Hyatt (South Morang 1) – 17 votes
2nd – Chloe Villiva (Epping 3) – 13 votes
3rd – Helen Walton (Heidelberg West 2) – 12 votes
Click here for full vote listing
Section 10
1st – Ella Stoward (Kilmore 5) – 12 votes
2nd – Taylah Liberatore (Hume 3) and Talitha Stowers (Heat 4) – 11 votes
3rd – Bianca Clamp (Lower Plenty 1), Hayley Fitzgerald (Heat 4) and Shanae Watson (Whittlesea 3) – 10 votes
Click here for full vote listing
Section 11
1st – Renee Utting (West Ivanhoe 1) – 18 votes
2nd – Kara Taglieri (Bundoora 7) – 15 votes
3rd – Kim Crawford (Bundoora 7) – 11 votes
Click here for full vote listing
Section 12
1st – Dominique Tepu (Epping 4) – 13 votes
2nd – Keely Thomas (Reservoir 2) – 11 votes
3rd – Alessandra Galletti (Reservoir 2) – 9 votes
Click here for full vote listing
Section 13
1st – Rebecca Dighton (Heat 5) – 16 votes
2nd – Serah Bentley (Montmorency 6) – 15 votes
3rd – Rebecca Budge (Epping 5) – 13 votes
Click here for full vote listing
LEADING GOAL SHOOTER
Section 1
Paris Bosschieter (North Heidelberg 1) – 281 goals
Section 2
Kate Ditcham (North Heidelberg 5) – 273 goals
Section 3
Mia Sannholm (Greensborough 2) – 192 goals
Section 4
Ciara Hanlon (St Mary’s 1) – 202 goals
Section 5
Isabella Adamo (Epping 1) – 211 goals
Section 6
Avril Florance (North Heidelberg 6) – 167 goals
Section 7
Navia Krishna (Heat 3) – 132 goals
Section 8
Shelby Simpson (Northcote Park 3) – 146 goals
Section 9
Brianna Prest (Epping 3) – 178 goals
Section 10
Morgan Appleby (Lower Plenty 1) – 147 goals
Section 11
Chloe Crapper (West Preston-Lakeside 1) – 203 goals
Section 12
Shalee Austin (Epping 4) and Dominique Tepu (Epping 4) – 103 goals
Section 13
Emma Rees (Epping 5) – 138 goals
UMPIRE AWARDS
Netball Umpire of the Year
Rachael McKenzie
Most Improved Netball Umpire
Emma Stalenberg
