BY NATHAN DOLE
THERE were close calls in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s netball fairest and best awards for the 2023 season.
Counting of votes was broadcast on Monday night on Radio Fresh fm.
Just three votes separated first and second in the race to decide the Jenni Holborn Medallist for A-reserve.
Honours went to Kelsey Ralph from Sandhurst on 25 votes.
Runner-up was Stephanie Greene of South Bendigo on 22 votes.
The newly-struck Carol Bingham Medal for B-grade will be presented to Baylee Eve from Kyneton.
A tally of 32 votes earned the Tigers’ playmaker the medal.
Runner-up was Eaglehawk’s Isabel Eliades on 25 votes.
To be presented for the first time at this Sunday’s presentation of the Michelsen Medal and Betty Thompson Medal, the Carol Bingham Medal honours the four-time A-grade premiership coach with Kangaroo Flat.
Across a coaching career spanning 598 games, Bingham guided nine teams to a premiership.
It was a dramatic finish to the calling of the voting cards in B-reserve.
Kangaroo Flat’s Ashlye Faulkner and Sandhurst’s Isabelle Whiteley were joint winners on 26 votes.
Just two votes award was Kirsanda Shepherd from South Bendigo to be runner-up.
In a poingnant touch the Carol Sing Medal for the 17-and-under netball competition for this season goes to Maryborough’s Ella Patten.
A superb season by Patten earned a tally of 30 votes from the umpires.
Runner-up was Neve Pinner from Sandhurst on 28.
A brilliant netballer with Maryborough, Carol Sing was the Bendigo FNL’s A-grade fairest and best in the 1992 season.
This year’s Bart ‘n Print Rising Star award will be presented to Charlotte Sexton from Sandhurst.
A brilliant season for Sexton included representing Victoria Fury at the Australian National Championsips.
Sexton and her A-grade team-mates at Sandhurst have won through to another grand final where they will be aiming for a fifth consecutive premiership.
Gisborne clubmates Bella Connors and Claudia Mawson earned the BFNL representative program awards.
Connors for 17-and-under, and Mawson at open level.
From Echuca, Mawson has starred in Gisborne’s run and also represented Victoria Fury for a second time at the national titles.
Leaders in the Bendigo FNL netball fairest and best awards for the 2023 season:
A-reserve, Jenni Holborn Medal:
25 Kelsey Ralph, Sandhurst.
22 Stephanie Greene, South Bendigo.
20 Emma Moroney, Kangaroo Flat.
18 Rylee Gallagher, Eaglehawk.
18 Kelsey Pallpratt, Sandhurst.
18 Alexandra Russ, Gisborne.
18 Amanda Walters, South Bendigo.
17 Paige Ryan, Sandhurst.
15 Charlotte Crook, Gisborne.
13 Emily McDonald, Gisborne.
B-grade, Carol Bingham Medal:
32 Baylee Eve, Kyneton.
25 Isabel Eliades, Eaglehawk.
20 Briona Giddings, Sandhurst.
19 Darcie Fry, Kangaroo Flat.
16 Matisse Appleby, South Bendigo.
16 Shaina Brook, South Bendigo.
16 Taylah Ranieri, Gisborne.
14 Lulu Slater, Gisborne.
13 Chelsea Crapper, Strathfieldsaye.
13 Holly McPhee, Golden Square.
13 Lani Burns, Kangaroo Flat.
13 Tahlia Isaac, Sandhurst.
B-reserve:
26 Ashlye Faulkner, Kangaroo Flat.
26 Isabelle Whiteley, Sandhurst.
24 Kirsandra Shepherd, South Bendigo.
23 Rebecca Ashman, Golden Square.
22 Meg Johns, Strathfieldsaye.
20 Lily Prater, Gisborne.
18 Claudia Shelton, Kangaroo Flat.
17 Macey O’Shea, Kangaroo Flat.
14 Lucia Dyer, Sandhurst.
14 Matilda Lockyer, Sandhurst.
13 Paige Mitchener, Castlemaine.
13 Ruby Walsh, Sandhurst.
17-and-under, Carol Sing Medal:
30 Ella Patten, Maryborough.
28 Neve Pinner, Sandhurst.
26 Megan Wilson, Castlemaine.
24 Bella Connors, Gisborne.
22 Reese Gilchrist, Sandhurst.
19 Maya Dignan, Sandhurst.
19 Layla O’Shea, Strathfieldsaye.
18 Eden Clifford, South Bendigo.
17 Ava Broderick, Eaglehawk.
16 Millie Cassidy, Maryborough.
16 Dasha Taylor, Gisborne.
16 Abbi Wells, Golden Square.
CLUB-BY-CLUB VOTING
Who votes were cast for in Bendigo FNL netball awards
A RUNDOWN on club-by-club votes in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL netball fairest and best player awards for the 2023 season.
Counting of votes for the Betty Thompson Medal for A-grade will be held at this Sunday night’s Michelsen Medal awards presentation at Bendigo Club in Strathdale.
The league’s gala event starts at 6pm.
Bendigo FNL netball awards:
A-reserve, Jenni Holborn Medal:
Castlemaine – 10 Abbey Grindal; 8 Brianna Pedretti; 7 Zoe Douglass, Jess Lord, Rachelle McLean; 4 Taylah Sartori; 3 Charlotte McMurray.
Eaglehawk – 18 Rylee Gallagher; 11 Rani Madden; 3 Poppy McPherson; 2 Jessie Cliff, Kayla Cox, Amy Ryan; 1 Darcey Lloyd.
Gisborne – 18 Alexandra Russ; 15 Charlotte Crook; 13 Emily McDonald; 10 Bianca Mackay; 8 Tazma Morris; 4 Jemma Denman, Olivia Rodda; 3 Tiana Newman, Eloise Rodda; 1 Bella Connors, Bridget Salter.
Golden Square – 2 Macy Brown, Cass Harvey, Hannah Tyndall; 1 Lily Hope, Cassidy Humphrey, Keira Lawry, Rachel Pettifer, Elise Richards, Aimee Ryan, Holly Swatton.
Kangaroo Flat –20 Emma Moroney; 10 Chloe Fletcher; 9 Bronte Deary; 5 Lara Judd, Carly Van Den Heuvel; 4 Ashlee O’Shea; 3 Isabella Pitto; 2 Darcie Fry, Rose Kennett, Amaya Schmidt; 1 Anneliese Spear.
Kyneton – 6 Lauren Girvan; 4 Claire Oakley, Alexandra Strawhorn, Manaia Vanderlee; 3 Brittany Nitschke; 1 Katelin Turner, Kristy Viete.
Sandhurst – 25 Kelsey Ralph; 18 Kelsey Pallpratt; 17 Paige Ryan; 10 Gabriella Greene; 5 Lilly Walsh; 3 Tess Keating; 2 Eliza Oxley, Darcy Williams; 1 Katie Dean, Charlotte Sexton.
South Bendigo – 22 Stephanie Greene; 18 Amanda Walters; 5 Amber Hollis, 4 Morgan McClellan; 2q Tegan Maddern; 1 Holly Giddings.
Strathfieldsaye – 10 Ashley Evans; 6 Siarne Cass, Jackie Geary; 5 Makayle Dole; 2 Morgan Whatley; 1 Chelsea Crapper, Ella Henry, Remi Phillips.
B-grade, Carol Bingham Medal:
Castlemaine –5 Charlotte McMurray; 4 Shae Denahy; 3 Kirstie Ford; 2 Kristie Lenon; 1 Kyla Byrne, Charli Henderson, Aria Jumpertz, , Georgia Roberts.
Eaglehawk – 25 Isabel Elidades; 10 Mya Alexander; 5 Kaitlyn Rosendale; 4 Lydia Barry, Amy West; 1 Jaimi Elgar, Hannah Kenny.
Gisborne – 16 Taylah Ranieri; 14 Lulu Slater; 9 Tarryn Rymer; 8 Georgia Murray; 7 Chelsea Kennett, Milly Shaw, Hannah Weier; 4 Shelley Farrugia; 3 Rylee Connell, Monty Paton; 2 Emma Cogger, Lulu Mullen .
Golden Square – 13 Holly McPhee; 11 Jorja Lee; 10 Lindsey Andrews; 9 Portia Whitehead; 6 Kate Maddern; 5 Tia Chen; 2 Renee Brown.
Kangaroo Flat – 19 Darcie Fry; 13 Lani Burns; 12 Lucy Lang; 7 Rachel Winfield; 6 Bella Pearse; 3 Isabella Allan, Laura Brooks; 2 Karly Elvey; 1 Molly Drum.
Kyneton – 32 Baylee Eve; 8 Miriam McIntyre; 2 Alison Cumming, Kelsey McColl; 1 Claire Jungfer.
Maryborough – 8 Chloe Egan; 6 Shayla Bandy; 5 Sharine Lanfranchi; 2 Maggie Tranter; 1 Ella Patten, Emily Swan.
Sandhurst – 20 Briona Giddings; 13 Tahlia Isaac; 12 Aimee Dean; 9 Maggie Keating; 8 :Lily Trimby; 6 Erica Dalrymple-Monro, Lucy Sherriff; .5 Eliza Oxley; 3 Elli Williams; 2 Tarryn Knights.
South Bendigo – 16 Shaina Brook, Matisse Allpleby; 9 Taylah Collins; 5 Remi Kuhne; 3 Sarah Appleby;2 Paige Campbell, Elisha Kubeil, Olivia Leech
Strathfieldsaye – 13 Chelsea Crapper; 11 Chelsie Martyn; 10 Imogen Curre; 7 Olivia Erwin; 5 Bridgette Keath; 4 Cate O’Bree, Ella Raco; 3 Bridget Abe, Tahlee O’Keefe; 1 Bethany Hromenko.
B-reserve:
Castlemaine – 13 Paige Mitchener; 12 Julia Soldatos; 3 Emily Cooper; 2 Emma Giddings; 1 Shae Denahy, Talisa Keogh, Jacqui Roberts.
Eaglehawk – 12 Sharni Simpson; 10 Tegan French; 9 Lexie Moss, Kelsey Treacy; 6 Tahli Maxted; 3 Grace Edlin, Olivia Turner; 1 Amy West.
Gisborne – 20 Lily Prater; 11 Sophia Davies; 8 Ellie Lord; 7 Brianah Thompson, Hannah Weier; 4 Brooke Bernacki, Emma Cogger, Caytlyn Walker; 3 Olivia Fenn; 2 Maddison Russ.
Golden Square –23 Rebecca Ashman; 7 Ella Rule; 6 Hannah Smidt; 4 Rebecca Allman, Olivia Richards; 3 Charlotte Kleinitz; 2 Mackenzie Alford, Emma Keating; .
Kangaroo Flat – 26 Ashlye Faulkner; 18 Claudia Shelton; 17 Macey O’Shea; 12 Alex Rusbridge; 7 Lydia Lowndes; 6 Lily Dickson; 5 Sophie Nicholson.
Kyneton – 7 Grace Tremayne; 3 Alisha Turner; 3 Danielle Bourke, Poppy Mills; 2 Loryn Savoia; 1 Bonny Gread.
Maryborough – 3 Ruby Adams; 2 Emma Potter; 1 Charlotte Fithall, Mia Harrison, Molly Palmer.
Sandhurst – 26 Isabelle Whiteley; 14 Lucia Dyer, Matilda Lockyer; 13 Ruby Walsh; 8 Ava Perez; 5 Brianna Fletcher; 4 Teresa Fitzpatrick, Polly Robertson; 2 Sophie Giles; 1 Kelsey Hamilton.
South Bendigo – 24 Kirsandra Shepherd; 7 Kasey Button, Matilda Osborne; 6 Skye Webb, 4 Montana Pinchbeck; 3 Laura Power, Larni Taylor; 1 Melanie Oldfield.
Strathfieldsaye – 22 Meg Johns; 12 Lucinda Sharp; 7 Olivia Erwin; Sally Nicholson; 6 Alicia Smalley; Renn Minne; 4 Bridget Abe; 3 Claudia Petri; 2 Bethany Hromenko; 1 Mackenzie Strawbridge.
17-and-under, Carol Sing Medal:
Castlemaine – 26 Megan Wilson; 14 Kyla Byrne; 6 Charli Henderson; 4 Madison Clifford, Mackenzi Shepherd; 3 Paige Langley; 1 Sarah McLean.
Eaglehawk – 17 Ava Broderick; 8 Braye Moss; 1 Eliza Richmond, Mia Tauelangi, Josie Walsh.
Gisborne – 24 Bella Connors; 16 Dasha Taylor; 13 Emma Joyce; 9 Sapphy McCarthy; 4 Charlie Busby, Jessie Connors; 1 Olivia Fenn.
Golden Square –16 Abbi Wells; 14 Daisy Stringer; 11 Kaylah Moon; 9 Lilly Hope; 7 Charli Hamilton; 6 Holly Swatton; 4 Keira Lawry; 3 Emma Keating; 2 Charli Crawford.
Kangaroo Flat – 14 Gemma Roberts; 13 Mikayla Mullen; 6 Gemma McPhee; 5 Lahni Coutanche; 4 Jorja Crothers, Charli Pigdon, Milana Whiteacre; 2 Megan Kelly.
Kyneton – 9 Jennifer Girvan; 8 Charlotte Sevior.
Maryborough – 30 Ella Patten; 16 Millie Cassidy; 11 Abbey Nalder; 3 Zali Linton; 2 Abbey Sealey, Macy Tatchell.
Sandhurst – 28 Neve Pinner; 22 Reese Gilchrist; 19 Maya Dignan; 7 Charlie Coghill; 6 Harriet Whiteacre; 5 Jaida Raco; 4 Claire McGee.
South Bendigo – 18 Eden Clifford; 4 Alana Fletcher; 3 Nevaeh Caldis; 1 Jordan Baker, Bella Eddy.
Strathfieldsaye – 19 Layla O’Shea; 12 Dakota Keanelly; 10 Maggie Gilmore; 7 Sienna Eddy; 6 Lainey Pollard; 3 Charlize Pinder; 2 Ella Pitson; 1 Maeve Cass.