FIVE clubs have already featured as medal winners or runners-up in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL netball awards for the ’25 season.
Vote counts for A-reserve, B-grade, B-reserve and 17-and-under netball were broadcast on Monday night on Radio Fresh fm 1015.
Players from Kangaroo Flat, Sandhurst, Gisborne, Strathfieldsaye and Castlemaine were to the fore.
In the A-reserve competition, Kangaroo Flat’s Ella Wicks captured the Jenni Holborn Medal on 24 votes.
A dynamic and versatile mid-courter, Wicks was adjudged best-on-court in six matches.
An incredible run included 11 votes across the last four matches in the home-and-away series.
Wicks polled votes in nine matches.
A tally of 22 votes earnt Strathfieldsaye’s Paynton Jolliffe the honour as runner-up.
The Carol Bingham Medal as B-grade fairest and best was won by Gisborne’s Reese Sutton.
A hot streak included a tally of eight votes for the athletic mid-courter across rounds 12-15.
Sutton finished on 19 votes as she earnt votes in seven of 11 matches.
She was adjudged best-on-court five times.
A great year has included a VFLW premiership victory with North Melbourne.
Runner-up for the Carol Bingham Medal was Strathfieldsaye Storm’s Lucy Spalding on 17 votes.
An incredible run of medal wins by Sandhurst’s Briona Giddings kept rolling.
A tally of 31 votes earnt a sixth league medal victory.
Giddings starred for the maroon and blue in B-reserve matches.
Adjudged best on court in eight matches, Giddings racked up 14 votes across the last five rounds in the home-away series.
Among the highs of the ’25 season were playing her 300th match for a club she has represented Sandhurst in all grades.
A formidable and reliable defender, Giddings will be on court again this Saturday in a preliminary final.
Runner-up for the B-reserve medal was Chelsea Crapper from Strathfieldsaye Storm on 19 votes.
A tally of 27 votes for Gisborne’s Holly Brewer earnt the Carol Sing as fairest and best in the 17-and-under competition.
Brewer polled all 27 votes in the opening 12 rounds.
A hot streak included best-on-court honours in five matches between the 7th and 12th rounds.
The skilful mid-courter has strong leadership qualities and represented the Bendigo FNL at 17-and-under level this season.
Castlemaine’s Rosie Jarvis polled 21 votes to be runner-up in the Carol Sing Medal race.
The Bart ‘n Print Rising Star for 2025 goes to Sandhurst’s Claire McGee.
The Dragons’ goaler again set a consistently high standard in a year where she earnt selection in Victoria’s 19-and-under state squad and was part of the Bendigo Strikers development team.
McGee represented the Bendigo FNL at 17-and-under level last season and was best-on-court in the B-reserve grand final.
Finalists for the Rising Star award were Olivia Henderson, Castlemaine; Eden Clifford, Eaglehawk; Emily Miles, Gisborne; Charli Hamilton, Golden Square; Claire McGee, Sandhurst; and Lainey Mortlock, Strathfieldsaye).
Best player in the 17-and-under representative netball program was Sandhurst’s Lila Kelly.
Votes were cast by coaches after each tournament, match played.
A tally of 4163 goals earnt Kangaroo Flat the Coffee Storm champion netball goalshooting club award.
Finale to the awards this season is this Sunday night at the Bendigo Club in Strathdale.
The Michelsen Medal vote count for senior football and Betty Thompson Medal vote count for A-grade medal will be run.
Presentations to all other league award winners will be done throughout the night.