BY NATHAN DOLE
IT’S a wide open race as netballers vie for the Betty Thompson Medal as fairest and best in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s A-grade netball competition.
Counting of votes for the award will be held on Sunday night at the league’s function in Bendigo Club, Strathdale from 6pm.
First presented in 1997, the Betty Thompson Medal honours an outstanding contributor to netball across central and northern Victoria for many decades.
A state councillor for Netball Victoria across the North Central region, Betty Thompson was a driving force for the game, especially in coaching and mentoring of umpires.
Her incredible devotion led to being awarded NV life membership in 2002 and also being inducted to the Basil Ashman Hall of Fame in Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year awards.
Betty passed away in 2022 at the age of 89.
Several previous winners of the Betty Thompson Medal are still starring on the courts for Bendigo FNL clubs.
A medal winner in 2019 when at Eaglehawk, Ash Ryan has played a crucial role in Kangaroo Flat’s run to face Sandhurst in this Saturday’s preliminary final.
Sandhurst’s line-up to play the Roos at Queen Elizabeth Oval includes gun goaler/defender Heather Oliver who earned the Betty Thompson Medal in 2015 and ’17.
The Kangaroos’ mid-court is brilliantly led by Chelsea Sartori who claimed the Betty Thompson Medal last September.
A great run by Gisborne to make its way to consecutive grand finals was led by 2018 and ’22 medallist Maddy Stewart.
Based on their record and this season’s form the medal for ’24 could be won by Ryan, Oliver, Stewart or Sartori.
Another player could etch their name on to the honour board.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne had many strong contributors to a 13-1 record and top spot at the end of the 18-round home-and-away series.
Players in the red, white and blue likely to poll highly include defender Charlee Kemp, mid-courter Kirby Elliott, and goaler Claudia Mawson.
A strong team for Sandhurst again coached by Tamara Gilchrist includes Shae Clifford, Bec Smith, Sophie Shoebridge and Ruby Turner.
Kangaroo Flat’s team includes Ingrid Hopkins, Abbey Ryan, Milly Wicks.
A seven-seven record put the Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk on the fourth rung at the end of the regular season.
The Hawks then won the elimination final against Strathfieldsaye Storm.
Players from the Borough likely to poll well are defender Elley Lawton, Morgan Keating, Gracie Berryman and Amy Ryan.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye worked hard to qualify for the finals.
Most consistent in Storm’s run included Brooke Mangan, Jessica Mangan, Emmie Banfield, Rachelle Mangan and Anne Hughes.
It was a vastly-improved season for Golden Square which ended up in sixth place on a 4-10 record.
The Bulldogs started the season with Chris O’Sullivan as coach.
Increased work commitments meant O’Sullivan stepped aside and Teigan Redwood took on the coaching role.
Square’s resurgence was led through the play of Jasmin and Rylee Gallagher, Mia McCrann-Peters, Abby Thompson and Daisy Stringer.
A 2-12 record meant South Bendigo finished on the seventh rung.
Key players for the Bloods included Stephanie Goode, Chloe Gray and coach Alicia McGlashan.
After winning its first match of the season against South Bendigo in round two, Castlemaine did not claim any more points.
Players likely to gain votes for the Chloe Hughes-coached Magpies are Kyla Byrne and Fiona Fowler.
Vote counts for all other grades of netball were held last Monday night on Radio Fresh fm 101.5 and also streamed via the Bendigo FNL facebook page.
The votes were called by Kylie Ellis who will do so for Sunday night’s Michelsen Medal and Betty Thompson Medal.
Winners for all grades of netball will be presented with their medals at Sunday night’s function.
The Jenni Holborn Medal for A-reserve ended in a tie between Kangaroo Flat’s Emma Moroney and Strathfieldsaye’s Lucy Spalding on 20 votes.
A tally of 25 votes, which included the maximum three as best on court in six matches earned Castlemaine’s Shae Denany the Carol Bingham Medal for B-grade.
Gisborne’s Taylah Ranieri polled 22 votes to be fairest and best in B-reserve and will be aiming for a premiership medal.
It was back-to-back wins for Maryborough’s Ella Patten for the Carol Sing Medal awarded for the 17-and-under competition.