HAMILTON Kangaroos netballer Emily Kermeen says the high calibre of opposition makes winning Hampden league’s 17 and under best and fairest an honour.
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To do so in convincing fashion was an added bonus.
Emily, 16, polled an incredible 44 votes – an average of 2.4 a game – to take out the Rebekah Moroney Memorial Medal at Deakin University on Wednesday night.
Port Fairy’s Carly Watson was second with 29 – an amount usually high enough to win.
Emily said she was humbled to take out the prestigious award.
“It’s really good to win, especially with the girls in the league – there are so many who could have won it,” she said.
“It is a great competition. I love it. There are so many opportunities.
“I would never have got that in the Western Border league.
“The competition is so much stronger and you really develop as a player.”
The Monivae College student said she was surprised to poll as heavily as she did.
“I couldn’t believe some games, I didn’t play too well and I got votes and I thought ‘I don’t agree with that’,” she said.
Cobden goal attack Molly Hutt credited an opportunity to play A grade for her 15 and under best and fairest.
Molly, 15, made her top-grade debut in round six and played two games each Saturday from that point on.
The Cobden Technical School student polled 31 votes to edge out North Warrnambool Eagles’ Amelia Chow, who collected 30, in a thrilling count.
“(Playing A grade helped) skill-wise and it’s more physical so you can take the bumps,” she said.
Hutt said she was overwhelmed to win the league honour and played down her efforts, rating her season "pretty average”.
The chance to represent the Hampden league kick-started a stellar season for 13 and under best and fairest winner Bonnie Williamson.
The Port Fairy goal defender polled a mammoth 38 votes to win the award, finishing 10 clear of Portland’s Katie Zeunert.
“I think I did really well at the start of the year to get selected in the Hampden league team,” she said.
“I was happy with that and gained confidence from that and used that to take into my Port Fairy games this season.”
The Brauer College student, 13, is hoping her run of success continues.
The Seagulls finished atop the ladder and will enjoy a week off before launching into their finals campaign.
“Port Fairy is usually the underdogs so to come up and be on top of the ladder at the end of the season is really good for the club,” Bonnie said.
