The 15-year-old, who has been a mainstay in Old Collegians’ A grade side this season, held off Dennington’s Katelyn Grant by one vote to clinch the prize on Wednesday.

McLaren said her on-court game had improved drastically as a result of exposure to A grade netball.

“It’s helped me become more mature on the court, and it’s also helped the way I am with my team, leadership-wise,” she said.

“Under 15 netball is very different to seniors, it’s a lot faster, so I have to bring that back into juniors.

“There’s certain things I have to take out that I learn in juniors and apply that in seniors as well.”

The Collegians mid-courter said the victory came as a shock.

“I didn’t think I would win, but it was very close. It’s not good to win by heaps and have one person run away with it.”

Kolora-Noorat onballer Ned Payne paid tribute to his under 14.5 side’s engine room after clinching the division’s top individual honour.

“This has definitely been one of the better teams I’ve played with. We’ve made it to the preliminary final the last two seasons,” he said.

“We’ve got a really strong defence, midfield and forward line and we’ve had Riley Scanlon (69 goals) accept the award for leading goalkicker.

“It’s good to have him finishing off. Hopefully we can go deep into finals but we have to look at it as a week-by-week thing.”

He described the Power’s “strong” coaching setup as vital for junior development.

“I reckon the coaching staff all throughout footy and netball are just incredible,” Payne said.

Payne held off talented Timboon junior Samuel Lenehan, who polled 35 votes, to run out as winner.

Chloe Vick, the 13 and under champion from Kolora-Noorat, said her focus was solely on helping her team progress through finals.

“We’ve been going pretty well, so hopefully we can make it to the grand final,” Vick said.

Playing off against bigger bodies has fast-tracked Panmure youngster Anthony Debono all the way to the football rising star award.

The 11-year-old has juggled his under 12s duties with regular appearances in the under 14.5 grade.

“It’s roughened me up a bit,” he said.

“But I’m not scared of the ball anymore. I used to be a little bit in under 12s but now I can go straight after it.

“I played a little bit of under 14s last year, but it’s been happening more this year.”

Timboon’s Danica Clough took out the netball rising star award after cracking into the Demons’ A grade outfit.