Netball Victoria has announced the 2021 Victorian Netball League (VNL) award winners, with MVPs, Hot Shots and Team of the Year announced for each division of the league on Netball Victoria’s social media channels.
Unfortunately, the full VNL season was unable to go ahead due to current COVID-19 restrictions, however the league and teams still managed 11 rounds. While some games couldn’t be attended in person, over 20,000 fans tuned into the livestream every Wednesday night to catch a glimpse of the action out on court.
TEAM OF THE YEAR (Each club nominates 4 players from each area of the court of who they would like on their ultimate team (without voting for their own). Top 4 players with the most votes in each area make the team)
CHAMPIONSHIP:
Goalers – Jane Cook (City West Falcons), Julia Woolley (Geelong Cougars), Uneeq Palavi (Boroondara
Express), Rahni Samason (Ariels)
Midcourt – Jordan Cransberg (Melbourne University Lightning), Maggie Lind (City West Falcons), Kelsie Rainbow (Melbourne University), Shae Brown (Melbourne University Lightning)
Defenders – Brooke Allan (Geelong Cougars), Gabby Coffey (Melbourne University Lightning), Fiona Fowler (Melbourne University Lightning), Melissa Oloamanu (City West Falcons)
DIVISION 1:
Goalers – Georgia Cuthbertson (Geelong Cougars), Abbey Ryan (Boroondara Express), Aleisha McDonald (Geelong Cougars), Chevvone Thomson (Boroondara Express)
Midcourt – Bronwyn Taylor (North East Blaze), Zara Walters (Geelong Cougars), Samantha Coppinger (North East Blaze), Chelsea Sartori (Boroondara Express)
Defenders – Nakita Singe (North East Blaze), Ellen Doyle (Geelong Cougars), Laura Giles (Geelong Cougars), Maggie Caris (Melbourne University Lightning)
19 & UNDER:
Goalers – Emily Andrew (Ariels), Olivia Wilkinson (Peninsula Waves), Keeley Burgmann (Hawks Netball), Claire Oakley (Melbourne University Lightning)
Midcourt – Abbey Williams (Peninsula Waves), Tadiwa Kahonde (Wilson Storage Southern Saints), Abigail Inglis (Hawks Netball), Casey Dunstan (Boroondara Express)
Defenders – Charli Nicol (City West Falcons), Jacque De Lazzari (North East Blaze), Joanna Wietrzyk (Peninsula Waves), Matilda Cook (Peninsula Waves)
VNL UMPIRE OF THE YEAR (as voted by the VNL Umpire coaches)
Nicole Bullen has achieved success on court debuting in SSN in Round 10 after having her A grade badge
since the 2018 VNL season.
HOT SHOT AWARD (MOST GOALS FOR THE SEASON)
CHAMPIONSHIP: Jane Cook (City West Falcons)
Jane Cook had another dominant season under the post for City West Falcons posting 589 goals from 614 attempts at 96% for the season. The tall timber showcased her crafty positioning and overall netball smarts to steer the ship up the front for the Falcons. Cook had a season high of 74 goals from 75 attempts in round 10 against North East Blaze highlighting her shooting prowess.
DIVISION 1: Aleisha McDonald (Geelong Cougars)
Aleisha McDonald received the Hot Shot award for Division 1 posting 345 goals from 429 attempts at 80% for the season. McDonald was a commanding presence under the post for Geelong Cougars and showcased those talents in round 7 shooting 46 goals from 54 attempts.
19 & UNDER: Rose Laidlaw (Boroondara Express)
Boroondara Express shooter Rose Laidlaw topped the competition with her 300 goals from 345 attempts at 87%. Her highest tally came in round 4 scoring 44 goals from 48 attempts.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (as voted by the VNL umpires)
CHAMPIONSHIP: Julia Woolley (Geelong Cougars) and Maggie Lind (City West Falcons)
Julia Woolley has claimed back-to-back MVP titles after taking out the honour in 2019 and once again this season. The versatile shooter showcased her ability to play both goal attack and goal shooter throughout the season for the Geelong Cougars. An experienced member of the squad, Woolley provided a calming presence in attack each time she stepped out on court.
After a strong season with City West Falcons, Maggie Lind was also awarded the MVP title with the fancy footed midcourter impressing in a raft of positions. Recently elevated to the Collingwood Magpies Suncorp Super Netball team, Lind was a pivotal member in the Falcons frontend with her crafty passes and turn of speed.
DIVISION 1: Chelsea Sartori (Boroondara Express)
Chelsea Sartori took out the MVP award for Division 1 with the Boroondara Express centre court player polling votes in nine out of the 11 games highlighting her overwhelming influence out on court. Sartori finished with 22 votes to her name, including five outings where she received the maximum of three votes.
19 & UNDER: Tadiwa Kahonde (Wilson Storage Southern Saints)
Kahonde was an integral link through the defensive third and midcourt for the Saints racking up 18 votes and polling in seven rounds. She was a consistent figure for the Saints using her closing speed and defensive tenacity to have an impact across the court.
Attention now turns to 2022, with the VNL clubs in preparation for re-signings and trials over the next couple of months.
