Winners have been announced for the Victorian Sport Awards (VSAs), honouring the Victorian sport and active recreation industry for achievements made during the 2025 calendar year.
Presented by the Victorian Government and Vicsport on Wednesday 13 May in the Members Dining Room at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, 19 awards were presented that span individual and team athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, administrators, media personnel and the initiatives that promoted participation.
Following nominations from State Sporting Associations as well as teammates, club members, friends, family and the general public, an esteemed panel of 35 highly qualified Victorian sports people were charged with selecting both the finalists and winners.
Netball Victoria had several finalists across a range of categories, highlighting the strength and impact of the organisation across the sport.
These finalists included Tim Marshall for Official of the Year, the Melbourne Vixens for Team of the Year, and Frankston DNA for Community Sporting Club of the Year.
Sharelle McMahon was recognised with the Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport award, while Narelle Draper was named Community Coach of the Year.
Find details on the award winners here and below.
The most prestigious honour bestowed on the night, the Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport Award is a lifetime achievement award and presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding achievement in, or contribution to, sport in Victoria. The 2025 recipient is Sharelle McMahon.
One of Australia’s most successful, durable and fierce netballers, Sharelle McMahon won two World Championships, two Commonwealth Games gold medals and six Australian netball Championships across a 16-year playing career.
Playing as goal attack or goal shooter, Sharelle etched her name into netball folklore at the 1999 World Championships, hitting the game-winning shot on the siren in the final against New Zealand to secure Australia’s third consecutive title.
She was the heroine again at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, sinking the game winner in sudden death to once again beat New Zealand and claim gold. At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Sharelle created history as Australia’s first team player to be named flag-bearer for the Opening Ceremony.
Overall, her international career included two World Championship gold medals and one silver as well as two gold and two silver Commonwealth Games medals. She captained the team on twelve occasions, scored 2,520 goals and finished as the second most-capped Australian player with 118 games.
Sharelle’s domestic career started in similar fashion to her international career, winning a Premiership with the Melbourne Phoenix in her debut season. Between 1997-2007, she captained the Phoenix for four seasons, leading them to win five Premierships whilst also claiming four MVP Awards. In 2007, Sharelle was named the Melbourne Vixens’ inaugural captain. She led them to the Championship in 2009 and won the Grand Final MVP while also winning back-to-back club MVP’s in 2009 and 2010, an award which is now named in her honour.
Sharelle’s achievements have not ended after retirement, becoming the first netballer and just the third female athlete in Melbourne to be immortalised in bronze when her statue was unveiled in 2023 at John Cain Arena.
Vicsport CEO Elyse Jenkins says:
“The Victorian Sport Awards are a special night as it gives us a chance to recognise and celebrate Victoria’s grassroots heroes alongside those who excelled at an elite level.
“My congratulations to everyone who was honoured this year including Sharelle McMahon, a legend of Victorian sport who has continued to give back to our industry beyond retirement through administrative roles at Cricket Victoria and Netball Victoria.”
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence says:
“2025 was a year of outstanding sporting achievements for our athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers. They deserve this moment in the spotlight.”
“Congratulations to all our sporting icons honoured here tonight, especially to Sharelle McMahon, one of our state’s greatest homegrown netball talents, helping to pave the way for the next generation of Victorian sport stars.”
By VICSPORT
