The dominance of the Victorian Fury continues, with the team being recognised as the 2019 Team of the Year at the Victorian Sport Awards at Marvel Stadium last night.
The Sportslink Travel Team of the Year award – a division that is open to men’s, women’s and mixed Victorian teams – was a hotly contested division, with teams representing table tennis, bowls and surf life saving also in the running. However, the 2019 Deakin University Australian Netball League (DUANL) Champions proved formidable winners, especially after their 2019 title brought the team’s total national title count to eight; the most titles won by any other side in the competition is one.
2019 Victorian Fury captain, Jacqui Newton, was in attendance to accept the award, and was thrilled that the hard work of the team was continuing to be acknowledged.
“The Victorian Fury is very deserving of this award, in terms of how hard we work and what’s required to make it at that level,” Newton said. “It [the DUANL] is a national league…[so] it’s nice to get the recognition and come away with the win.”
The award brought back memories of the thrilling 54-53 decider against the Netball NSW Waratahs; a match in which Newton played a pivotal role.
“It was such a phenomenal game,” Newton reflected. “I do often think about it, and an award like this just kind of brings back just how special it was…it was a great group and it came together well when it counted.”
And will the Fury be able to bring the same dominance to the court in 2020?
“Of course!” Newton laughed.
Victorian netball had six finalists named in five categories at the 2019 Victorian Sports Awards, including outgoing Australian Diamonds Head Coach, Lisa Alexander, and Diamonds and Melbourne Vixens Vice-captain, Liz Watson.
There were also several other events, initiatives and venues that Netball Victoria is proud to work and be associated with that were finalists in the 2019 awards. Congratulations to the City of Casey’s Casey Stadium – home of both the Casey Netball Association and the Casey Demons Victorian Netball League (VNL) franchise – who were announced winners of the Bunnings Local Government Initiative of the Year Award.
