And just like that, netball season is done and dusted.
From East Gippsland Football-Netball League to North Gippsland Football-Netball League to Gippsland League, the 2023 season has had its fair share of milestones and upsets.
Rosedale’s Carly Johnstone played her 300th game in Round 17 of the NGFNL, while Heyfield’s Sarah Schellen became the first netballer to reach the 300-game milestone in the Kangaroos Round 13 clash against Glengarry.
In the EGFNL Stratford netballers Katy Coster, Sarah Bishop, and Merran Bradley wrapped up a successful home and away season, Coster playing her 200th game for the Swans in their Round 18 encounter against Boisdale-Briaglong. At the same time, Bishop and Bradley became the most recent Stratball netballers to join the 300-club.
Sale City powered home to win the NGFNL minor premiership on 54 points with 13 wins, two losses and one draw.
With just four points separating fourth and first, the 2023 home and away season has been one of the most even A Grade competitions in recent history.NGFNL’s 2022 double premiers Woodside finished fourth, Churchill third and Heyfield second, with traditional powerhouse Rosedale finishing fifth on 44 points.
Gormandale passes the wooden spoon to Yallourn-Yallourn North, with the Jets managing just one win this season.
Cowwarr finished seventh.
Stratford missed out on taking out the EGFNL 2023 minor premiership by a fractional margin.
Wy Yung pipped Stratford at the post to defend their EGFNL 2022 minor premiership title, defeating the Swans on goal difference. Both teams concluded the home and away season on 60 points, with 15 wins and one loss.
Lindenow surprised. The Cats turned out to be a dark horse this season, finishing third, while EGFNL 2022 Grand Final winners Boisdale-Briagolong missed tenacious centre Linley Bertacchini this year, ending the season fourth.
Moe dominated the Gippsland League this season, topping 2022 Grand Final winners Morwell to take out the minor premiership.
But not all seasons are ones for the history books.
2023 will be a season Maffra will want to quickly forget, winning just one of their 18 home and away season matches.
Yes, Maffra may not have had the season they’d hoped for, and yes, the Eagles have been handed the wooden spoon, but on the bright side, they still did better than Bairnsdale last year – the Red Legs were unable to manage a single win in 2022.
While Maffra slid down the ladder, Sale climbed it.
After finishing ninth at the end of the 2022 season, the Magpies had plenty of room to improve heading into 2023. Improve they did. Sale jumped two places to finish the season in seventh.
In marking the end of another netball season and with clubs’ best and fairest votes all counted, it seems only fitting to acknowledge the region’s netball creme-de-la-creme, Gippsland’s best and brightest stars.
Shall we start with North Gippsland?
North Gippsland
Charlotte Ronchi took out Sale City’s A Grade Best and Fairest, with Chai Murrin named runner-up.
Yarram Football Netball Club’s A Grade Best and Fairest was awarded to Ella Rendall. Lily Kerrison-Male was runner-up.
Caity Lewis was named Rosedale Football Netball Club’s A Grade Best and Fairest, with Meg Gordyn awarded runner-up.
Woodside Football Netball Club’s A Grade Best and Fairest was awarded to Georgie Banik. Taylah Buckley was named runner-up.
Heyfield’s A Grade Best and Fairest, what the Kangaroos have dubbed the Jeanne Hesz Medal, was shared this season by Megan Kelly and Jayde Parsons. Millicent Riseley was awarded runner-up.
Cowwarr Football Netball Club awarded Kayla Woodall A Grade Best and Fairest, with Erin Campbell named runner-up.
East Gippsland
Tori Patterson took out Stratford Football Netball Club’s A Grade Best and Fairest, while Emmagyn ‘Emmy’ Williams was named runner-up.
Boisdale-Briagolong’s A Grade Best and Fairest went to Rachel Weatherly, with Elly Weatherly and Ash McDonough equal runners-up.
Stratford goalkeeper Emmy Williams was named EGFNL A Grade Best and Fairest.
Gippsland League
Dee Dee Lambert won the Gippsland League Rookie of the Year Award for her emphatic 2023 season performance.
Lambert was also named Sale Football Netball Club’s A Grade Best and Fairest, winning the title in a landslide victory. Rachel Ronaldson was awarded runner-up.
Chelsea Allman was awarded Maffra Football Netball Club’s A Grade Best and Fairest, while Chloe Proud and Chloe Felsbourg were awarded runners-up, finishing the 2023 season with equal votes.
Maffra has also confirmed signing Staci Scott as the Eagles 2024 A Grade and Under 17s netball coach.
Scott is an adept netball coach boasting extensive experience, including SNA Junior Representative Coach, East Gippsland Junior Representative coach, Junior Netball Victoria Academy assistant coach and Rosedale Football Netball Club Premiership coach.
Scott donned the Eagles colours from 2005 until 2011, earning the Gippsland League Best and Fairest in 2010 and Gippsland League Best and Fairest runner-up in 2007.
Will she be Maffra’s key to turning over a new leaf next season?
