Three netball premierships were the focus of last week’s end of year Tongala Football Netball Club presentation evening.

The Blues won the B-grade, C-grade and C-reserve titles, but the Thursday night celebration was more to recognise the outstanding seasons of the senior football and netball players.

Alongside the best-and-fairest counts, club secretary Sheree Marsh was awarded the senior clubperson of the year, while several life memberships were also recognised.

Jordan Souter, Jayden Tucker, Mark Watson, Rhan Gee, Sarah Halliwell and Paige Wade were all honoured with the title of life member, while Debbie Townsend and Darren Maloney were inducted for their years of service.

– Grace Hammond polled in 13 of her team’s 21 games this season to win a close A-grade netball count from another of Tongala’s Victorian Netball League Bendigo Strikers representatives Milly Brock.

Hammond fulfilled her Tongala duties while captaining the Bendigo Strikers 23 and Under team in their inaugural Victoria Netball League season. Brock was a goaler in the championship team

Only weeks before collecting her Tongala award she was named the winner of the Strikers Spirit Award at its presentation evening.

She was also captain coach of Tongala’s 2023 A-grade premiership team.

Brock was best-and-fairest in that premiership team, adding further to an impressive resumé that includes Victorian 19 and Under representation and a glittering club and representative career with Goulburn Valley competition powerhouse Seymour.

Hammond polled 29 votes, with Brock finishing on 24, one ahead of Chelsey Wright (23). Gemma Brennan (16) and Jaz Clark (11) rounded out the top five.

Votes were cast on a 3, 2, 1 basis (on three cards).

– Kyle Halliwell was the dominant player in the reserve grade team, named in the Blue's best players on 15 occasions (from his 19 games).

That was reflected in the vote count where he polled 153 votes to win from Sam Tyler (90), Todd Van Roy (79) and Luke Smith.

Halliwell led the count from start to finish, his post COVID resilience indicated by his 58 games in the last three seasons.

Ryan Campbell and Mark Watson filled the minor placings in the count, finishing fourth and fifth.

– Sienna Johnstone led the B-grade vote count from start to finish, but held on to win the award from Meg Brennan by just a vote in the team’s premiership season.

Paige Wade finished a vote further back in third and Georgia Watt was fourth. Watt was named the team’s player’s player for 2024.

– Tracey Hughes added another best-and-fairest to her already full cabinet by winning the C-grade award by four votes from Ash Watson.

Sheridan Barnes was third, Zena Hoytling fourth and Pam Brunt fifth in a count which celebrated another premiership season for the Blues.

Brunt was awarded the player’s player award and most consistent.

– Connie Blake was named the C-reserve best-and-fairest winner when she polled 23 votes to win by five from Tootie Brennan and Laura Forde.

Natalie Parkinson, Sarah Gale and Makayla Morrison filled the minor placings. Sophie Denham was named most dedicated.

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Saturday, 13th January 2024

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