By Tricia Mifsud
THE Broadford Football Netball Club has recognised the achievements of its players in the 2021 season, and have announced individual award winners via its social media.
Winners of the best and fairest, runners up and others awards were announced for each football and netball team.
In their first season in the AFL Outer East League, the netball teams had an impressionable inaugural season with the league, with A and B grades finishing third, C grade finishing minor premiers and D grade finishing second.
Winners were as follows:
A grade best and fairest:
Ally Black
A grade runners-up:
Ebony Heers.
B grade best and fairest:
Brooke Currell
B grade runners-up:
Renee Sari
C grade best and fairest:
Rhonwyn Whiteside
C grade runners-up:
Carley Kelly
D grade best and fairest:
Rhiannon Brown
D grade runners-up:
Leah Toomey
Broadford club president Bonnie Cavanagh said she was extremely proud of what the netball department achieved this year.
“The netballers worked really hard and had a great preseason, and their success is a testament to the effort that everyone put in,” Cavanagh said.
“They really wanted to come in to the Outer East League and do well, and they were able to have a huge impact in just their first season.
“Often their hard work isn’t recognised, so I’m glad it this year it has been.”
Football winners
Seniors best and fairest:
Liam Lucas
Seniors runners-up:
Sean Duggan
Reserves best and fairest:
Jai Heers
Reserves runners-up:
Ash Wood
Under 17s best and fairest:
Kaylan Atar and Caleb Keen.
It was a challenging season for the footballers, who also played their first season in the AFL Outer East League.
The seniors and reserves finished eighth and seventh respectively, however, for the under 17s, the narrative played out differently and they were able to secure a second place finish.
Cavanagh said she was also proud of the footballers for banding together in and representing the club in what was a tough season.
“There were some big scores but often this didn’t reflect the effort. Feedback from the opposition clubs said the same thing and that it was always a good hit out,” she said.
“We would be naive to expect to have had a big impact in our first season given we are going through a re-build and a restructure, but the footballers played some decent passages of footy and never gave up.
“There is a good core group of players that will only improve with more training and match play together, add in more recruits and we can really turn some of these results around quickly.”
Cavanagh said despite the interruptions to the season and an abrupt end, the committee deemed 2021 as a successful year, and thanked everyone who played a role at the club.
“A big thank you to all of the volunteers, committee members and sponsors who made it all possible for us to compete this season,” she said.
“The football department is one of the final pieces required to complete our giant club puzzle, and I’m really excited to continue leading the uplift in this area and achieve great successful for the club across the board.
“I am very passionate about the club and the town, and have a lot more to give. I’m praying we don’t have another interrupted season next year, as we have a lot more work we would like to do including plans to acknowledge and celebrate the club’s rich history and finding ways for people to reconnect with the club.”
