Allan tallies second Susan Meaney Medal

THE Geelong Cougars’ defensive centrepiece has again been awarded the club’s highest individual honour for a second time during a season that saw the side challenging to defend their reigning premiership.

Goalkeeper Brooke Allan has won the Cougars’ Susan Meaney Medal Award for a second time, winning her first medal back in 2018 alongside teammate Zanna Woods and repeating the feat for the 2021 Victorian Netball League (VNL) season.

Allan remained humble when explaining what the award meant to her, reiterating how much of a factor her team was in receiving the award.

“I’ve been with the Cougars for what feels like forever, so they definitely are like a second family to me,” Allan said.

“I don’t really think about me too much, it’s very much a team thing and I feel very honoured to be on a team list with some very good players. I can’t do what I do without my teammates.”

Allan also thanked her head coach and long-time pillar of support Gerard “Jez” Murphy for the award, noting that the pair both arrived at the club back in 2014. Ever since, it has been a journey of growth and development for player and coach.

“Brooke had an awesome season and continues to improve,” Murphy said.

“Her first part of this season was solid, then we had the break because of COVID before coming back for six or seven games where she ended up having 10 intercepts and 10 gains per game which is extraordinary really.

“She has to come up against some of the biggest players in the competition with some of them reaching heights of six-foot five-inches and she’s really the key to shutting them down and keeping our defence together.”

Prior to the season being cancelled, the Cougars ranked third in the VNL standings with a record of eight wins, two defeats and a draw, chasing the City West Falcons and the Melbourne University Lightning.

They would also allow just 479 goals against themselves through 11 contests – the second best for the statistic in the competition and a testament to Brooke’s contributions on the defensive end.

Allan realises that she isn’t going to get every ball that comes down her end, that is just “the life of a defender”.

But working with her defensive unit and knowing when to employ different tactics has become a real focal point for her.

“It is also about making sure that I take the opportunities that I do get and sending it back down to my shooters. If I’m doing that then there is less pressure on them. That’s my plan,” Allan said.

“Do what I can and take the opportunities when they come.”