“Super shocked”: Couta captain beats all in best and fairest

QUEENSCLIFF’S Kaitlin Gladman is bringing a league best and fairest back to the borough, tallying a massive 32-vote haul at last night’s Bellarine Netball League vote count.

Gladman, a first-year captain of the Coutas, finished five votes ahead of Ocean Grove’s Rebecca O’Neill (27) in a race of the league’s two top goal scorers.

“I’m super shocked, I was completely unaware that I would even be up there, so yeah I’m very excited,” Gladman said after being announced best and fairest.

“It’s pretty crazy, I was lucky enough to win the Under 19 league best and fairest last year as well.

“It’s been a really big change coming from 19’s to seniors.”

Queenscliff’s goal attack snagged 17 votes in the last seven rounds of counting and tallied seven best-on-court nominations on her way to the win.

Gladman also scored 495 goals in the 2022 campaign, trailing only O’Neill’s 831.

“The physicality side of the game this season has been a big thing for me, just trying to develop myself to be able to deal with opponents,” Gladman said.

“Leadership-wise I was lucky enough to be the captain this year, I tried to take on the development of some of the younger girls that we have in our team, which was great for me too.”

Gladman credited head coach Katrina Daws with her development over the past year.

“Katrina has been an absolute breath of fresh air this year, we all love her at Queenscliff, and we love all the work that she’s done this season.

Jessica Kelly of Geelong Amateur was named B Grade best and fairest, Modewarre’s Lauren Richardson took home C Grade, Queenscliff’s Kirrily Sager was awarded the D Grade honour and Ammos’ Jalen Walsh secured E Grade best and fairest.

Top 10 vote-getters in A Grade:

1. Kaitlin Gladman (Queenscliff) – 32 votes
2. Rebecca O’Neill (Ocean Grove) – 27 votes
3. Jessica Duke (Newcomb) – 25 votes
4. Kelsey Ollis (Ocean Grove) – 24 votes
5. Ashlea Creasey (Geelong Amateur) – 23 votes
6. Ruby Bowers (Modewarre) – 21 votes
7. Jessica Standfield (Torquay) – 20 votes
8. Rhian Moresi (Torquay) – 18 votes
9. Alyce Delaney (Drysdale) – 14 votes
10. Keisha Guilmartin (Geelong Amateur) – 14 votes