Blues defender takes home Webb Medal

GEELONG and District Netball League’s (GDNL) Margaret Webb Medal is on its way to Eastern Reserve for the first time in GDFNL history with a Winchelsea Blues defender taking out the competition’s highest individual honour.

In her first season with the Blues, goalkeeper Gemma Stavenuiter emerged at the top of the leaderboard in this evening’s vote count to become Winchelsea’s first A Grade Best and Fairest winner, with 27 votes.

Thomson’s Emma Witham finished the night with 25 votes in front of both Amanda O’Malley  (Werribee Centrals) and Kelsey Whyte (Inverleigh), who tied third with 23 votes each.

Tying for fifth were Belmont’s Angelique Ross and Thomson’s Rebecca Lebish. Last year’s Margaret Webb Medal winner Ashleigh Cushion secured 18 votes to finish seventh.

The Blues defender settled in well to her first GDNL game in the Winchelsea uniform, following a move from the Bellarine Netball League’s Portarlington Demons, securing a best-on-court performance in her side’s 45-goal win against Anakie in Round 1.

Stavenuiter, who moved from the Bellarine Netball League’s Portarlington Demons to the Winchelsea club, settled in well to her first GDNL game securing a best-on-court performance in her side’s 45-goal win against Anakie in Round 1.

The Blues defender doubled-up on her vote tally with another best-on-court in Round 2 against Geelong West, before she tallied again with two votes in Round 5.

Stavenuiter tallied to 10 in Round 6 against North Geelong and then to 13 with a best-on-court performance against the Eagles in Round 10.

She polled again in Rounds 11 (2 votes), 12 (3 votes), 13 (3 votes), 16 (3 votes) and 17 (3 votes) to put the count beyond doubt, with Thomson’s Emma Witham hot on her heels.

Witham polled two votes in the final round, bringing the runner-up within two votes of Stavenhuiter.

Winchelsea concluded the season in second position on the GDNL standings with the same record as East Geelong, 16 wins and two losses.

The Blues’ defence ranked third in Goals Against over the course of the campaign, a testament to the impact Stavenhuiter had in the defensive third.

Winchelsea looks ahead to a Preliminary Final matchup with Werribee Centrals this Saturday (September 3).

Top 10 vote-getters in the Margaret Webb Medal count:

1 Gemma Stavenuiter (Winchelsea) – 27 votes
2 Emma Witham (Thomson) – 25 votes
3 Amanda O’Malley (Werribee Centrals) – 23 votes
3 Kelsey Whyte (Inverleigh) – 23 votes
5 Angelique Ross (Belmont) – 19 votes
5 Rebecca Lebish (Thomson) – 19 votes
7 Ashleigh Cushion (East Geelong) – 18 votes
8 Alanna Cottrill (East Geelong) – 17 votes
9 Connie Royal (Winchelsea) – 16 votes
10 Ally Bamford (Corio) – 15 votes

The GDNL Team of the Year led by co-coaches Casey Carroll (Winchelsea) and Justine Radford (East Geelong), and assistant coach David Boyce (East Geelong):

• Goalers: Melody Philpott (GS – Winchelsea) and Emma Witham (GA – Thomson)
• Mid Court: Casey Carroll (WA – Winchelsea), Meg Royal (C – Winchelsea) and Claudia Cook (WD – East Geelong)
• Defenders: Ashleigh Cushion (GD – East Geelong) and Gemma Stavenuiter (GK – Winchelsea)
• Reserves: Cassidy Nelson (North Geelong), Shannyn Leach (Thomson) and Amanda O’Malley (Werribee Centrals)