Joeys shooter claims A Grade best and fairest

A ST JOSEPH’S shooter has dismantled the Geelong Netball League playing field to comfortably win the A Grade best and fairest medal at this evening’s (Wednesday, September 20) GFNL Awards Night.

Joeys goaler Emma Buwalda polled a whopping 34 votes on her way to a seven-vote win in this evening’s vote count.

Last year’s winner, South Barwon shooter Ellen Doyle was the next highest vote-getter with 27.

Doyle did not go home empty-handed, claiming the GNL’s Hotshots Award for the second year in a row with 701 goals in 2023.

Bell Park’s Emma Hawker, Geelong West’s Karina Martin, and Newtown & Chilwell’s Ruby Pekin-Schlicht rounded out the count’s top five with 18 votes apiece.

Buwalda is the first Joeys player to win the A Grade medal since current Joeys skipper Tori Honner shared the honor back in 2016.

She polled an amazing 14 times in 18 possible games, establishing herself as one of the premier offensive producers on the season.

Buwalda had a stellar season in front of the net, ranking second in total goals, while maintaining an 82.9 per cent conversion rate on the year, not missing a game during the home-and-away season.

She began her polling in Round 1 with a pair of votes against St Mary’s, before doubling up with two votes in Round 2 against South Barwon.

Buwalda didn’t poll votes in Round 3 but began her voting charge in Round 4 against Leopold.

It was the first of three best-on-court performances in a row. Buwalda tallied 17 votes by the midway point of the campaign.

Best-on-court performances in Round 10, Round 12, Round 17, and lastly in Round 18 put the result beyond doubt for the goaler.

Colac’s Courtney Cuolahan was named the GNL’s Coach of the Year in her first year back at the Tigers and leading her side to the minor premiership.

Buwalda and Doyle joined Newtown & Chilwell shooter and Tongan World Cup representative Uneeq Palavi in the Team of the Season’s scoring third.

St Joseph’s Elli Leydin, Colac’s Zara Walters, Geelong West’s Alahria Smith, and South Barwon’s Kiahna Fallon formed the side’s midcourt.

Australian Netball Championship-winning Colac defensive duo Brooke Allan and Indya Forde line up alongside Tori Honner in the team’s backcourt.

Here is this year’s GNL Team of the Season:

Bell Park’s Ebony Coppock was awarded the best and fairest award for B Grade, while St Albans’ Chantelle Brundall was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award.