“So shook”: Ellen Doyle breaks 19-year club drought

SHARPSHOOTING SWAN Ellen Doyle has taken out the A Grade netball medal at the Geelong Netball League Best and Fairest in a nail-biting count.

Doyle, who led the competition with 892 goals, tallied 22 votes on the night, edging out St Joseph’s attacker and Geelong Cougars teammate Emma Buwalda by two votes.

She said she was absolutely thrilled to be the first South Barwon netballer to take out the award since Sascha Veldhuis in 2003, adding she was speechless upon receiving the honour.

“I was honestly so shook and had absolutely no words at the time, I was sweating like crazy the whole count; it was just so up and down but it feels absolutely incredible to win the award.

“We’ve had so many incredible A Graders in the past get up there so to do it for the club is something I am really proud of.”

Speaking about her netballing influences, Doyle said new coach Jordee Nichols had brought an amazing fresh outlook to the group and one that had rejuvenated the side as they embarked on their finals campaign.

Doyle also said captain and teammate Olivia Cameron had been a major support of her game and a figure the 22-year-old had looked up to since her junior days.

“Jordee has been a massive asset to the A grade group, and we have lacked a lot of confidence in the past and she has thrived on building it back up.

“The fact that we are all girls who have come through the junior ranks of the club besides one is such an incredible effort and Jordi has really made an amazing impact on that.

“It’s also an absolute honour to learn and play with Olivia Cameron, who is someone I grew up idolising.

“To be able to play with her the last few years and to be captained by her has been incredible and hopefully we can get the job done for her this finals series.”

Doyle admitted her first A Grade medal felt extra special as she had come through the club’s junior program.

“This is my 11^th season playing at South and I have come through the junior pathway, so it feels great to get that opportunity in A Grade which is something I have been striving towards since I was a little kid,” she said.

“To finally get that and to win an award like this is honestly a hat to my 11 years playing at South and a true honour.”

The Swans finished the season with a third-place seed in the finals.

The top 10 vote-getters in the Geelong Netball League:

1 Ellen Doyle (South Barwon) – 22 votes

2 Emma Buwalda (St Joseph’s) – 20 votes

3 Elli Leydin (St Joseph’s) – 17 votes

4 Brooke Allan (Colac) – 16 votes

5 Danielle Mather (Newtown & Chilwell) – 16 votes

6 Madelyn Gray (St Albans) – 14 votes

7 Uneeq Palavi (Newtown & Chilwell) – 14 votes

8 Alahria Smith (Geelong West) – 13 votes

9 Jessie Lang (Colac) – 13 votes

10 Michelle Svetnik (South Barwon) – 13 votes

The Geelong Netball League Team of the Season was also named, led by Newtown and Chilwell coach Jason Woolley:

Goalers: Julia Woolley (Newtown & Chilwell), Zanna Woods (Newtown & Chilwell), Ellen Doyle (South Barwon)

Mid Court: Elli Leydin (St Joseph’s), Zara Walters (Colac), Ally O’Connor (Bell Park), Vanessa Augustini (Newtown & Chilwell)

Defenders: Tori Honner (St Joseph’s), Brooke Allan (Colac) and Indya Forde (Colac).