Sebas star takes out league’s top award

SEBASTOPOL’S Jaye Dalgelish has claimed the BFLW’s highest honour, winning league’s the best and fairest award with sixteen votes, five clear of her closest rival Kali Joyce of Melton.

The 20-year-old had a stellar season, booting 11 goals from the midfield, being named in her side’s best players six out of eight occasions.

So dominant was ger performance across the centre of the ground she poled 14 votes in the last six games to walk out the comfortable winner.

“I wouldn’t say I have a lot of faith in myself so it was definitely a shock, I mean I thought like everyone that it would be one of the Redan girls who would win it,” Daleglish said.

Dalgelish is the first Sebastopol player in history to be adjudged the competition very best and fairest player in the women’s competition.

“I was at East Point and won a premiership there and though I’d come across to Sebas and have one season there, but I couldn’t be any happier now with Sebas and I’m definitely going to stay there,” she said.

After early struggles in previous iterations of the women’s league, Sebastopol rose up the ladder in 2021 to win their first woman’s game in history and were on the brink of making finals before the season was suspended due to COVID-19.

Dalgelish’s coach, Dylan Sexton says the success of the side can be accredited to not only her but the great people she is surrounded by.

“Yeah of course she has a massive influence on our side but so do a lot of players. She is a real barometer for us, she brings players along with her and that’s one of the leadership qualities she has,” Sexton said.

At such a young age, the sky is the limit for Dalgelish and Sexton believes this is only the start for the Burra’s superstar on-baller.

“She is such a talent and if she wants to put her down and have a crack at a higher level, I can’t see any reason why she can’t,” he said.

Clearly this year she was the best player in the league and we know some rare talent has come out of the BFLW so there is no reason why she can’t follow in footsteps of an Amy McDonald for example.”

The Burra’s success doesn’t end with Dalgelish though with Sexton being awarded the 2021 Coach of the Year in his rookie season.

“It is nice to be recognised, in the end its more about the players and the club than it is about me… having no prior coaching experience, only having done a bit of assistant coaching here and there and Sebas to their credit have thrown our arms around us,” Sexton said.

All the BFLW award winners

 

Best & fairest – Jaye Dalgleish – Sebastopol

Best & fairest runner up – Kali Joyce – Melton

 

Under 18s

Best & fairest – Charlotte Hill – North Ballarat

Best & fairest runner up – Delta Greenhalgh – East Point

Rookie of the year – Ruby Lovel – North Ballarat

 

Under 16s

Best & fairest – Elise Cook – Bacchus Marsh

Best & fairest runner up – Tyla Crabtree – Redan

Rookie of the year – Matilda Myers – Redan and Charley Gartlan – Ballarat Storm

 

Under 14s

Best & fairest – Freya Palmer – Redan

Best & fairest runner up – Meg Stowe – Ballarat Swans

Rising star – Alyssah Whearem – Darley

 

League awards

BFLW coach of the year – Dylan Sexton – Sebastopol

BFLW coordinator of the year – Renae Kinnane – Lake Wendouree

 

Goal Kicking Awards

BFLW – Kim Bessell – Darley: 35 Goals

Under 18 – Jenna Burke – Ballarat: 14 Goals

Under 16 – Kylah Thompson – North Ballarat and Elise Cook – Bacchus Marsh: 12 Goals

Under 14s – Olivia Dilges – Bacchus Marsh: 19 Goals