Leading Ammo claims Division One best and fairest

A STALWART of the Geelong Amateur women’s football program has taken home the region’s top individual female football accolade at tonight’s (August 23) AFL Barwon Female Football Presentation Night.

Ammos ruck and skipper Danielle Sgarbi went one spot better than her runner up finish in 2022 to claim Division One’s top gong.

Sgarbi claimed the league best and fairest award ahead of Lara forward Taiya Morrow.

The premiership captain of the “Wammos” is the second Geelong Amateur ruck in three completed seasons to win the Division One medal, after former teammate Stephanie Abfalter received the same nod in 2019.

Sgarbi, who chatted with the Geelong Times earlier this week, said the 2023 campaign has been a tale of two halves, with her side gathering an abundance of momentum in the latter half of the season ahead of the side’s Grand Final.

“This season has had a few challenges thrown our way through injury and availability through players being called up to the VFL, which is really exciting.

“It has depleted our list a bit throughout the season, I think we’ve had 37 players play at least one game in the side in the Division One team.

“But we’ve gathered some momentum and we’ve found some rhythm in the back half of the season, so we’re excited to be in another Grand Final.”

Grovedale’s Zoe Cowan and Geelong Amateur’s Danielle Sgarbi with the Division 1 Premiership Cup. The two Grand Final sides meet on Sunday at Herne Hill Reserve. Photo: VINNIE VAN OORSCHOT

Geelong Amateur, who hope to win back-to-back flags, will square off at Drew Oval against Grovedale to decide this year’s Division One premiership.

South Barwon’s Daisy Wilson moved up a division in 2023 alongside her fellow Swans, as well as four spots in this year’s best and fairest to claim the Division Two medal.

South Barwon’s Daisy Wilson was declared the best and fairest recipient for Division 2. Photo: VINNIE VAN OORSCHOT

Wilson finished above Anglesea’s Olivia Ritchie to claim the honour.

Drysdale’s Tara Smith made it back-to-back best and fairests amassing more votes than North Geelong’s Faith Qoon and St Albans’ Phoebe Cobb in the Division Three count, doubling up on her Division Two win from 2022.

Drysdale’s Tara Smith took out Division 3 best and fairest honours, making it back-to-back best and fairests for the Hawk. Photo: MARCEL BERENS/SPORTS MEDIA IMAGES

St Mary’s Rebecca Clottey was awarded best and fairest honours in the Under 19 competition.

This year’s goal-kicking winners:
Division 1 Goal Kicking Award – Kara Stacey (Lara) – 25 goals
Division 2 Goal Kicking Award – Emily Kenshole (Thomson) – 33 goals
Division 3 Goal Kicking Award – Rebecca Madden (North Geelong) – 25 goals

Geelong Amateur added to its success with new coaches Neville Daffy and Francesca Hocking awarded Coaches of the Year.

The 2023 Female Football Team of the Year as voted by the coaches: