Netball medal a three-way tie
Sept. 19, 2012, midnight
YOU BET: Swan Hill's Deanne Wiseman and Karli Livingston as well as Tooleybuc Manangatang's Julie Wardle all finished equal first for the 2012 Central Murray Football Netball (CMFNL) League Jack Betts Medal.
THE 2012 Central Murray Football Netball (CMFNL) League Jack Betts Medal count saw thrilling finishes to the league's two premier awards.
For the A grade netball the cat was out of the bag as soon as the last vote was called — those following closely immediately realised the result: a three-way tie for first place.
Swan Hill's Deanne Wiseman and Karli Livingston as well as Tooleybuc Manangatang's Julie Wardle all finished equal first.
It was a result made all the more remarkable given the three will all be on-court in the A grade grand final on Saturday.
For both Swans it was the first such award in the CMFNL, while for Wardle it was an incredible ninth league best and fairest.
Between 1996 and 2002, Wardle split the award with Tyntynder's Sharon Denham alternating year-for-year.
Wardle had also claimed the award in 1988, '90 and '94, before winning it again in 2009.
On Monday night, Lake Boga sharp-shooter Jaclyn Clark — the A grade highest scorer — was runner-up to the trio.
After nine rounds Livingston and Clark had been equal leaders on 15 votes, with Wiseman and Wardle making their charge later in the count.
In the Jack Betts Medal count itself, Swan Hill's Xavier Moloney and Tyntynder's Lachlan Gilbert were equal first on 13 votes after nine rounds, with Kerang's Troy Coates two votes off the pace.
Round 14 saw Coates in the lead with 17 votes, with Moloney and Gilbert still dead-locked on 15.
Incredibly, with two rounds to go, three players were tied on 17 votes, with another three on 15 each.
But with Tyntynder and Swan Hill having the last two byes, Moloney and Gilbert appeared all but out of contention.
And when Coates failed to poll in the final round - with coach Paul Grayling taking the Blues' last three votes - the stage was set for Pye.
The Boga big man eventually claimed the win two votes ahead of Coates and three ahead of Siciliano.
Other major awards for the night saw Balranald's Jeff Mannix take home the league's Identity of the Year award, while the LJ Hooker 19 and under Distinction Award went to Mallee Eagles rising star Emilia Bett and the GK Harrison Medal for Rookie of the Year was won by Tooleybuc Manangatang's Jack Spinks.
Other awards for the night saw Koondrook Barham and Swan Hill presented with the football and netball club championship awards respectively, while the club excellence award - for efficiency in administrative and match-day duties - went to the Mallee Eagles.
Youth Coach of the Year was awarded to Tyntynder's Tony Mazzarella, while the senior equivalent went to Woorinen's Aaron Cadd.
For the first time some junior football and netball awards were presented, with the 13 and under, 15 and under reserve and 15 and under awards going to Kerang's Tameca Pay, Woorinen's Shanay Barry and Kerang's Emma Wright and Tyntynder's Elvie Kelly-Britten.
The under 15 footy best and fairest went to Tooleybuc Manangatang's Thomas Spicer, while that age group's goal kicking award was presented to teammate Josh Domaille who booted 55 goals for the season.
The Spirit of Football and Netball awards went to Woorinen's Rachel Moroney and Tyntynder's Blake Ward, while the colts goal-kicking award was won by Demon Zac Caccaviello with 83 goals.
The colts best and fairest - the Len Mathieson Medal -- was won by Warren Lollicato of Koondrook Barham, while the reserves award was won by Caylan Lyons from the Mallee Eagles.
The B grade netball best and fairest was won by Woorinen's Janelle Hogan, while Kerang's Courtney Wright won the 17 and under award and Swan Hill's Alison Wright won the B reserve equivalent.
Last Modified on 29/05/2013 11:54
