HUMBLE yet talented, Jess Parry has taken home not one but two awards from the recent Central Murray Football Netball League awards.
Balranald’s Parry took home A Grade Best & Fairest as well as Voyage Fitness Netball Coach of the Year for her stellar year with the Roos.
Parry rejoined the Balranald side in 2019, after a disappointing ninth place finish in the team’s previous season. The Roos hopped up a rung on the ladder for 2019 and finished eight.
But this 2021 season, despite many interruptions, her team have bolted to victory with a minor premiership to top the ladder.
It’s safe to say the Longrenong graduate, mum and Balranald A grade playing coach has a lot on her plate – but she didn’t let that get to her as she guided her team calmly to a much sought after victory.
She was also recognised in the Balranald Australia Day 2019 award ceremonies for her role as assistant coach of the sporting team of the year – the Balranald Under 15s netball side.
Her work ethic may make others shudder, but it’s also what people have come to expect from Parry who has previously returned to the A grade netball court just a month after giving birth.
Prior to the final count, playing coach Parry highlighted the efforts of her teammate GD Stevie Bibby who also polled exceptionally with 13 votes.
“Stevie will poll well in the league medal but I think there will be too many girls within our team take votes from each other at the league level and keep each other out of it,” Parry said.
“There is a lot of talent spread throughout the league so it’s hard to predict,” she said.
While Bibby came third alongside Tyntynder’s WA Laura Anderson, and Koondrook-Barham’s GA Tlarnee Lake was runner up, GA Parry’s appearance in the top names was no surprise.
She was one of Mallee Eagles’ coach Vicki McDonald’s picks for the season alongside Swan Hill’s Arlee Bennett who came seventh.
The GA took home three votes for four matches and polled in four more to end the night with a two point lead.
*breakout*
Other netball award winners were:
Java Spice A Grade MVP and A Grade Runner Up – Tlarnee Lake of Koondrook Barham
LJ Hooker Under 19 Distinction – Alivia Andrews of Swan Hill
McDonalds Under 18 MVP and Under 18 Best & Fairest – Hannah Morton of Balranald
Under 18 Runner Up – Rose Crowe of Tyntynder
A Reserve Best and Fairest – Milly Op’t Hoog of Tyntynder and Sarah Young of Mallee Eagles
A Reserve Runner Up – Julia Amezdroz of Swan Hill
B Grade Best and Fairest – Kelly Gould of Mallee Eagles
B Grade netball Runner Up – Karen Thamm of Swan Hill
B Reserve Netball Best and Fairest – Catrina Robinson of Cohuna Kangas
B Reserve Netball Runner Up – Alyce Mathers of Cohuna Kangas
Under 16 Best and Fairest – Grace Morton of Balranald
Under 16 Netball Runner Up – Mikayla O’Meara of Mallee Eagles
Under 14 Best and Fairest – Jamison Wise of Kerang
Under 14 Netball Runners Up – Jayda Plant of Tooleybuc Manangatang and Audrey Domaille of Tyntynder
