REFLECTING the strong competitiveness of the Central Murray Football Netball League’s (CMFNL) A Grade competition this season, a clear winner for the best and fairest award could not be determined, with the results ending up in a tie of two of the league’s best netballers.
The award was shared between Balranald’s Jess Parry and Swan Hill’s Madeleine Nalder, both of whom have demonstrated exceptional skills and leadership throughout the season.
Parry and Nalder not only had to share the stage at the CMFNL presentation night on Sunday evening, but will also be sharing the court in this weekend’s A Grade grand final match as playing coaches.
“Maybe it’s a sign of what is to come – it might be a close game, who knows,” Parry said.
It came down to the last round of votes to determine the winner, with both Parry and Nalder ending up on 24 votes each over the course of the season.
Nalder said she was “gobsmacked” to receive the accolade, finding herself a little lost for words as the thought has never really entered her mind that she might actually win.
“It is obviously amazing to share it with such a great player in Jess and I think it sort of starts for a great story for the week considering we are playing against each other in the grand final on Saturday,” Nalder said.
Parry was also a little shocked at the announcement, saying she definitely didn’t expect to go close to the top of the charts this season.
“I think our whole team at Balranald have just lifted to another level this year, so I was just expecting us to take votes off each other and put each other out of the race a bit,” Parry said.
Lake Boga’s Jemma Meehan came third in vote count polling 21 votes, followed closely by Cohuna’s Keely Wilson on 19, Mallee Eagles’ Kellie Walker on 16 and Lake Boga’s Sarah Hepburn 16.
Nalder said she gets her passion and drive for the sport from the enjoyment it brings.
“After having a really inconsistent few years with COVID, and prior to that I was on and off having kids, I sort of feel like it has just been great to be back and have a consistent full year,” she said.
Similar to Nadler, Parry said the enjoyment that not only she gets from it but her family as well was also a big part it for her.
“I’ve got two little kids, so netball is a real outlet for me – it’s an hour of netball on a Saturday where you don’t have the kids and training is that bit of an escape too,” Parry said.
“Balranald is such a family club, too, like our kids love going to footy training and to footy on a Saturday, so to see them enjoying that country footy netball club makes it all worthwhile and it does put a lot of enjoyment into your sport.”
