Last vote decides medal

LOCAL netball champion Shannyn Leach added a Margaret Webb Medal to her long list of achievements after a strong finish in last night’s GDFL A-Grade count.

A best-on-court performance in the final round, against North Geelong, helped the Thomson star finish on 26 votes, ahead of Tigers teammate Errin Lang, who finished on 24.

Had Lang received the top nod on that windy afternoon, instead of receiving two votes, then the pair would have been the first teammates to tie for the medal since its inception in 2002.

Earlier in the count, Werribee’s Jacinta Savory polled 12 votes in the opening six rounds, but failed to add to her tally despite playing nine of the last 12 games.

Inverleigh star Kelsey Whyte held an equal lead with Lang in Round 12 but it was short-lived.

A strong final fortnight from last year’s runner-up Elkanah Foott (Bell Post Hill) made up for her unavailability in April by polling 18 of her side’s 27 votes.

She tied for fourth with Belmont’s Breanna McPhee, who was named coach of the Team of the Year.

The final team featured Leach ( WD), who was also named captain, as well as regulars Lang (GA) and Foott (GD).

A final tally of 638 goals justified the selection of Corio’s Cassidy Stewart as the team’s goal-shooter.

FINAL LEADERBOARD 26 — Shannyn Leach (Thomson) 24 — Errin Lang (Thomson) 22 — Kelsey Whyte (Inverleigh) 18 — Elkanah Foott (Bell Post Hill) and Breanna McPhee (Belmont Lions) 15 — Bridgitte Burns (Corio) 14 — Nicole O’Brien & Megan Cartwright (East Geelong) and Cassidy Stewart & Shayna Poto (Corio)

13 — Meg Royal (Winchelsea), Justine Radford (Bannockburn) and Joanna Couch (Thomson) Rookie of the Year Abby Croft (Bell Post Hill)