WNA - Stawell Warriors Kirsty Coote was crowned Wimmera Netball Association B grade best and fairest at Monday night's vote count.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was a tight finish, with Coote taking home the spoils after a best on court performance in Stawell's final round win over Horsham RSL Diggers.
Coote polled 27 votes to finish two votes clear of Horsham's Melanie Scott, while her Stawell teammate Michelle Elvery finished in third place with 24 votes.
When asked if she expected to win, Coote said 'most definitely not.'
"If you listened to the radio, my voice was so shaky and my heart was beating very fast. I thought I'd had a good season but not that good," she said.
Coote played in numerous positions throughout season 2012, beginning the year in centre before moving down to goal defence/goal keeper.
She then moved up into wing defence before finishing the season back in centre.
Coote said she liked playing in all the positions for different reasons.
"One of my favourites used to be wing defence because when I was younger, somebody said to me it was the most important position on the court. I like the defensive end but then I like to go into the middle where I can run and stretch the legs."
In her second year with Stawell, Coote hopes to return to the club in 2013 but it will depend on where her job takes her.
Meanwhile, Stawell defender Emma Henry concluded a successful season by finishing joint third in the WNA A grade vote count.
Henry has had an outstanding year, representing Wimmera in the interleague competition as well as playing a pivotal role as joint coach of the Warriors senior side.
Henry's coaching partner, Jemma Clarkson, was full of praise.
"She's been wonderful and has done a great job. She can play in defence or in goals," Clarkson said.
"She's a really tight defender with her rebounds and she reads the play well."
Henry provides lots of turnovers, gets her hands to the ball and is consistently ranked among Stawell's best players.
Clarkson and Stawell teammate Jade Cross finished in the top 10 - Clarkson came seventh with 16 votes while Cross was ninth with 12.
It could have been a winning trifecta for the Bach family on Monday night, with life member inductees Debbie and Andrew's daughter, Jaiden, leading the C grade vote count after round 15.
However, the Warriors goal attack had to settle for joint-third alongside Jessica Simons from Dimboola.
Alana Nelson of Horsham polled 21 votes to finish on top,.
Other Stawell players to finish in the C grade top 10 were Meg Newton, who finished equal fourth with 14 votes and Laura Farrer polled 13 votes to come in fifth.
In the Wimmera Football League best and fairest, Shane Field was Stawell's highest vote getter.
Field, who played the majority of the year in the ruck in the absence of Jorah Margetson, polled a total of 15 votes to finish fourth.
Phillip Butsch from Horsham Saints was crowned best and fairest with 24 votes, edging out Warrack Eagle Steve Schulz by just one vote.
It was a close contest in the WFL reserves vote count.
Stawell's Daniel Thomas finishing equal fourth with 10 votes alongside five other players, while James Devery finished fifth with nine votes.
Horsham's Carl Obst and Nhill's Luke Oldaker were joint winners of WFL reserves best and fairest with 14 votes.