We continue looking back to the best sport stories of 2017. In this edition we review the best of the best from July, August and September.
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JULY
Then inaugural Deakin University Female Football League season came to a close, with the Warriors finishing sixth in the eight team competition.
Two Terry and Karina O’Sullivan horses were nominated for Country Racing Victoria’s horse of the year, while TKO apprentice jockey Jessica Eaton got her first taste of metropolitan racing.
The Baggies once again played their annual indigenous round game against Taylors Lake, wearing special guernseys designed by local indigenous artist Heidi Chatfield. Both A Grade netball and senior football sides had big wins.
Swifts junior footballer finished runner-up best and fairest in two trial matches for theV/Line Cup, competing against some of the best young football talent in the Wimmera region.
Stawell Football Club celebrated 30 years since its 1987 Wimmera Football League premiership victory.
AUGUST
Jessica Eaton’s year just kept getting better, earning her first ride at Flemington.
Stawell footballer Zach Salmi headed to the United States where he would begin his American Football punting career at Central Methodist University. Salmi would have to wait for his opportunity, but was finally given a chance to punt in senior side.
Tom Walker continued to go from strength to strength, claiming the 17-20 year old SSV cross country championship at Bundoora.
Swifts footballer Josh Davis shared the HDFL under-17 best and fairest award as finals started to kick off.
The Baggies won their first senior football final in three years, while Navarre just kept tracking along, trouncing their way through to the preliminary finals after a 105-point qualifying final win over Harcourt.
The Grasshoppers’ A Grade netballers had no similar success, bowing out in the elimination finals to miss out on defending their four consecutive flags.
SEPTEMBER
A season marred by injuries came to an end for Stawell’s senior football side, losing their elimination final to Horsham Saints.
The Baggies also failed to progress any further after their first final win, bowing out at the hands Jeparit-Rainbow. Swifts celebrated a successful return to the finals however, with 2017 being topped off with coach Scott Carey winning the Dellar medal as the league’s best and fairest as well as being chosen as coach of the year.
The Baggies had even more to celebrate when their under-17 footballers were able to hand Noradjuha-Quantong their first loss of the season in the grand final to become premiers.
Grand final shocks were all around in September, with Navarre falling at the last hurdle in the MCDFNL senior football grand final, suffering a shock loss to Carisbrook to have four years of domination come to an end.
Despite no ultimate success for the Warriors, Shane Field picked up the WFL reserves best and fairest.