In a tie with Kalkee's Lisa Fulton, the pair couldn't be separated on 16 votes each, with Pimpinio's Mayci Porter in third with 14 votes.

The Swifts C Grade attacker said she was over the moon with excitement as she was watching the vote count via livestream.

"I tuned in to the count, but I was watching because I had someone else on my team who I thought was going to win it," she said.

"They showed the leaderboard after round seven and I was second, only down by one vote, and there was instant tears. I am an emotional person.

READ MORE:

"I didn't keep track of the votes as they went on, so when they showed the final leaderboard, I was joint leader, but I thought I got runner's up and I was so excited I was jumping up and down.

"And then it turns out I got joint best and fairest which is such an achievement."

After learning of the result Walton said she was very busy receiving messages of congratulations.

"I have never won a club best and fairest, let alone a league so it came out of nowhere." she said.

"I was just on the phone messaging hundreds of people, which I'm so grateful for because it is so nice to feel connect still.

"I called my mum but she couldn't understand what I was saying because I was so emotional.

"It still hasn't sunk in and it doesn't feel 100 per cent real. I really don't know how I did it."

2021 was Walton's third season with the Swifts and she was named captain of her team for the season, a role which she said helped get the most out of herself.

OTHER NEWS:

"I was captain this year and when you go out on the court you have to set a good example," she said.

"I think it truly helped me be one of the fairest players, maybe not the best, but definitely the fairest.

"Stepping onto the court you have to be the role model do the right thing and I think that helped a lot.

The attacker was part of a Swifts side that won five games in 2021 on their way to eighth place on the ladder, missing the top-six by just four points.

Walton thanked her teammates for their support in 2021 and said she was looking forward to returning to the court soon.

"It is an individual award, but you have to thank the people around, because they all helped you get there, my team were amazing," she said.

"It is such a big achievement, for someone like me who lacks confidence and feels like their presence isn't that big on the court, it is a massive achievement and I couldn't be more grateful.

"I am grateful to be where I am. I don't know what's to come, but I will definitely be playing for the Swifts that's for sure."

If you can see this message, you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Stawell Times-News, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and for allowing us to continue telling Stawell's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great town.