Winner: A-grade netball best and fairest Emma Ryan with her trophy. PICTURES: JUSTIN WHITELOCK
EMMA Ryan has made a massive impact in just her second season in the competition.
The Buninyong defender was last night crowned the Central Highlands Netball League A-grade best and fairest, a year after finishing runner-up to Bungaree veteran Amanda Clarke.
Ryan, who joined the Bombers at the start of 2011, polled 33 votes to finish five ahead of joint runners-up Kellie Sommerville (Springbank) and Erin Richardson (Hepburn).
The trio streeted the rest of the field, with Skipton’s Stacey Rea next best on 20 votes.
Ryan, originally from Edenhope, said she was thrilled to win the award.
“I was told I could go close, but I’m so happy. I had a really good year,” the 19-year-old said.
“I was captain this year and I felt a bit more leadership, and I really stepped up.”
Ryan, who plays for the Ballarat Pride 19/under team in the Victorian Netball League, was named best on court on nine occasions throughout 2012, and collected votes in all but five rounds.
She was also named in the league’s first-ever team of the year.
Taylah Fisher was a big seven-vote winner of the B-grade award. Fisher, from Springbank, finished clear of runner-up Emma Bruns, from Bungaree.
Earlier, netball league president Kristi Pedretti collected a 10-vote victory in the C-grade count. Hepburn’s Pedretti ended the count well ahead of Waubra’s Michelle Bourke.
