Skipton goalshooter Eliza Dwyer’s dominant season was rewarded on Monday night when she took home the Central Highlands Netball League A-grade best and fairest award.
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The 23-year-old has been an imposing figure for the Emus since joining the club three years ago, however in season 2016 the tall target has really come into her own, shooting over 1000 goals in 17 home-and-away fixtures to help Skipton finish in second place.
Originally from Warrnambool, Dwyer made the move to the region to study primary teaching. She said a more intense training schedule has been the secret to her impressive haul.
“Our coach (Rhian Moresi) is really dedicated to her own fitness and she’s really taken on the role of making everyone at the club fit, and I’ve never been this fit in my life,” Dwyer said. “And I think it’s also down to maturity.”
It took until the final round of voting for Dwyer to ensure the title was hers, narrowly edging out Buninyong’s Tillie Avery and Bungaree speedster Kathryn O’Dwyer.
Springbank centre Kelly Conway was also a front-runner for much of the evening, however a remarkable comeback from giving birth by goaler Cynna Kydd meant Conway had to share the top votes for much of the latter half of the season.
Dwyer said it was the first time she had received a best and fairest award at any point in her career. However it was not her only mention for the night, after also being chosen in the league’s team of the year.
The goalshooter will now turn her attention back to finals netball, after the Emus saw off a determined Learmonth outfit on the weekend. They will enjoy this weekend off before facing either Buninyong of Bungaree.
In the B-grade count it was Dunnstown’s Kelly Cheeseman who took out the individual accolade, finishing three votes clear of Learmonth’s Georgia Martin.
Meanwhile in C-grade Gordon’s Tracey Munari received the best and fairest, finishing just one vote ahead of Bungaree’s Kara Trigg.
