SWAFL 2008 Presentation Dinner
On Friday Night (Sept 12), the Sydney Women’s AFL world came together for one night to acknowledge sporting excellence amongst the league. The MC was all-round legend and NSW AFL Ambassador Craig Davis. Best dressed went to the coach of the St. George Women Crows in his black bow tie outfit.
The following awards were given out.
Best goal-kicker: Marie Keating 93 (Western Wolves).
What can I say? Marie has smashed the previous league record of 73 held by Rebecca Burridge (Newtown Breakaways) and most of her goals were hard earned from the centre half-forward position. From the Emerald Isle and her native Gaelic Football skills, Marie is blessed with both speed and a thumping great boot. I remember a night match against Easts at the Village Green held after the senior men’s match and most of them watched as Marie thumped one from 50m out. There was general jaw-dropping in the grandstand! Marie ended up with 97 in the whole season.
Player’s Player: A tie between Krystle Thompson (Newtown) and Emma Yuen (Sydney University)
Emma Yuen in her 4th year of SWAFL is a chemical engineering student at Sydney University but her actions on the field proves what an explosive mixture she is! Operating in the centres, Emma has pace and stamina to provide a contest and feed her half-forwards with the ball.
Kyrstle can play anywhere being a very versatile player. Her normal position would be chiefly wing or on the ball. Blessed with great defensive skills, Kyrstle always tackles really hard. For her size she has taken marks over any of her taller opponents.
Rookie of the Year: Karla Spilarewicz (Balmain).
Karla (no-one can pronounce her last name) or affectionately known as “Spilla” came to Aussie Rules from football/soccer and what an impact she has made on the Dockers and on the competition. Operating on the wings, she has carved up the opposition with her pace and ability to kick on both sides of her feet. The striking blonde Dockers 38 running with the ball down the wings was a common sight in 2008 and fully deserves the rookie of the year awarded by both her club and by the league.
Umpire of the Year: A tie between Victoria Rawlings and Jemma Still
Awarded by both the captains and coaches of the league – both rookie female umpires who used to play with Sydney University have provided a fresh approach and new blood in the umpiring ranks. I think they have provided a role model for other players to be involved either while still as a player or as they are in the twilight of their playing careers to remain in footy in some capacity.
SWAFL Team of 2008.
Earlier last month, coaches provided a list of 5-6 players who they thought were outstanding throughout the season to a selection committee of four who then chose their own teams and see what commonality there was.
Here is the SWAFL Team of 2008.
Balmain Belinda Pride
Balmain Karla Spilarewicz
Balmain Katie Walsh
Easts Cherie Harmer
Easts Jenna Lineham
Easts Roxy McGee
Newtown Natalie Redford
Newtown Krystal Thompson
St. George Clare Crewdson
St. George Erin Burns
Sydney University Emma Yuen
Sydney University Gianna Abbonizio
Wests Trish Muller
Wests Marie Keating
Wests Shelley Bates
Wests Margarita Obien
Newtown Nicole Roache – Vice Captain
Balmain Natasha Devlin - Captain
Best and Fairest Votes
The best and fairest votes are awarded each month by the umpires on a 3-2-1 basis with 3 being the best just like the AFL Brownlow Medal system. No votes were awarded in forfeited matches.
The attached spreadsheet shows the breakdown round by round and how you went within your own club.
At the breaks of the count, here’s who the top place getters were:
After Round 6
Natasha Devlin – Balmain – 10 points
Cynthia Dufaut – Wests – 9 points
Alison Parkin – Balmain – 8 points
Erin Burns – St George – 7 points
Trish Muller – Wests – 7 points
Emma Yuen – Sydney Uni – 6 points
After Round 12
Trish Muller – Wests – 16 points
Natalie Redford – Newtown – 11 points
Natasha Devllin – Balmain – 10 points
Erin Burns – St George – 10 points
Cynthia Dufaut – Wests – 9 points
Hayley Warren – Balmain – 8 points
After Round 14
Trish Muller – Wests - 16 points
Natasha Devlin – Balmain – 13 points
Erin Burns – St George – 13 points
Natalie Redford – Newtown – 12 points
Cynthia Dufaut – Wests – 10 points
Krystle Thompson – Newtown – 10 points
Comment
There was now a buzz amongst the crowd on three tables. With only one round to go, Trish Muller could not lose the award and the worst case was a tie. One more vote for Trish would mean that she would win outright. Natasha Devlin and Erin Burns could share the award with Trish Muller if they polled best on ground in the final round. With Wests, Balmain and St George all winning their final round game – anything was possible.
Round 15
The Wests vs Newtown match was read out first. Trish Muller didn’t receive any votes in this match. The tension amongst the tables mounted.
The Balmain vs Sydney University match was read out next. Natasha Devlin didn’t poll any votes leaving only one match to go, so a tie or an outright win was about to happen.
The St George vs Easts match was read out last. With the final voice of “3 votes for St George – Erin Burns” there was general pandemonium amongst the Crows Table – woohoo! Erin had come from behind like a racehorse timing her run perfectly to tie the Melbourne Cup (bad analogy but it’s the best I can come up with!).
Final Vote Tally-Up
Trish Muller – Wests - 16 votes
Erin Burns – St George – 16 votes
Natasha Devlin – Balmain – 13 votes
Cynthia Dufaut – Wests – 13 votes
Natalie Redford – Newtown – 12 votes
Karla Spilarewicz –Balmain – 11 votes
Conclusion
I can honestly say that both Trish and Erin are both worthy recipients of being the Best and Fairest in the league.
Trish Muller works in the Australian Defence Force as a Physical Trainer and played a few games last year with Wests before playing the full season with the Western Wolves in 2008. Trish is blessed with pace, determination and strength despite her small stature. With her distinctive voice and sparky enthusiasm, Trish is a coach’s dream - able to listen to instructions and a general fantastic team-mate for the Wolves. Trish usually is in the team’s centres and is involved in many contests on the ground for the ball as well as having the courage and skills to take the opposition on (and often leave them grasping straws in her wake).
Erin is a second year player with the St George Football Club. Her dedication to sport is legendary commuting from Wollongong each weekend to play either cricket or football. Only 20 years old, she is an emerging cricket representative player and studies at the University of Wollongong in Exercise Science. Erin normally plays in the centres or as a spare loose half-back having an uncanny sixth sense of being able to read the play. Finally her determination in tackling is awesome, having tackled players twice the size of her without hesitation.
Thank You
To everyone who turned out, a massive audience of 130 that filled out the lower levels of the auditorium. And major thanks to those on the SWAFL Committee who did their roles for love and without reward.
With the conclusion of the awards, only the SWAFL Annual General Meeting (AGM) remains to wrap up this year.
Enjoy your off-season and we hope to see you next year!
This has been Lancelot Yu, coach of the St. George Crows, (Chief football writer), and also coach of the 2006 and 2008 SWAFL Best and Fairest players signing off.
Last Modified on 17/09/2008 12:42