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TEENAGE North Albury gun Jacqui Newton capped a stellar year last night, convincingly winning the Toni Wilson Medal and at the same time winning the Rising Star award.
The major netball gongs in the Ovens and Murray comes 12 months after winning the B grade best and fairest and book-ending a year that has seen her win the national 17 and under title with Victoria, the Victorian Netball Association Championships with the O and M and be selected in a national development squad.
Newton, 17, hit the front after round 7 where she picked up the three votes in the Hoppers’ one-point loss to Yarrawonga and was never headed to poll 27 votes.
In 18 rounds of netball the 183-centimetre tall defender was judged best on court in six games, including the North Albury’s three-goal win over Wodonga in round 11 where she matched up against fellow Rising Star nominee Jane Cook.
Incredibly it is the first Toni Wilson Medal for the Ovens and Murray powerhouse club.
“I’m so shocked,” Newton said.
“I don’t know what to say.
“I have had so much support and just want to thank everyone for that.
“To win the Toni Wilson Medal and Rising Star is incredible.”
Defenders made up half of the top-10 but it was 2011 joint winner and Lavington goal attack Sarah Senini (19 votes) in second, her Lavington teammate and goal defence Kate Yensch two votes further back.
Wangaratta’s teenage centre Chaye Crimmins finished fourth after polling strongly at the start of the year, tied with Myrtleford’s Saige Broz and the Panthers’ Sarah Meredith.
Newton said North Albury’s coaching had played a huge part in her development.
“We are so lucky at North Albury,” she said.
Of the two sides in Sunday’s Ovens and Murray grand final only Yarrawonga centre Laura Bourke featured in the top 10.
The Pigeons’ former A grader Lauren Mulquiney was a four-vote winner in the B grade best and fairest, while Gemma Coburn and Tayla Furborough made it a Panthers’ double in the C grade and 16 and under best and fairest awards.
