LAVINGTON young gun Emily Browne became one of the youngest winners of the Toni Wilson Medal last night after winning a thrilling A-grade best and fairest vote count at the SS & A Albury.
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The youngest winner since Yarrawonga’s Stephanie Tyrell saluted aged just 15 in 2006, the 16-year-old centre court dynamo polled 21 votes, edging out teammate and last year’s joint winner Sarah Senini, and Pigeons star Kaitlyn Bourke by just two votes.
Browne polled in nine games but didn’t get a vote in Lavington’s 50-36 win away to Corowa-Rutherglen in round 18.
Bourke, who will play in Sunday’s grand final against Wangaratta Rovers, needed a best on court in Yarrawonga’s final-round win against North Albury to tie, but polled just one vote in the 68-40 triumph at J.C. Lowe Oval.
Senini, who shared last year’s medal with cousin Sarah Wollington, polled two votes in the final round to tie for second.
Myrtleford’s Saige Broz, Corowa-Rutherglen star and 2010 winner Rebecca Didier, and Wodonga’s Rebekah Ohlin all tied for third on 17 votes.
Murray High School student Browne said she didn’t expect to poll so well and couldn’t hide her emotions on stage.
“When that half-time leaderboard came up I just burst into tears,” the 16-year-old said.
“All the hard work paid off.”
Browne is in her third year at Lavington after being persuaded by Senini to join the club.
Senini said Browne deserved all the accolades.
“For a 16-year-old to come out and win it is unbelievable,” Senini said.
“She’s an absolute gun. If we don’t see her in the green and gold I’d be very surprised.
“Her work ethic and vertical jump is unbelievable.”
Browne, part of the heartbreaking one-goal preliminary final loss to Wangaratta Rovers at the weekend, said she would give back her award for a premiership.
“To get my teammates through was my ultimate goal,” she said.
Browne will have to make room in her fast-growing trophy cabinet.
The youngster has represented the Ovens and Murray and the Riverina and was last year nominated for the Ovens and Murray’s Diamond Rising Star award.
Wangaratta Rovers veteran Katie Higgs polled in 11 games to win the B grade with 22 votes, two ahead of North Albury’s Katie Scammell.
Wangaratta’s Olivia Lindsay finished third, four votes behind Higgs.
A Magpies player saluted in the C-grade award, with Staci Tully polling 25 votes to beat North Albury duo Eloise Maddox and Julia Rossiter by two.
Wangaratta’s Chaye Crimmins was third with 22 votes.
And in the under-16s, Lavington’s Georgia Luhrs won with 34 votes from North Albury’s Jackie Newton (32) and Olivia Sinclair (23).
