Ellie Owen claims Barnawartha's A-grade netball best and fairest award

The 17-year-old goal shooter took out the Tigers' A-grade best and fairest award after polling 48 votes throughout her first senior netball season.

She was 17 votes clear of runner-up Jo Withers, who she credits as being a mentor, as well as coach Chloe Butters.

"They've both been so great," Owen said.

"I've had Chloe as my coach since under-15s, so she's been working with me each year.

"I wouldn't be where I am without her."

While she admitted the award came as a surprise, she has certainly put in the hard yards after ascending from the club's under-18s for her first official A-grade season.

"I wasn't expecting it at all, especially being my first year," she said.

"We have such amazing players on our team.

"It's just been about having the trainings twice a week and staying back or coming early to get those extra hours in, that makes the biggest difference."

While Owen admitted her transition into the senior ranks had been a learning curve, her prior experiences filling in on court had given her a good idea of what to expect.

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"I've had girls who are a whole foot taller than me," she said.

"Being a shooter, you usually have to play on the tall players.

"It's much more serious but I love the competitive nature of netball."

Outside of netball, the talented youngster has just finished year 12 at Wodonga's Victory Lutheran College and now plans on commencing studies for a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Wollongong.

She admitted learning during the pandemic was challenging.

"It's been a rough journey, but I had netball as one of the things that really kept me going," Owen said.

"I'm really grateful to have them (Tigers) as a club.

"I just hope that I can come back when I'm finished university and play for them again."

Michelle Anderson (B-grade), Kate Guy (C-grade), Bella Jarvis (18-under), Alice Carroll (15-under) and Eliza Roche (13-under) also received best and fairest awards at the club this season.

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