Netball Australia recognises coaches, umpires and players

November 30, 2019

Sport /

Coaches, umpires and players have been recognised at the 11th annual Australian Netball Awards held in Sydney this evening (30th November).

Premiership coach Briony Akle has been named the Joyce Brown Coach of the Year for her efforts in leading the NSW Swifts to their first Suncorp Super Netball finals series and first league title since 2008.

In recognition of her outstanding service to netball umpiring at a national level over many years, Stacey Campton was awarded this years’ Service Award and Michelle Phippard was named the Lorna McConchie Umpire of the Year in a year which saw her umpire at Suncorp Super Netball level and at the Netball World Cup in Liverpool.

Gretel Tippett received the 2019 Liz Ellis Diamond award, netball’s highest honour, for her stellar domestic and international seasons with the Queensland Firebirds and Samsung Australian Diamonds respectively.

During 2019, Tippett stamped herself as the nation’s best goal attack, scoring 267 goals for the Diamonds at 95%. She also claimed the Queensland Firebirds’ Laura Geitz Medal as their best and fairest player with 394 goals at 96% accuracy, 130 goal assists and 325 centre pass receives.

In recognition of her incredible year with the Samsung Australian Diamonds, Tippett was also crowned International Player of the Year and rounded out a remarkable evening by being named goal attack in the Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year.

The Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year was voted on by players, coaches and high performance staff and is made up of the highest vote-getter for every position across the court.

Goal shooter – Jhaniele Fowler (West Coast Fever)

Goal attack – Gretel Tippett (Queensland Firebirds)

Wing attack – Liz Watson (Melbourne Vixens)

Centre – Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens)

Wing defence – Renae Ingles (Melbourne Vixens)

Goal defence – Karla Pretorius (Sunshine Coast Lightning)

Goal keeper – Emily Mannix (Melbourne Vixens)

Attack Reserve – Sam Wallace (NSW Swifts)

Centre Reserve – Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies)

Defence Reserve – Shamera Sterling (Adelaide Thunderbirds)

West Coast Fever’s Jhaniele Fowler led this overall vote count and was subsequently named the Suncorp Super Netball Player of the Year for the second year running after again finishing as the league’s top goal scorer with 709 goals at 94 per cent accuracy.

GIANTS Netball up-and-comer Amy Parmenter was rewarded for her break-out season in wing defence, winning the Suncorp Super Netball Rebel Rising Star Award.

Sharelle McMahon and Elsma Merillo were inducted into the Netball Australia Hall of Fame in recognition of their significant contribution to Australian netball, and Margaret Pewtress and Anne Sargeant OAM were bestowed Netball Australia's highest honour, both becoming Legends in the Hall of Fame for all that they have done for Australian netball.

Emma Ryde was acknowledged as the Deakin University Australian Netball League Player of the Year for her a stand-out year with the Victorian Fury.

Images: Premiership coach Briony Akle (top), Gretel Tippett (middle) and Kate Moloney and Renae Ingles (below). All images courtesy of Netball Australia.

5th September 2019 - Netball Australia advises of new approach to athlete wellbeing

28th June 2019 - Netball Australia and NSW Government plan bid to host 2027 Netball World Cup

24th June 2019 - Netball Australia to take no action against Maria Folau for supporting sacked rugby player husband Israel Folau

10th May 2019 - Netball Australia to further advance the sport across the Pacific

18th April 2019 - AGM sees changes on the Netball Australia Board

11th January 2019 - Netball Australia announces Commission to manage Super Netball competition

14th May 2018 - Netball Australia sees 70% revenue rise in 2017

7th May 2018 - Cadbury to back Netball Australia fundraising initiatives

12th December 2017 - Deakin and Netball Australia announce national partnership

22nd April 2017 - Netball Australia confirms new Directors, players protest fizzles

6th April 2017 - Marne Fechner named new Netball Australia Chief Executive

8th March 2017 - Netball Australia marks 90th anniversary achievements on International Women’s Day

28th November 2016 - Netball Australia Chief Executive Kate Palmer steps down after 10 years

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.