Padfield takes top gong among host of VAFA Wilson Women’s winners

The VAFA congratulates Taylor Padfield (Marcellin), Melissa Lindsay (West Brunswick) and Ava Hales (Old Brighton) after they were named their section’s best & fairest at last night’s VAFA Wilson Women’s Presentation Night.

William Buck Premier: Padfield has been a standout for the Sheagles again in 2018 and took home the top gong with 20 votes from Kew pair Dani Sibosado and Dani Calautti on 15 each. Padfield polled four BOG’s; including, three in a row from rounds six to eight. SKOB Saint Eliza Straford polled strongly for the second year in a row with 14, while teammate Alexandra Hynes (13) rounded out the top five. Padfield becomes the second ruck to win the award after Fitzroy-ACU’s Tash Ross-Harris was named the inaugural winner last year.

Premier B Blue: Lindsay (17) edged past St Mary’s Salesian duo Rebecca Grant (15) and Ruby Svarc (15) thanks to four three-vote performances in the first 11 rounds. The Westies, who went through the home and away fixture with just the one loss, had the highest number of vote getters with 15. Monash Blues’ Xanthea Dewez finished fourth with 11 while Collegians and Big V star Christine Nancarrow polled 10.

Premier B White: 16-year-old Old Brighton prodigy, Ava Hales, pulled away from Old Haileybury’s Pulli Gardiyawasam (14) with three votes in Round 13, sealing her victory with 16. Of her 16 votes, 15 came from BOG performances. Beaumaris’ Ellen Wood polled strongly in the back half of the season to finish with 12, while Hales’ teammate Sienna Visentini finished fourth with 11.

Earlier in the night, Marcellin young gun Laura Robertson was named the Anytime Fitness Rising Star. The 19-year-old Big V midfielder polled 11 votes in the William Buck Premier count and was BOG in last year’s Sheagles grand final victory.

The VAFA congratulates all winners and looks forward to capping off a fantastic second season with all grand final this Sunday.