By Tyler Lewis
Brittany Mashado has added a league best and fairest to an already decorated resume.
The Narre Warren stalwart played her 250th game earlier this season and was always a fair chance to come away with both Team of the Year and league best and fairest honours on Monday night.
Proud Magpies president Stuart Stephenson admitted he felt a pair of Narre Warren netballers would poll well in the vote count.
“I think we were confident that her (Mashado) and Gabby Dwyer would poll well,” he said.
“I guess since Gabrielle moved to goal defence, she’s been impassable there, and had a fantastic season.
“Brit has just been so consistent, she’s trains hard, she always plays hard and I think – judging by last night – she is really well respected by her opponents too.
“She’s hard, but fair, (she’s) always the fittest and the hardest trainer; she had a great game in the second semi-final against Olinda as well.”
Mashado wasn’t a lone Magpie with a league medal draped around her neck, with stablemate Jake Richardson also taking home the Shane Smith Medal for the best and fairest home and away season in the Premier Division senior football competition.
Stephenson was aware of the domineering season in which the Pies forward had, but had concerns he and star midfielder Kurt Mutimer would be a cause in each other’s demise.
“He had some enormous games where we knew he was playing well, but he’s never really polled great before,” he said.
“I think the expectation was that potentially Kurt (Mutimer) might take a few votes away from him.
“It was great recognition for Richo’s fantastic season.
“A couple of those (hauls of) eight’s early on where he just dominated, one of the first games of the year against Monbulk he may have kicked just four, but he just kept presenting all day.
“He was the difference there, Monbulk challenged us that day and he sort of set himself up for a fantastic season there by playing so well.”
Richardson finished the home and away season in authoritarian fashion, booting 22 goals from his final three matches.
Narre Warren also collected the Best Conducted Club Award and had nine people feature in the football Team of the Year – resulting in one delighted president.
“We are very proud and it’s something we don’t take for granted,” he said.
“To have the coaches recognised after three years of hard work to get to this stage, it’s something fantastic.
“Michelle (Mashado) on the netball side and Shayne (Dwyer) on the football side, they’ve both been Narre Warren people for 20-plus years, so I think it goes to show that if you do develop people within the club, they become loyal club people.
“It’s always a better outcome when club people are in charge.”
Shelly Mashado was named as coach alongside her partner in crime this season – Erin Bell – with Christina Puopolo assigned as their assistant.
Across the remainder of the football side, the Stewart brothers – Jordan and Zac – from Pakenham were named, while Officer’s Luke Smaluch was listed on the interchange.
Wandin smooth-mover Patty Bruzzese was named on the wing, while Bulldogs key-forward Clinton Johnson was listed as a forward pocket.
PREMIER DIVISION FOOTBALL TEAM OF THE YEAR
FULL BACK: Tom Toner (Narre Warren), Joel Zietsman (Narre Warren), Matthew Scharenberg (Olinda Ferny Creek)
HALF BACK: Tom Taylor (Monbulk), Robert Allen (Woori Yallock), Jordan Stewart (Pakenham)
CENTRE: Patty Bruzzese (Wandin), Glenn Strachan (Monbulk), Kelsey Currie (Olinda Ferny Creek)
HALF FORWARD: Carmine Porcaro (Upwey Tecoma), Lachlan Taylor (Olinda Ferny Creek), Trent Cody (Narre Warren)
FULL FORWARD: Clinton Johnson (Wandin), Jake Richardson (Narre Warren), Hayden Stagg (Narre Warren)
FOLLOWERS: Lachlan Benson (Narre Warren), Kurt Mutimer (Narre Warren), Liam Odea (Woori Yallock)
INTERCHANGE: Robert Swan (Woori Yallock), Will Howe (Narre Warren), Zac Stewart (Pakenham), Luke Smaluch (Officer)
COACH: Shane Dwyer (Narre Warren)
ASSISTANT COACH: Jack Cole (Woori Yallock)
PREMIER DIVISION NETBALL TEAM OF THE YEAR
GOAL KEEPER: Kaitlyn Black (Mt Evelyn)
GOAL DEFENCE: Gabrielle Dwyer (Narre Warren)
WING DEFENCE: Kali Dolphin (Wandin)
CENTRE: Krista Tomlinson (Olinda Ferny Creek)
WING ATTACK: Brittany Mashado (Narre Warren)
GOAL ATTACK: Erin Bell (Narre Warren)
GOAL SHOOTER: Stephanie Puopolo (Monbulk)
INTERNCHANGE: Hayley Howard (Olinda Ferny Creek)
COACH: Erin Bell (Narre Warren), Michelle Mashado (Narre Warren)
ASSISTANT COACH: Christina Puopolo (Monbulk)
2022 LEAGUE MEDALLISTS
FOOTBALL
Shane Smith Medal Premier Division Seniors
Jake Richardson Narre Warren
Premier Division Reserves
Aaron Mandl Wandin
James Royle-Young Olinda Ferny Creek
Ron Hunter Medal Under-19’s
Tom Attalla Upwey Tecoma
NETBALL
Premier Division A Grade Brittany Mashado Narre Warren
Premier Division B Grade Kasey Maund Narre Warren
Premier Division C Grade Melanie Thomas Olinda Ferny Creek
Premier Division D Grade Alyssa Breeden ROC
17U Blue Lupe Fonua Narre Warren
17U White Lelani Eldrige Cranbourne
