Tara Murray
Mernda dominated the Northern Football League women’s division 3 awards at the league’s awards night on Wednesday.
Off the back of their first grand final appearance, the Demons stars were among those who were recognised.
Gulia Ceravolo, who played her first season for Mernda this year, won the league best and fairest award on 20 votes.
Teammate Natalie Todaro, who won the award last year, finished equal second 15 votes. Awek Dut, who won the coaches award earlier in the night, finished fifth on 11 votes.
Ameerah Gentle also claimed the goal kicking award to make it a clean sweep of awards in that division.
Ceravolo was shocked to have received the award. She was named best-on-ground in the last three of her four matches.
“It’s a massive achievement in itself,” she said. “All the girls have been so inviting.
“I was going to hang up my boots this year, got stooged into coming down to play one more year of footy, the girls have made it such an amazing experience.
“The coaching staff are amazing, overall the club is so good.”
Ceravolo said the way that the group had come together this season. A number of younger players had stepped up to ensure that they could get a side on the park.
“At the start of the year, they weren’t sure if they were going to have a team. The fact we pulled together as a team and to make it to the grand final was an achievement itself.
“I think it’s just up from here.”
Dut claimed the coaches most valuable player with 66 votes. Ceravolo finished in fifth spot. Dut polled votes in all but one of the final 10 rounds of the season.
“It feels great,” she said. “I’m really grateful for my team and my club who I love and grateful for them.
“It has been good seeing everyone evolve over the year. I feel like we’ve come a long way from pre-season and have maybe five or eight players.
“We didn’t think we’d have a team to make a grand final, it feels good.”
West Preston Lakeside’s Ashleigh Snow claimed the women’s division 1 best and fairest award in her return to football, along with the coaches most valuable player award.
“Obviously I’ve had a really good night,” she said. “I’m honoured with both the awards, obviously I couldn’t do it without the team.
“I’m very thankful. I love the club.”
In division 2, St Mary’s Jessica Hardy claimed both the best and fairest medal and the coaches most valuable player award.
Three votes in the second last round sealed the best and fairest award for Hardy. She finished four votes clear of Eltham’s Alannah Murray.
Hardy was a huge contributor in her side’s run to the grand final.
“I’m so excited to be up here and back playing footy again,” she said.
