Harper Sercombe
Sunbury Lions Simona Di Filippo has taken out the 2023 Ballarat Football Netball League’s Sally McLean medal.
The 20-year-old was named the league’s best netball player at Monday night’s awards ceremony.
This is the midcourter first year at the Lions, having previously played with Melton South. Di Filippo also plays with the Hawks in the Victorian Netball League, where she won the VNL under-19’s most valuable player for 2022.
“I was completely in shock, I just really wasn’t expecting such a big award to be awarded to me so, I was in shock,” Di Filippo said.
“I was so happy, like I have put in so much hard work this season so I just felt like it all paid off in the end.
“Each week Kim (Bailey) [Lion’s coach] would give me something to work on. If that would be, feeding into the circle or hitting the circle edge then feeding.
“Even my off-court work, doing gym and running, doing that really consistently helped me get there on a Saturday and be able to run out the full game at high intensity.”
Although this is the young-gun’s first season at the Lions she said she has no problems fitting into their culture and system at all.
The club reformed their A-grade side this year, after not having a team the year before.
“We all just gelled really well with the team,” she said.
“It felt really natural to just go into that team and be able to perform at my best ability.
“I think they also helped me be able to perform as well as I did, because they compliment my game, especially Tayla Honey, she just fed me really well.
“So they really helped me and I did not feel at all like I hadn’t played with them before.”
Di Filippo was also named the team of the year on the bench.
Honey also had a great season, being named as the centre and captain of the BNL team of the year.
Coach Kim Bailey was named as joint BNL coach of the year.
For the Lions a dramatic extra time elimination final loss, finished their season, leaving Di Filippo and her team determined on going a further step in 2024.
“It was such a sting when we lost,” she said.
We’ve already said that next year we’re going to come back and be stronger, and be more consistent with our training regime.
“So, I think training, rocking up every week and working on the things we need to improve to get that cup and bring it home.”
In other awards, Darley’s Brett Bewley made it back-to-back Henderson Medals. He polled 27 votes, to finish four clear of Darley teammates Luther Barker.
Lions skipper Tyson Lever, Harrison Minton-Connell and Jake Sutton were all named in the football team of the year.
In other awards, Tami Hardwick on the D-grade netball best and fairest, Nathan Doyle won the football reserves best and fairest and Ryder Rousch won the Dick Rees Memorial Trophy for the best under-19 player.
