Sunbury Kangaroos’ midfielder Tylah Bell has been crowned the Essendon District Football League women’s division 2 best player.
Bell was the runaway winner at the league best and fairest night on Wednesday night, finishing on 28 votes, nine clear of Gisborne-Kyneton United’s Belinda Hateley.
Bell, who admitted on stage she can be a bit of a pest on field and did annoy the umpires, said she was shocked to claim the medal.
“I was actually [shocked],” she said. “I thought there were a few other girls [who had good seasons].
“I actually thought Belinda would have taken the chocolates having had such a fantastic year
“Credit to her for being runners up.”
Bell started her career at the Kangaroos before heading to Coburg and then taking a few years off football.
She returned to her home club last year and quickly showed why she had previously been one of the competition’s best players.
Bell said she was happy with her season.
“I was pretty proud of myself,” she said. “It was one of the hardest seasons to get through mentally.
“I’m pretty proud of myself for sticking with it.
“Pretty proud of the girls for making a prelim as we probably didn’t think we were going to get there at the start of the year.
“We would have liked to have won it in the end. Next year [we’ll] come back bigger and better.”
Bell, who could be easily playing at a higher level, admits at times she can get frustrated on the field.
She said playing at this level has more positives than anything though.
“I also love being able to teach and coach others,” she said. “There’s so many girls that it might be their first year.
“I wanted to look at myself as being in the competition for such a long time and that if I can help out then I’m doing my job.
“I feel honoured to use my experience to really help others. I enjoy that part.”
Bell also paid tribute to coach Carly Blyth for helping the group take that next step and build a really good culture within the group.
“She knows when to draw the line as well, when to be serious and when to have a bit of a laugh,” she said.
“We’re such a close connected group, all of us girls get along and I think that really helps with the success.”
Kangaroos’ Adam Prescott won the division 2 men’s reserves best and fairest medal.
