Kyneton co-captain Emily Taylor was left stunned on Monday night when she took out the inaugural Northern Women’s Football League best and fairest award.
In just her second year at the Tigers, Taylor polled votes in eight of her side’s 10 matches, polling 14 votes to win by two votes.
The 23-year-old said it was only when her teammates started talking up her chances she thought she may be up there in the count.
“I’m on cloud nine,” she said.
“My co-captain thought I would be in the top five and that gave me some confidence. I thought then I was maybe a chance and the girls were revving me up saying I was.
“I can’t appreciate the umpires enough.”
The win comes after just two years of playing senior football. Like many girls, she gave away the sport as a junior as she was too old to continue playing with the boys.
“I went to basketball for 12 to 13 years and then saw Kyneton had a football team,” she said.
“I went straight down to training and loved it. I’m still learning for sure and learning different rules
“It’s interesting learning a lot of tactics and behind the scenes things.”
The win caps of a big season for the Tigers, who finished fifth, with four wins.
The side had gone winless in their first two seasons.
“It was the best day,” Taylor said of the first win.
“We got to sing our song for the first time. Next year hopefully we get a good side together.
“I can’t wait for what’s ahead.”
Taylor is hoping if she can keep developing her game that it might lead to playing at a higher level.
“Playing AFL is the dream,” she said.
“I went to rookie day with Melbourne last September. I wasn’t successful on the day, but we did a lot of drills and showed me what level I have to get too.”
