Tara Murray
Western Jets’ captain Charlotte Baskaran narrowly missed out on winning the NAB League Girl’s top award on Tuesday night.
Just days after captaining her side to their first premiership, Baskaran finished runners-up in the league best and fairest award.
Baskaran finished on 19 votes, one behind Dandenong Stingrays Amber Clarke. Clarke had already claimed the grand final best on ground medal.
Northern Knights Ava Jordan finished third on 14 votes, while Bridget Deed (10 votes) and Reese Sutton (nine votes) rounded out the top five.
Clarke said she was so proud to continue her form from a strong bottom age season, to this year.
“I think I’ve gone OK,” she said.
“I had some games I was pretty happy with how we played.
“I was so happy, [but] I feel like I could have done more. I think I worked hard during the pre-season and I hope it paid off.”
Premiership captain Baskaran was named the captain of the team of the year.
Baskaran, who was named in the middle of the ground alongside Jets teammate Montana Ham. Laura Elliott was the third Jets player named in the team of the year.
Baskaran said she was really proud of her season.
“I’m very excited,” she said. “I’m incredibly honoured to be given that title.
“I’m just really excited from the season it has been… and to captain a bunch of talented girls, couldn’t be happier.
“I’m really proud of myself this season coming into round one, so much hard work had been done make sure I was ready to go and look back now and see all the work has been ticked off.
“To all the other girls in my team helped me play my best footy and all the coaches, couldn’t do it without them.
“I definitely think that everything this season has come together really well and all the hard work has paid off.”
Caitlin Sargent, who was the competition’s leading goal kicker, and grand final hero Krystal Russell were unlucky to miss out on being named in the team.
Cannons’ Abbey McDonald was named on the half back flank in the team of the year, with Ava Jordan was named in the forward line.
Other players named in the team of the year include Tasmania Devils’ Georgia Clark and Claire Ransom, Dandenong Stingrays’ Charlotte Ryan, Mackenzie Eardley, Georgia Foran and Sofi Hurley, Murray Bushrangers’ Zara Hamilton, Zarlie Goldsworth and Keely Skepper, Eastern Ranges’ Mia Busch, Mia Austin and Bridget Reed, Greater Western Victorian Rebels’ Molly Walton, Oakleigh Chargers’ Erin Woodford, Bendigo Pioneers’ Lucia Painter and Geelong Falcons’ Elizabeth Dowling.
Meanwhile Tahlia Read was named the Calder Cannons’ best player ahead of Strathmore’s Amy Gaylor on 60 votes and the Sunbury Kangaroos’ Reese Sutton on 58 votes.
The Jets boys team was set to be in action on Good Friday against the Cannons, after deadline.
