Ocean Grove Football Netball Club wrapped up 2019 with their end-of-season presentation night held at Shell Road sports pavilion on Friday 20 September.
The awards night came six days after the Grubbers won five premierships on 2019 Bellarine Football Netball League grand final day – the most of any BFNL club on 14 September.
The Grubbers won the senior D Grade netball title, the Under 19s Division Two football premiership and three junior netball flags in 17/Under Division 2, 15/Under Division 2 and 13/Under Division 2.
Outgoing Grubber senior netball coach Elyse Howard made an emotional address on the night.
Howard who is expected to stay on at the Grubbers in a lesser role in 2020, paid tribute to Ocean Grove’s vibrant sports community.
“In Ocean Grove we are a community,” Howard said in her speech.
“I don’t live here but I feel like this is my home and that is what you really need to embrace and appreciate it.
“I love being part of this club, my family is here, everyone is here, my parents have just moved here from Cobden and I love the community.”
Grubber netballer and popular club volunteer Jesse Sutton who won the C Grade best and fairest, took out the Frank Hose award – OGFNC’s best club person award.
Sutton became Geelong public’s favourite sporting volunteer and won the people’s choice category at the club legend VIVA awards this month to pocket $2500 for Grubbers.
Other Frank Hose award nominees included volunteers John Rogan, Rob Winter, Kerri Gorski, Mark Durbridge, OGFNC president Peter Smith and Paul Sutton.
Jake Ward won the senior men’s best and fairest in his first season at the club.
Ward who was named in the BFL team of the year played all 18 senior games and kicked 29 goals in 2019, while rising star Harry Walker was runner-up.
Star Grubber shooter Rebecca Scott who shot 697 goals in 2019, won the A Grade netball award while Jess Griffin was runner-up.
Other winners included Jason Pietsch in the reserves, Ben Bennett in the Under 19s, Sarah Perrott in senior women’s football, while netball winners were Claudia Britt in B Grade, Shereen Wolfe in D Grade and Gemma Bell in 19/Under netball.
2019 OGNFC BEST AND FAIREST AWARD WINNERS
FOOTBALL
Senior men’s: winner – Jake Ward, runner up – Harry Walker
Reserves: winner – Jason Pietsch, runner up – Adam Gerdtz
Under 19: winner – Ben Bennett, runner up – Lleyton Woolley
Senior women’s football: winner – Sarah Perrott, runner up – Maddy Searle
NETBALL
A Grade: winner – Rebecca Scott, runner up – Jessica Griffin
B Grade: winner – Claudia Britt, runners up – Kimberley Hart and Kylie Lane
C Grade: winner – Jesse Sutton, runner up – Alyse O’Keefe
D Grade: winner – Shereen Wolfe, runner up – Kellie Morrish
E Grade: winner – Terri-Anne Finch, runner up – Constance Smith
19/Under: winner – Gemma Bell, runner up – Monet New
