Girls awards recap: Hurley hits the heights

Sofia Hurley has capped a stellar season by claiming the 2021 girls Best and Fairest award on Wednesday night.

The midfielder from the Port Melbourne Colts averaged 18 disposals in seven games in 2021, and was selected in Vic Metro’s under 17s representative squad for the National Carnival.

She finished the count with 93 votes, setting a record for total votes polled in the history of the Dragons’ girls program, including two games with a ‘perfect’ score of 20 votes against the Northern Knights in round three, and the Gippsland Power in round five’s 56-point win.

Captain, Kiana Lynch, and midfielder, Pia Staltari, rounded-out the placings, with 56 and 46 votes, respectively.

Both girls displayed extreme consistency across the Dragons’ season, with Lynch polling votes in six of eight matches, and Staltari in five.

Winger, Charlotte Ryan was awarded the Coaches Award after another strong campaign.

Ryan finished fifth in the Best and Fairest count and was selected for the under 19s Vic Metro squad, along with Lynch and Staltari, and joined Staltari in representing the Southern Saints in their VFLW finals campaign.

Ebony Angelopoulos’ 10 goals saw her acknowledged as the 2021 leading goalkicker.

The forward kicked three goals on two occasions, against Gippsland and Murray, and was deemed our best player in the final game of the year against the Bushrangers, gathering 15 disposals to go with her goals in the second half.

Keely Coyne’s development was recognised with the Most Improved Player award.

The bottom-ager shared best-on-ground honours with Hurley in round one, as they polled 15 votes apiece, and was a solid contributor in the midfield and on the wing throughout the year. She also joined Hurley in the Vic Metro under 17s squad. 

Best and Fairest top 10:

Sofia Hurley – 93 votes

Kiana Lynch – 56

Pia Staltari – 46

Bridie Hipwell – 40

Charlotte Ryan – 37

Ebony Angelopoulos – 36

Chloe Saultry – 27

J’Noemi Anderson – 26

Keely Coyne – 21

Emma Stuber – 19  

Coaches Award: Charlotte Ryan

Most Improved: Keely Coyne

Leading Goalkicker: Ebony Angelopoulos (10 goals)