2026 WFNL Senior Awards
The Western Football Netball League celebrated its standout performers of the 2026 season at the Senior Awards Night, held at Encore Events Centre on Friday, 2 October.
Albion midfielder Caleb McPherson claimed the league’s highest individual honour, taking out the Barry Priest Medal as the TIV Division 1 Senior Men’s Best and Fairest. In the St Vincent’s Private Hospital Werribee Senior Women’s competition, Parkside Spurs teammates Rita Ceravolo and Taquila Angel shared the Best and Fairest award, continuing a recent trend of joint winners.
North Footscray captain Adam Petridis was recognised with the Alan Smith Medal as the Division 2 Senior Men’s Best and Fairest, while Werribee Districts star Hayley Cran secured the Belgravia Apparel Division 1 Netball Best and Fairest award, earning her second league best and fairest in four seasons.
The evening also acknowledged a host of outstanding contributors across football and netball.
See below for the full list of 2026 award winners and special award recipients.
TIV DIVISON 1 SENIORS (BARRY PRIEST MEDAL)
Barry Priest Medal: Caleb McPherson (Albion) – 25 votes
Runner Up: Cooper Pepi (Caroline Springs) 23 votes
Leading Goal Kicker (Andrew Gibson Medal): Zach Morris (Parkside) – 85 goals
TIV DIVISON 1 RESERVES
Best & Fairest: Shaun McGuinness (Werribee Districts) & Tyson Diczku (Werribee Districts) – 19 votes
Runner Up: Jarryd Scotland (Sunshine) – 18 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Shaun McGuinness (Werribee Districts) – 75 goals
DIVISON 1 UNDER 18S
Best & Fairest: Adrian Bacarella (Sunshine) – 27 votes
Runner Up: Marcus Zahra (Hoppers Crossing) – 22 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Mohammed Elkurdi (Newport) – 50 goals
DIVISON 2 SENIORS (ALAN SMITH MEDAL)
Alan Smith Medal: Adam Petridis (North Footscray) – 20 votes
Runner Up: Jayden Danaher (Braybrook) – 19 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Lewis Stanton (Wyndhamvale) – 101 goals
DIVISON 2 RESERVES
Best & Fairest: Ricky Howell (Albanvale) – 38 votes
Runner Up: Patrees Makieng (North Footscray) – 19 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Matthew Paul (Wyndhamvale) – 76 goals
DIVISON 2 UNDER 18S
Best & Fairest: Ryley Delanty (Caroline Springs) – 16 votes
Runner Up: Nate Bettin (Albion), Azaria Mulatu (Albion) & Ryley Hales (Spotswood) – 15 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Joshua Dart (Werribee Districts) – 61 goals
ST VINCENT’S PRIVATE HOSPITAL WERRIBEE SENIOR WOMEN
Best & Fairest: Rita Ceravolo (Parkside Spurs) & Taquila Angel (Parkside Spurs) – 24 votes
Runner Up: Layla Dawkins (West Footscray) & Larissa Renaut (Wyndhamvale) – 23 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Larissa Renaut (Wyndhamvale) – 48 goals
THIRDS
Best & Fairest: Jean Bezzene (Manor Lakes) – 19 votes
Runner Up: Layton Raffaele (Caroline Springs) – 18 votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Dane Thomas (Wyndhamvale) – 53 goals
DIVISION 1 NETBALL
Best & Fairest: Hayley Cran (Werribee Districts) – 16 votes
Runner Up: Charlie King (Albanvale) – 15 votes
Leading Goal Scorer: Lillith McLean (Glen Orden) – 475 goals
DIVISION 2 NETBALL
Best & Fairest: Paige Hunter (Point Cook Centrals) & Loia Tuafafo (Sunshine) – 12 votes
Runner Up: Hayley Masinalupe Tautasi (Braybrook) – 11 votes
Leading Goal Scorer: Hayley Masinalupe Tautasi (Braybrook) – 423 goals
DIVISION 3 NETBALL
Best & Fairest: Emma Grech (Sunshine) – 19 votes
Runner Up: Puonyuom Mathiang (Albanvale) – 15 votes
Leading Goal Scorer: Ro Paulo (Sunshine) – 459 goals
DIVISION 4 NETBALL
Best & Fairest: Zoe Darmanin (Glen Orden) – 19 votes
Runner Up: Rae Hita (Glen Orden) & Emily Masoe (Glen Orden) – 14 votes
Leading Goal Scorer: Emily Masoe (Glen Orden) – 343 goals
DIVISION 5 NETBALL
Best & Fairest: Emily Evans (Werribee Districts) – 25 votes
Runner Up: Christina Afoa (Sunshine) & Hannah Juricskay (West Footscray) – 17 votes
Leading Goal Scorer: Brooklyn Pouwhare (Hoppers Crossing) – 323 goals
DIVISION 6 NETBALL
Best & Fairest: Kate Fraser (Manor Lakes) – 23 votes
Runner Up: Kate Paton (Parkside) – 22 votes
Leading Goal Scorer: Joanne James (Point Cook Centrals) – 254 goals
DIVISION 7 NETBALL
Best & Fairest: Torrence Talla (Braybrook) – 31 votes
Runner Up: Tanaya Cunningham (Altona) – 23 votes
Leading Goal Scorer: Tanaya Cunningham (Altona) – 332 goals
DIVISION 8 NETBALL
Best & Fairest: Connie Tarei (Sunshine) – 28 votes
Runner Up: Hailey Woodard (Wyndhamvale) – 16 votes
Leading Goal Scorer: Connie Tarei (Sunshine) – 281 goals
PREMIER MEN NETBALL
Best & Fairest: Brodie Roberts (Albanvale) – 16 votes
Runner Up: Jayden Cowling (Sunshine) – 15 votes
Leading Goal Scorer: Carter Morrissey (Sunshine) – 650 goals
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (MVP)
Winner: Zach Morris (Parkside)
SENIOR COACH OF THE YEAR
Winner: Blake Richards (Albion)
FEMALE COACH OF THE YEAR
Winner: Leanne Meyer (Suns)
NETBALL COACH OF THE YEAR
Winner: Low Ben (Caroline Springs)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (MALE)
Winner: Harry Gardner-Solomon (Newport)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)
Winner: Layla Dawkins (West Footscray)
NETBALL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Winner: Paige Hunter (Point Cook Centrals)
UNSUNG HERO
Winner: John Ryan (Altona)
CLUB OFFICAL OF THE YEAR (LINDSAY PATCHING AWARD)
Winner: Tony and Rowena Schibeci (Spotswood)
NETBALL COORDINATOR OF THE YEAR
Winner: Kelly Van Blommestein (Point Cook Centrals)
FIELD UMPIRE OF THE YEAR
Winner: Arron Knezevic
GOAL UMPIRE OF THE YEAR
Winner: Jake Gorman
BOUNDARY UMPIRE OF THE YEAR
Winner: Joseph White
NETBALL UMPIRE OF THE YEAR
Winner: Amelie Prentice
NETBALL RISING STAR UMPIRE
Winner: Chelsea Lockwood
Full Leaderboards below:
TIV Division One Senior Leaderboard
TIV Division One Reserve Leaderboard
Division One Under 18 Leaderboard
SVPHW Senior Women’s Leaderboard
Division Two Senior Leaderboard
Division Two Reserve Leaderboard