KELSEY Pallpratt was enjoying the warmth of Noosa when she got word that she had won North Central netball’s A Grade best-and-fairest award.
The Wedderburn star didn’t just win, she streeted the field with 37 votes from a possible 48, with her team undefeated.
And yet she didn’t even consider herself a chance in the award.
“It did not even cross my mind,” Pallpratt said of her win on Sunday. “I knew we would have quite a few up there, with such a strong team, but you are taking votes off each other.”
Another Redbacks star in Maddi Postle finished third in the count, with Calder United’s Meg Hogan separating the two Wedderburn players, 14 votes behind Pallpratt.
Palpratt won the award – the first individual prize of her career – in her first season with Wedderburn, having moved from Sandhurst in the strong Bendigo competition.
“I’ve found it to be a really good standard,” Pallpratt said. “The top half of the competition is really strong, and I think most games could have gone either way.”
It’s a family affair for Pallpratt at Donaldson Park. Her partner Mitch McEwan has played footy for the Redbacks for several seasons and her brothers Zach and Jake joined the club this year, along with netballer Paige Ryan, Zach’s wife and Kelsey’s sister-in-law. 
Pallpratt, 25, began the season playing as goal shooter before moving into the critical centre role, and said she had “absolutely loved” playing for Wedderburn. She and partner Mitch travel from Echuca to train and play – a 90-minute drive each way.
And Pallpratt hopes the partnership will continue next year, although much will depend on farmer Mitch’s commitments on the land. Wedderburn’s Tess Jackson won the B Grade award with 22 votes, with teammate Aliza Lockhart, who has returned this season from a knee reconstruction, in second place on 17 votes.
- GARY WALSH