“I think there’s definitely a step up. It’s more of an even competition. The teams down the bottom of the ladder are still good sides, whereas in Mininera it’s probably more lopsided,” she said.
“I’ve grown up in the Mininera league. I’ve played there my whole life and I know all the girls who play in the Mininera league and how they play, whereas here I’m coming up against new opponents.”
Mirtschin, 28, paid tribute to Noradjuha-Quantong coach Taylor Shelley for enticing her across to the Bombers.
“At Penshurst, most of the A Grade team that I won the flag with last year was moving on, so it seemed like the perfect time to take on a different challenge,” she said.
While her new team fell one win short of a grand final appearance this season, Mirtschin said the Bombers were well placed for sustained success.
“It would’ve been nice to win the flag, but I’ve loved playing with the girls and I think we’ve grown some good connections and friendships,” she said.
“The girls have all been lovely, and the boys – everyone around the club stops and says hello to you every time we’re around at training and at games.
“To experience a new league and see how things are done differently, it’s been a nice learning curve. I couldn’t ask for a more welcoming club.”
Other awards
Mirtschin’s 35 votes saw her win the Michele Mibus Medal comfortably from Sudholz, who finished with 21, while Kalkee’s Tamika Mentha and Laharum’s Ilze Van Zyl polled 20 votes each to tie for third.
Van Zyl was also the competition’s leading goal scorer with 494 for the season and was named best under-21 player, while Kaniva-Leeor United goalie Abby Croft won best opposition player honours.
In B Grade, Laharum’s Maya Przibilla topped the count with 32 votes to win the Jenny Kirchner medal from Kalkee’s Indy Webb, who had 21, while Blair Burke of Kaniva-Leeor United was the top goal scorer with 548.
C Grade saw Edenhope-Apsley’s Morgan Coventry and Taylors Lake’s Biance Kettle share best-and-fairest honours, each polling 21 votes.
One vote behind the winners was runner-up Bethany Bates, also from Taylors Lake, while veteran Jo Taylor of Natimuk United topped the goal-scoring tally with 460 in her first season as a goalie.
Collecting the C Reserve best and fairest was Kalkee’s Emma Bigham with 22 votes at an average of 1.57 per game, edging out Harrow-Balmoral’s Eliza Hobbs with 21 at an average of 1.50.
Charli Watts of Laharum was the leading goal scorer with 544 for the season.
The entire September 9, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
