There were times between Noradjuha-Quantong defender Brooke Pay’s first Michele Mibus award in 2018 and her second win on Monday night when she doubted her ability to continue playing netball.

The now two-time Horsham District league A Grade best and fairest was visibly emotional as she accepted the award, which she won by a single vote in a thrilling count from joint runners-up Holly Nuske, also of Noradjuha-Quantong, and Nikki Hawker of Kaniva-Leeor United.

Pay said many hours of physical and mental work had gone into returning her to the heights of performance she previously enjoyed.

“I had an ACL reconstruction five years ago and then fell pregnant. In that time I’ve had two babies, and your body changes a lot,” she said.

“I’ve had to work really hard in the off-season and there were actually times when I thought I might not play netball again. But I’ve been able to turn that around, work really hard and be here today. I’m actually blown away.”

The 38-year-old said her second win felt worlds apart from her first Michele Mibus Medal triumph in 2018.

“I think this is really different, given how much hard work it has taken to get to this point,” she said.

“For everyone behind the scenes who have helped me be able to do this, I think that’s why it feels so important – it’s a bit of a thank you to all those people.”

Among the people Pay credited with her success this season were her husband Zane and Bomber coach Fiona Rowe.

At the halfway point of the count Pay trailed Nuske on the leaderboard, but finished strongly to pip Nuske at the post.

She said a change in mindset had paid dividends in the back half of the season.

“I haven’t won a premiership before, ever, so there’s a lot of mental thought and worry around getting that premiership,” she said.

“I think mid-season I just went ‘I need to let that go and just get out there and enjoy my netball’.

“Fiona has helped me with that as well. Being out there in the moment has made me play a lot more freely.”

While the Bombers fell agonisingly short of a grand final appearance, Pay said she would return next year determined to continue enjoying her netball. “You think ‘oh, you haven’t got that final big cup’, but we’ve won so much in our friendships and growth as a team,” she said.

Laharum goalie Caitlin Jones-Story was named the league’s best opposition player – voted on by coaches – as well as topping the league goal-scoring count with a whopping 695 goals. 

Natimuk United young gun Emma Uebergang was named the best under-21 player.

Other grades

The Jennifer Kirchner Medal for B Grade best and fairest went to Swifts’ Erin Freeland, who polled 26 votes to win by one from Ava Fitzgerald of Pimpinio. Codi-Rae Fisher of Natimuk United was the leading goal scorer with 614.

Edenhope-Apsley’s Danielle Grindlay was a clear winner of the C Grade best and fairest award, polling 29 votes to win by 12 from runner-up Mary-Jean Kerr of Natimuk United, with Kalkee goalie Emma Bigham’s 378 goals seeing her top the scoring table.

Another Kee, Sophie Pietsch, took out the C Reserve best and fairest with 31 votes, winning comfortably from runner-up Erica Blake of Natimuk United on 21. Pietsch was also the leading goal-scorer with 338.

– Colin MacGillivray

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