Horsham Saints captain Ash Grace took home her third consecutive Wimmera league A Grade Heather Hatcher medal after another outstanding season.

Grace, who plays centre for the undefeated Saints, polled in every game except round 12 when she played while battling the flu.

She accumulated 33 votes for the season to narrowly beat Dimboola defender Steph Glover, on 32 votes.

In her acceptance speech at the awards’ night at Maydale Pavilion on Monday evening, Grace thanked her coach Vernetta Taylor and her teammates.

“Thanks to Neet for coaching and continuing to push me to develop as a netballer – it’s showing the last few years, so thank you,” she said.

“My team, I can’t do it without you, and you support me very well, and the club – it’s a fantastic club, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. 

“There’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears that goes into the club and it gives back twofold when we get to do this.”

Grace also thanked the league and the many volunteers who helped with allowing everyone to play – from the players to the umpires to the scorers.

She also thanked her family for their support and all A Grade players who had provided a competitive season this year.

Afterwards, Grace told The Weekly Advertiser she was ‘still in a bit of shock’.

“I didn’t expect that to happen, and to win three years in a row that’s something you dream of, but you never actually think that it’s going to happen – it’s pretty breathtaking, to be honest,” she said.

“Our team is, well, you can’t really sum it up other than just to say so amazing. We’ve fine-tuned our game very well and to still poll so well with such a great team around you is pretty good, but a credit to everyone else that they’re still getting votes as well.”

Glover was recognised for her outstanding season with the runner-up award, which Dimboola coach Ant Toet described as ‘amazing’. 

“She is an athlete and a half – to combine her footy ability and her netball ability, her athleticism, it’s great, and she’s had a fantastic year, and whoever she works with in the defensive circle and then up the court, it’s been fantastic,” she said.

The league also awarded the best under-21 player to Saints shooter Jorja Clode, who also won the leading goal-scorer award, shooting 945 goals during the home-and-away season.

Clode polled 21 votes for the season, behind Horsham Demons coach Georgie Carberry, on 26 votes.

Others to feature on the A Grade leaderboard were: Maddi Bethune, Saints, 17 votes; Laney McLoughlan, Ararat, 15 votes; and Jemma Clarkson, Stawell, 14 votes.

The league also recognised the netball coach of the year as Sarah Spicer, of Warrack Eagles.

Other netball grade winners were Ararat’s Tash Noble, who polled 29 votes to win the B Grade best-and-fairest. 

Two votes behind was runner-up Saints goaler Abby Hallam, who also won the leading goal-scorer award, with 700 goals for the home-and-away season. 

Warrack Eagles’ Deborah Templeton won the C-Reserve best-and-fairest with 27 votes, ahead of Cassie Dunlop, Horsham Saints, while the leading goal-scorer award went to Michelle Beaton, Stawell.

In C Grade, there were joint winners – Nhill’s Aroha McKinnon and Southern Mallee Thunders’ Chantelle Fisher, who polled 20 votes, ahead of Sheridan Jones, Saints, on 19 votes.

The entire September 16, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!