Darley’s Lilli Condon has kept her title of the Ballarat Football League’s best female player, claiming a second straight league best and fairest award.
Condon, who has been a key in the Devils fourth straight grand final appearance, claimed the best and fairest award with 33 votes on Wednesday.
Bacchus Marsh’s Melanie Freeman finished second on 27 votes.
Condon was named best on ground for the Devils in each of their first six matches.
After 10 rounds, Condon and Freeman were level on 21 votes.
Neither polled in round 11 before Condon had four straight best on ground performances to have an unassailable lead heading into the final round.
“It’s really exciting,” Condon said. “I didn’t expect anything and there were a lot of people recognised, which was great.
“After the first few rounds me and Mel Freeman both had a good start to the season and there were still so many rounds to go.
“I didn’t know what would happen. I did feel proud [with six best on grounds in a row], that is pretty awesome.”
Condon, who missed last year’s award ceremony, only realised that she had won when one of her teammates picked up that she couldn’t be caught.
It then left Condon scrambling to figure out what to say on stage.
“I had pride in myself and also my teammates around me as I couldn’t do it without them,” she said.
Condon said both her best and fairest seasons had been enjoyable and successful for the Devils.
“I was more excited to go to training and games and everything was really positive,” she said.
“I’ve enjoyed this season a little more with a brand new group of girls. It’s been fantastic to be part of it.
“There’s some very special friendships that have made the success of the team.”
Condon said what the team had been able to do this season was amazing.
The side will play off in a fourth grand final this year.
Condon said each of the four seasons have been different, but this one has been the toughest in making the final game of the year.
“At the start of the season we had 12 to 15 new players and only a few players remained,” she said.
“We’ve made new friendships and teammates. There was a lot of team bonding to make that happen.
“It could have gone one of two ways. We didn’t know if we would make the grand final
“I’m super grateful for the last four amazing years for the club and women’s footy.”
The lead up to the grand final for Condon hasn’t been ideal after hurting her ankle in the side’s qualifying loss. She missed the preliminary final win.
It comes after Condon pulled out of the grand final last year with illness.
“With the help of the club physio, hopefully I’ll be out there,” she said.
Condon was named captain of team of the year.
Teammates Charli Parsons-Jones, Madalyn Clarke and Kim Bessell were also named in the side.
Parsons-Jones, who is just 15, finished fifth in the best and fairest award.
Condon said Parson-Jones is someone she has enjoyed working really close with.
“The talent she has is insane,” she said. “She’s very humble.
“I hope I can stay connected with her and that we can learn off each other.”
Freeman, Jacinta Reid, Amy Garofalo, Isabelle Faralla and Chloe Walker were the Cobras named in the team of the year.
Meanwhile, Bacchus Marsh’s Ella Bradbury claimed the under-19 most valuable player award and best and fairest award.
In the best and fairest award, she finished on 21 votes, 12 votes clear of East Point’s Keisha Darroch in second spot.
