The oldest player in the Riddell District Netball League A-grade competition is also the league’s best player this season.
Melton Centrals veteran Tran Truong was on Wednesday night named the league’s Ryan medallist for the 2015.
For the 41-year-old, the award comes after several top 10 finishes in recent years.
Truong finished on 20 votes, two votes clear of Wallan’s Kate Bishop and Romsey’s Soli Ropati.
Ropati also won the netball rising star award.
Truong, who originally wasn’t going to attend the night, was surprised to be recognised.
“It was definitely a surprise,” she said.
“The league has great players and I think it’s great each year that the league is going from strength to strength.
“With so many up and coming players, to be acknowledged for this I think it’s a great achievement.
“They [the club] have done a great job supporting the players throughout the season I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Truong said the biggest thing was ensuring she maintained a game style which was still relevant in today’s competition.
Having started at the club in 2009 as a fill in player, she has been part of two premiership sides, most recently last year.
“With all of this young talent you have to keep on working on your game to make sure you are also competitive.
“You have to look back and think what else I can do to be competitive with them you always have to challenge yourself.
“My game style has been a certain style throughout the years… I had to adapt to my game style this year and challenge myself with my game style, speed and agility.”
One challenge she faced at times this year was being moved away from the midcourt where she has made her name.
With the loss of Rebecca Morabito before the season and Renee Hulls during the year, Truong was tried in a new position in the goal circle.
Both Hulls and Morabito have previously won the Ryan Medal.
“I think Randy you should retire from coaching,” Truong joked was her initial reaction to being told she playing in goals by coach Randy Pereira.
“I trust his judgement and he knows the game. You can only go out there and adapt to the role and do the best you can.
“After that I had to go and practice my goals.”
Even though the two-time premiership player is still at the top of her game, she is unsure whether she’ll continue on next season.
“You have to keep on challenging yourself until your body says no.”
Truong was also named in the team of the year along with Ropati, Macedon’s Kate McLeod and Bec Colwell, Rupertswood’s Tess Abbott and Maddison Gay, Riddell’s Mikayla Vaughan, Christine Harris and Danni Davidson, Romsey’s Hope Evans and Toni Lind, and Diggers Rest Amy Carroll.
Evans was named Western Water player of the year which was voted on by the players.
