Tara Murray
Darley skipper Lilli Condon was in Queensland as the Ballarat Football League women’s awards were being held.
While she finished second in the league best and fairest last season, Condon didn’t think she had any chance of taking the award out this season.
She would go one better claiming her first league best and fairest award, finishing on 21 votes, seven clear of Bacchus Marsh’s Jacinta Reid.
“I was watching it on my phone,” Condon said. “I didn’t have a clue, I was a bit in shock.
“The second last round I was watching with my partner and they say they can’t win it.
“It was so exciting thinking I may have won. I then checked my phone and had a fair few messages and video calls.
“I was not expecting to win it this year, I was pretty shocked.”
Condon said she thought she’d had a good season, but she had many teammates who had outstanding years as well.
She said she was grateful to have received the honour.
Condon was one of six Devils players to be named in the team of the year. Kim Bessell also won the leading goal kicker award.
“It is amazing,” she said of her teammates’ success as well. “We have so many good players that didn’t get recognised for a lot of their skills during the season.
“There’s so much talent in our team. It all started to come together at the back end of the season.”
For Condon, Darley is home.
She played both football and netball for the club before being selected as part of the Greater Western Victoria Rebels for four seasons.
She was also part of the Western Bulldogs’ Victorian Football League women’s program before just focusing on local football last year.
“Playing at the Rebels and Bulldogs there’s a lot of pressure,” she said. “There’s a big commitment with it.
“I decided to come back locally with having uni and work and it’s been really good. It’s good to come back for a while.”
Condon hasn’t ruled out looking to go back to VFLW in the future, but that’s not on her mind at the moment.
For now, it’s Saturday’s grand final with Redan.
The Devils are looking to go back-to-back.
“It’s very exciting,” she said. “I remember last year and training was awesome and it was a really good week.
“It’s a cool opportunity to be involved and some of the team have never been in a grand final or finals before.
“It will be a hard game. Redan has beaten us a few times this year.”
