Soli Ropati was left stunned after becoming the first Melton South player to claim the Sally McLean Medal.
Despite playing just 10 games in the Ballarat Netball League A-grade season, Ropati polled 21 votes to finish four votes clear of Darley’s Rebecca Hicks.
Ropati said with the talent in the competition, she was shocked to have won the award.
“I wasn’t expecting anything, this is massive,” she said.
“I play against amazing players and [with amazing] players in my own team, I’m grateful for this.
“I try my best and we’re building something great at Melton South. It’s these young guns who keep me going and our amazing coach.”
The midcourter said that she went out there each week trying to do her best to help her teammates.
She said being able to play a full season of netball after the last couple of years due to COVID-19 had been really good.
“This season was really great being one of the older girls,” she said. “I’m shown up by the younger ones.
“It was so good to be playing again after COVID. It’s a massive bonus to be here. It’s just unfortunate that I got all my injuries at the wrong time.”
Ropati paid tribute to coach Anna Edmonds, saying she was like a second mum.
The Panthers made the finals for the first time this year, but went out in straight sets. Ropati missed their last game, with a hamstring injury.
Ropati said that they played their hearts out, but they weren’t able to pull through.
She also battled a knee injury, while she had scans on her hand in July fearing it was broken. And if her form wasn’t good enough, she had been playing with a busted finger for a number of years.
She finally had surgery earlier this month.
“I was meant to have surgery last year but due to COVID-19,” she said. “I would forget about it at times.”
The McLean Medal caps off a big year for Ropati. She co-captained the City West Falcons to a championship in the Victorian Netball League.
She also represented Samoa at the World Cup 2023 Regional World Cup Qualifiers in Fiji in July.
Ropati said she wasn’t sure how many international opportunities there would be next year, but she would jump at the chance to represent her country again.
For now it’s time to have a break from netball.
“I’ll continue studying nursing,” she said. “I’ll still look to be at the Falcons next year and most likely Melton South as well.”
