Ryan Sparkes named League MVP

WONTHAGGI’S Ryan Sparkes has some nice silverware to home, as a memento of the 2023 season after being named the Gippsland League’s Otus Senior most valuable player.

Sparkes went on with the job in Saturday’s grand final to be one of the Power’s best on the day, but the ultimate prize eluded him and the team this year.

Sparkes was also named in the Gippsland team of the year, together with team mates Cooper McInnes, Kyle Reid and Jack Blair.

For Leongatha, Cade Maskell, Tom Marriott and Aaron Heppell were also selected, Marriott finishing second and Heppell fourth in the league’s best and fairest count.

At one stage Marriott and Heppell were one and two but Sale’s Shannen Lange picked up votes in the last round to take the Trood Award and Rodda Medal for 2023 on 17 votes, from Marriott on 15, equal with Moe’s Riley Baldi, with Heppell on 14 and Wonthaggi’s Isaac Chugg on 12.

In the netball, Leongatha had two players named in the team of the year, Nicola Marriott and Taylah Brown

The official netball team of the year for 2023 was GK Olivia Barnett, GD Tanya Budge, WD Taylah Brown, C Sienna Green, , WA Ava Gaul, GA Claire Marks and GS Ramayer Gourley with an interchange of Nicola Marriott, Renee Cook and Georgia Moody. Coach Stacie Gardiner (Drouin) and captain Tanya Budge (Morwell).