Sparkes and Haynes claim top honours in West Gippsland

SENIOR playing coach for the Inverloch-Kongwak Football Netball Club, alongside Leigh Cole, Ryan Sparkes, has emerged as the best and fairest player in the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition.

In his first year in West Gippsland, after claiming the MVP award in the Gippsland League in 2025, Sparkes has taken all before him during the season, being named among the best in 12 out of 18 games and polling 26 umpires’ votes.

He won narrowly from Nar Nar Goon’s Ryan Bromley on 25 votes with Phillip Island’s playing coach Cam Pedersen capping off another strong on-field year for the Dogs with 21 votes.

Thereafter followed: Ishak Bashir (KWR) 18, Chevy Andersen (TD) 17, Hayden Brough (K-Bass) 17 and James Munro (Cora-Lynn) 17

In a virtual vote-counting event on social media on Thursday night, the highlight of the various netball best and fairest counts was victory by Kilcunda-Bass key defender Jess Haynes with 25 votes, only one ahead of Koo Wee Rup’s Ashlee Murphy 24, and Jess’ teammate at Killy-Bass Jaime Quinn on 21.

Also in the votes were Korumburra-Bena’s Gemma Dixon 20, Nar Nar Goon’s Olivia Hamilton 20, Dalyston’s Brittany Thomas 18, Nar Nar Goon’s Tyala Redwood 18, Warragul’s April Bethune 17, Tooradin-Dalmore’s Ashlee Bowden 16 and Cora-Lynn’s Danielle Cameron 15.

In other results: Ben Sellings (TD) and Clint McCaughan (IK) 17 shared the reserves best and fairest award, Froley Anderson (IK) 19 won the thirds best and fairest award and Archie Williams (PI) 30 the fourths’ league best award.

In the netball: A Grade Jess Haynes (KB) 25, B Grade Rebecca Kinna (TD) 30, C Grade Kelly Boyd (IK) 34, 17&U Grade Miley Schade (CL) 41, 15&U Grade Pheobe Walker (Gar) 29, 13&U Grade Carter Quarrell (NNG) 29 and 11&U Grade Taysha Butler (KWR) 41.