Hayley debuts in Team of the Year

The SEFNL Team of the Year for 2017, back from left, Hayley Stewart, Rylee Nelson, Danielle Cameron, Sharni Lambden, Rahni Samason, Tara Cecil, Alex Maher and Alanah Hardy. Front row; Erin Clark, Gabrielle Dwyer, Kelly Andrews (coach), Karli Foster and Leigh Taylor. 172768 Picture: MICHAEL KOMPA-SEFNL

By David Nagel

Exciting Doveton teenager Hayley Stewart has capped off a remarkably consistent season by being named as the starting centre in the South East Football Netball League Team of the Year.
Stewart defied her tender years to play more games than any other player at her club – that had an otherwise turbulent season – playing 28 players in A Grade.
Stewart – who will play for the Doves in the Under 17 Red grand final on Saturday – was one of four first-timers selected in the team, alongside Beaconsfield mid-courter Rylee Nelson, the versatile Alanah Hardy from Cranbourne and Tooradin goaler Alex Maher.
Seagulls coach Kelly Andrews was named as coach for the second consecutive year, joining Leigh Taylor, Tara Cecil, Gabrielle Dwyer, Karli Foster and Sharni Lambden as members of the side to back up from last year.
Taylor was the only player to make the side for the third year running, while Erin Clark, Rahni Samason and Cecil have now been selected three times in the last five years.
Preliminary finalists Cranbourne and Narre Warren led the contributions this year, with three players each, with Beaconsfield, Doveton and Tooradin having two, with Foster being the only player named for Hampton Park.
Berwick, Pakenham and ROC had no players named in the team this year.
A total of 157 players took to the A Grade courts this season, made up of Beaconsfield 14, Berwick 17, Cranbourne 15, Doveton 28, Hampton Park 22, Narre Warren 15, Pakenham 20, ROC 12 and Tooradin-Dalmore 14.
SEFNL NETBALL TEAM OF THE YEAR
GOAL SHOOTER      Rahni Samason             Doveton
GOAL ATTACK          Alex Maher                    Tooradin-Dalmore
WING ATTACK          Leigh Taylor                   Narre Warren
CENTRE                    Hayley Stewart              Doveton
WING DEFENCE       Erin Clark                       Narre Warren
GOAL DEFENCE       Sharni Lambden            Cranbourne
GOAL KEEPER          Danielle Cameron         Beaconsfield

INTERCHANGE

Gabrielle Dwyer          Narre Warren
Alanah Hardy              Cranbourne
Karli Foster                  Hampton Park
Rylee Nelson               Beaconsfield
Tara Cecil                    Cranbourne

COACH

Kelly Andrews             Tooradin-Dalmore