Giles took out the league’s top gong with a total of 28 votes across season 2022, finishing five ahead of runner-up Sarah Maskell of Shepparton East.
The Tallygaroopna goal defence was a crucial member of the A-grade side that broke its 14-year premiership drought this year.
“I’m so excited, it was such a fun night and it was a great count,” Giles said.
“I’m a bit shocked, but mostly, I’m just excited for what’s been a great season from the whole team.”
Providing the foundation for a formidable Tallygaroopna A-grade outfit this year, Giles said she had her team to thank first and foremost for the award.
“It’s a dream really, to have won a premiership and the league best-and-fairest, it’s the cherry on top I suppose,” she said.
“As I said last night, this is an individual award, but I couldn’t have done it without my team, the premiership medal is so special because I get to celebrate that with my team.
“To have both is amazing.”
After a shortened 2021, and as she moves into the later stages of her career, Giles said a different approach to her netball this year alleviated some of the pressure that comes with the goal defence role.
“The pressure was probably a little bit off this year, as you get a little bit older, you sort of have to pick your moments a little bit more,” she said.
“I probably learned that last year, even though the season was shortened, I’ve had to be a smarter player and that probably showed more this year.
“I didn’t go for everything and I picked my moments, obviously being supported by such a great defensive team all over helped me stand out because of the pressure that they create.”
Giles took home Tallygaroopna’s first Warren Medal since Joanne McDonald did 40 years ago and the win couldn’t be more fitting.
“I started at Tally in 2001 and I was brought out to the club by Jo McDonald, who funnily is the only other Tally Warren medallist,” she said.
“I was brought out as a 16-year-old, at that stage there was no juniors and I got popped straight into A-grade and have been there ever since.”
Forming the other half of Tally’s dominant defensive duo, Giles thanked her cousin Rebecca Brett, and also playing-coach Fiona Down, who have been a big part of her storied career.
“I have a really special bond with Bec who plays goal keeper with me, she’s my cousin and my best friend,” Giles said.
“She started one year later than I did, we’ve been together at that club for 20 years — over half our lives, it’s extra special to share that journey with her and to finally get that; we’re the only two that remain from that last premiership in 2008.”
“And Fi is such a passionate coach, she lives and breathes netball, she’s had a few battles over the past couple of years and we really wanted to win it for her.”
With 21 years of netball at Tally to look back on, Giles is just as excited about what the future holds, and says premiership success this year across A and C-grade, and grand final appearances for B-grade and the under-17s holds the club in good stead going forward.
“I’m now really excited about the future of the club,” she said.
“We’re in a transition stage, we do have a lot of older players, looking at our A-grade, we have a lot of players nearing 40, it’s time now for us to mentor those younger kids coming through and get them ready to take the club to the success that we’ve had.
“Building that longevity is important, we’re all really on board with that and we’re all really excited for what’s to come.”
