James claims top honour at NCWL awards night

It was familiar territory for James, a skilful and dashing midfielder, on two fronts.

After two consecutive runner-up finishes in the same league medal, she was once again high on the leaderboard and this time she had a friendly rival next to her name.

In the final round of the season against Nathalia, coincidentally Echuca’s upcoming grand final opponent this Sunday, it was James who clinched the all-important medal two votes ahead of Baksh who received one.

It delivered James 16 votes and her maiden Chris Thomas Medal.

“Nagambie forfeited our second last game we played so if they [didn’t] it might have been a different story,” James said following her best-and-fairest triumph.

“We were both sitting there and we knew we were both on the same votes.

“It’s great to be able to share that moment with her (Paige) ... it’s great having people from the same club up there and it’s kind of funny how you take votes off each other here and there but it’s great.

“The last few years, in our club votes, we’ve been quite close as well.

“Even though it is an individual award, I think the main thing is your team performance and the end goal is obviously making the grand final and winning that and these things are just a bonus along the way.”

James conceded she was never looking to play women’s footy when she moved to the region for work.

Despite a couple of university football appearances, James featured heavily on the netball courts at Goulburn Valley League clubs Tatura and Echuca.

It wasn’t until a decision to go gain some extra fitness with the Murray Bombers’ powerhouse women’s side that James found her calling.

Three years later, James has a league best-and-fairest medal to show for her class talents.

But there’s one thing missing.

An elusive premiership medal.

“I was looking for some extra fitness and I said to Damien (Dalziel) ‘do you mind if I run around?’ and soon after that he was like, ‘I reckon you should come and play’ so I did,” James said.

“I haven’t looked back ever since and I’ve loved every moment.

“Hopefully we can get through it (grand final) and do the job this year.”

In the Youth Girls best-and-fairest count, Moama young gun Shaleah Cooper claimed a historic win.

Cooper clinched back-to-back league medals in a runaway vote count and ended on 20 votes.