Defence wins titles: Shepparton’s Keeley O’Dwyer more than earned best-on-court recognition.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
It was one busy week for the O’Dwyer household.
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The Barooga-based family had two of its young netball stars enjoy memorable career highlights.
It all started in the build-up to Goulburn Valley League grand finals with Mackenzie, 15, claiming the league’s best-and-fairest medal in the 17-and-under competition.
Mackenzie’s Carol Ryan Rising Star award follows her league best-and-fairest win in 2021 when she claimed the Jacqui Hudgson Medal.
Mackenzie missed out on adding a premiership medal to her already littered trophy cabinet, with the Shepparton 17-and-under outfit suffering a 40-31 defeat to Mooroopna at Deakin Reserve.
Older sister Keeley then played an enormous role in the Shepparton B-grade premiership victory over Echuca on Sunday in a memorable grand final triumph.
Sure, the headlines going in were occupied by wall-to-wall Echuca teams contending for Goulburn Valley League flags on the court and the field and the B-grade title was another in that string of potential successes.
What a leap: Shepparton's Keeley O'Dwyer attempts to spoil Echuca's Jorja Oliver.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
By Sunday afternoon’s final siren, though, Keely had asserted herself into the picture.
Awarded the medal for best-on-court in her side’s 48-41 triumph over the Murray Bombers, Keely wished not to dwell on the individual recognition she had earned.
Instead, much echoing the sentiments of her coach both pre and post-game, Keeley celebrated the teamwork and collaboration that helped shut Echuca down.
“I’m extremely proud of the effort all the girls put out,” Keeley said.
“We had a lot of ups and downs this year, people coming in and out of the team.
“To come together like this is a big win for us today.”
Rising star: Mackenzie O'Dwyer during the 17-and-under decider.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Echuca, 17-1 in regular season play, was an imposing force.
Aside from an early period in the second term and the final handful of minutes with the game already decided, though, Keeley and her defensive staff held their charging foes at bay.
“Trust in one another got us over the line,” Keeley said.
“It took the whole defensive end to turn over goals because (Echuca) are a very good side in attack.
“It was going to take all game and everyone to overcome them.”
Keeley paid tribute to the unquestionably pro-Bears home atmosphere as well.
“It’s amazing, having the support of the locals,” Keeley said.
“It was outstanding how many people came down to support us.”
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