A REMARKABLE story of overcoming adversity resulted in South Gambier’s Tess Andrews being named as the 2019-20 Limestone Coast Women’s Football League best and fairest after Wednesday’s virtual presentations night.
After experiencing broken ribs, a collapsed lung and concussion, Andrews returned to the game in round two and her hard work and determination paid off.
The midfielder produced a consistent season by scoring votes every time she stepped on the field.
She went on to collect 22 votes from eight games and was named best-on-ground in five of the last six rounds.
Andrews said it was a tremendous feeling to experience such a successful season.
“It is awesome,” she said.
“I was pretty disappointed after last year missing most of the season and I set myself a goal to be better than I was before.
“It makes me pretty proud to come back the way I have and have the season we did.”
The adversity Andrews experienced over the off-season made the achievement shine even brighter.
After a stint in hospital ending her 2018-19 season early, she eventually recovered in time to be ready for the 2019-20 season, but Andrews said another incident put her playing days in doubt again.
“It probably took five or six months to be back to where I was before, which was hard work,” she said.
“By the time pre-season rolled around, I was feeling good and ready to go, but I got concussed in a trial game the week before.
“I was pretty grumpy and determined to make this year a good one.”
Andrews was unstoppable in the centre square and became a key part of the Demons’ success.
She said this season was her best yet after working hard on her game with coach Taylor Saffin.
“I have definitely grown as a footballer,” Andrews said.
“Before I was more-or-less just winging it because I was a soccer player previously and based my game off that.
“Our coach Taylor has taught me a lot on the football side of things and I have definitely developed my game.
“I can read the game pretty well and I pride myself on the effort I put in and outside of training.”
Andrews’ outstanding form reflected her team’s fortunes too, as the Demons were an unstoppable force.
South cruised to the minor premiership with an undefeated campaign and Andrews paid credit to her team mates.
“It is easy to look good when you have talented players around you,” she said.
“They are all very skilful and work hard for each other, so it was definitely more of a team effort than anything else.”
Due to coronavirus, this season has been a unique experience for all involved.
The Demons were a hot favourite for the flag along with Kybybolite, but finals were cancelled and no premiership was awarded.
The medal count was also affected and took place online via Facebook and YouTube on Wednesday night.
Andrews said it was bizarre winning an award in the comfort of her own home.
“I was sitting on my bed watching the stream on my laptop by myself, so that was a strange feeling,” she said.
“But my phone was going off within a couple of seconds with lots of messages and phone calls, so that was good.”
The multi-sport talent now has three football best-and-fairest medals to accompany her seven soccer awards.
Andrews enjoyed a comfortable 10-vote margin back to runners-up Scarlett Jarrad and Kelsie Wilkinson.
Casterton Sandford’s Jarrad led her side with regular mentions in the best and seven goals in as many matches.
Millicent’s Wilkinson was a standout and enjoyed a career-best season with 12 votes.
Her feats helped her to also claim the best Under 21 player award ahead of Alice Tentye and Ella Jones.
It was a tie on the goal-kicking front after Kybybolite’s Della Hannaford and South’s Neave Delaney both booted 26 majors for the season.
The pair were both prolific inside 50, as Delaney surpassed the five-goal barrier three times with a best of seven against Penola, while Hannaford scored six and five majors in back-to-back games.
South’s crushing season ensured Saffin was named as coach for the 2019-20 team of the year, which included players from all 10 teams.
He was joined by fellow Demons Andrews, Delaney, Simone MacDonald and Kendall Saffin.
Della and Holly Hannaford represented Kybybolite alongside Jones and Annabel Mould.
Reigning premier Mundulla had Tessa Marra, Natalie Twigden and Lauren Tink included, along with Kalangadoo’s Kylie Schulz and Chloe Pratt, while Cats’ duo Erin Horsnell and Scarlett Jarrad gave the team some Victorian flavour.
Angela Broad and Tentye were the only members for Penola and Glencoe respectively, while the Saints were led by Ella Little and Wilkinson.
Difficult campaigns for North Gambier and Kongorong ended on a high note with respective players Piper Killick and Samantha Loughhead named in the team of the year.
