By Tara Murray
Sarah Wright’s unbelievable start to her football career has continued, with the Keilor midfielder claiming a second straight league best and fairest.
Wright was the runaway winner in the Northern Football League Women’s division 1 best and fairest award announced last week, finishing 10 votes clear of second place.
She was also the clear winner in the Essendon District and Western Region Women’s best and fairest 12 months earlier.
Wright said she didn’t expect to win the NFL best and fairest, let alone come away with two awards.
She was also named the most valuable player by the coaches and had earlier been named in the team of the year.
“I didn’t even realise there were two awards,” she said. “I was expecting [twin sister] Gem to steal a lot of the votes. I’ve got some pretty good teammates as well.
“The umpires did one award [best and fairest] and in a few games I may have spoken back to a few umpires, so I didn’t think I was a chance.
“It’s really exciting and pretty surreal at the moment.”
While Wright won the award on 24 votes, she correctly predicted her sister would poll well too.
Gemma finished equal second with Blues teammate Sabrine Navarro and Darebin’s Shannon Egan on 14 votes.
Gemma finished third behind Sarah in the EDFL/WRFL best and fairest last season.
Wright said she could not imagine such success as she only made the move from basketball to football last year.
She decided to give up basketball for football half way through last season.
She had been part of four Big V state championship sides with the Hume City Broncos.
“I’ve always played school footy and dad has coached footy,” she said.
“Kicking was difficult at the start and I struggled, but [coach] Emma [Kerry] helped with that.
“I’ve got such good teammates at Keilor and I already knew a lot from basketball.”
Wright said she had enjoyed the challenge of going up a competition.
Last season, the Blues dominated the combined EDFL/WRFL competition on the way to winning a premiership.
This year they finished runners-up to Bendigo Thunder in NFL division 1.
“We had no expectations and knew this year would be tough,” she said. “Emma just said to be competitive and see how it goes.
“There was a lot more tougher competition and we learnt a lot from the opposition.”
However, Wright’s season ended in disappointment. The Blues lost the grand final, and Wright fractured her neck in the game.
“I’m in a neck brace at the moment,” she said.
“I fractured my C6 and C7. I’m in the brace for another three weeks and hopefully it’s healed and I don’t have to have surgery.
“I did it in the first quarter and played out the grand final and didn’t realise I had done it.
“I was pretty sore and sorry for myself as we had lost and that was just a kick in the butt.”
Bigger things could await both Wright sisters, who finished one-two in the Blues best and fairest at the weekend.
“Gemma and I have both had AFL and VFL clubs speak to us,” Wright said.
“I want to try and get as high as possible.”
