Well deserved: Dookie United’s Gemma O’Sullivan clinched the 2023 Warren Medal.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
She wasn’t there to receive it on the night, but Gemma O’Sullivan has finally earned her maiden best-and-fairest award amid a decorated netball career.
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The Dookie United midcourter’s name was called up to claim the Warren Medal at the Kyabram District League presentation last week, but with O’Sullivan absent, representatives from the Thunder graced the podium instead.
Not that it took any of the shine off the occasion.
O’Sullivan admitted she was surprised when notified she’d taken out the league’s top gong but was glad to be recognised in just her second season at Dookie.
“I was in a bit of shock that I had won,” she said.
“But yeah, it’s always nice I guess now that I’ve got three kids, a lot of effort goes into playing netball these days.
“It is a nice recognition for some of the sacrifices that have to be made to get on the court each week.”
O’Sullivan was a mainstay for Shepparton Swans in the past two decades but her KDL career began last year when she was asked to fill in at the Thunder one weekend.
She played, liked it and stayed.
Top gong: Dookie United representatives accepted the 2023 Warren Medal on Gemma O’Sullivan’s behalf.
That year Dookie went on to make the grand final but lost to Tallygaroopna 39-32.
The Redlegs again proved to be Dookie’s conquerors, barrelling out the Thunder in this year’s preliminary final by two goals.
“We had a really good year, we were probably inconsistent sometimes with injuries or sickness … there was COVID still some weeks that put girls out,” O’Sullivan said.
“But we seemed to come together at the right end of the year and we were really unlucky in that prelim.
“It was a bit of a shame but I think Shepp East were the team all year, they were undefeated, so it would have been a tough task to get over them on grand final day.
“It would’ve been nice to get there, but they were the team all year so it was nice to see them take it out.”
As for her personal performance, O’Sullivan said a relatively injury-free season was a big factor in winning the Warren Medal.
“I only missed one game which probably helps … physically it was a good season,” she said.
“I played last year but I only played half the season. My body probably held up pretty well this year, I didn’t have too many niggles.
“There was a core group of us who, for me, had played two years together now so that always helps.
“You kind of know how each other plays and where each other likes to take up that space on the court.”
O’Sullivan finished with a statement that will bring music to Dookie supporters’ ears.
With her and her husband, Rhys, who plays for the Thunder’s senior football side, settled in the area, she said they were staying put.
“As long as our bodies hold up, we’ll finish out our careers at Dookie if they let us,” she said.
