Tara Murray
City West Falcons’ Sophie Hanrahan didn’t think she had any hope of taking out the Victorian Netball League’s top honour after polling just one vote in the first seven rounds.
By the time the votes up until round 21 were revealed, Hanrahan had hit the front of the count.
She would eventually share the Marg Caldow Award with Wilson Storage Southern Saints defender Jessie Grenvold.
Hanrahan said it was pretty unreal to have taken out the award.
She said her mum had looked at the voting for the first seven rounds when it had been released so she thought she was in with no chance.
“To be honest, I still don’t believe it,” she said days later. “It’s something I’m proud of. With all the superstars in my team, I don’t believe it, it’s a weird feeling.
“I was shell shocked.”
It’s the second VNL most valuable award for Hanrahan, who won the 2022 division 1 best player award.
She said there’s one major common factor in both awards.
“The common denominator is the Falcons,” she said. “The coaching I’ve had pulls the best out of players and they get you believing.”
Hanrahan first came down to Falcons in 2021 for a training session after one of her local teammates had played at the club.
Her local coach had also been involved with some Falcons training and they encouraged Hanrahan to have a crack.
“I have never really looked back,” she said.
Having made an impact in division 1, Hanrahan was happy with how things were tracking and playing in that side.
With some changes to the championship side for 2023, the Falcons trailed three defenders in the pre-season to look to step up into the top side.
Hanrahan got first crack when the season started and made the position her own.
“I was loving division 1 and the team,” she said. ‘When the challenge came I was never going to say no to that.
“It meant a lot to be given that opportunity in championship to try and step up.”
Hanrahan played a key role in the defensive end as the Falcons claimed the premiership. She played in the grand final with a broken finger.
This year with a completely different defensive end, Hanrahan took on a more senior end.
“This year it was a young defensive unit and it was so fun,” she said. “Lucia [Fauonuku], Soli [Ropati], Mel [Oloamanu], Sussu [Liai] they were so relaxed
“It was really a team effort and there was no leader. If one player stepped up the others on the court rose.
“We had a good balance.”
The Falcons were able to claim the title to win their third in a row.
Hanrahan said it was nice to be part of the back-to-back club
“It’s super special,” she said. “There’s been so much hard work not just the last three years but before that.
“It’s a good effort by the girls and I’m so lucky to get to play with these superstars.”
Hanrahan played for the Collingwood Magpies in the Australian Netball Championships last year, but is realistic that she’s not likely to get opportunities at a higher level.
She said she’s more than happy at the Falcons.
“I want to keep getting the most out of myself and whatever happens happens,” she said.
“At the of the day I want to keep fit and be ready for the Falcons and go for that four peat.
“That is the focus as the moment.”
Hanrahan was also named in the team of the year along with star shooter Jane Cook. Cook claimed the hot shot award.
