Sophie Garbin has had a breakthrough at the Australian netball awards, becoming the first goaler in five years to win the Liz Ellis Diamond as the game's best player.
Garbin was crowned in Melbourne following dominant domestic and international seasons with the Melbourne Vixens and the Diamonds.
A newcomer to the Vixens this year, Garbin scored 517 goals in the home-and-away season and broke two club Super Netball-era records including the most points in a single game (54 in round eight) and the most offensive rebounds in a season with 54.
Garbin was also named International Player of the Year, making her the seventh Diamond in the last decade to take home both awards.
The 27-year-old shot 306 goals at 95 per cent accuracy across 11 Test matches in 2024, capping the year with a perfect strike-rate in the Australian team's final game.
"I am super honoured to be recognised for both of these awards," Garbin said.
"I am so grateful to have watched Liz Ellis and seen what she has done for our sport, so now standing with her in honour of this award is a pinch myself moment."
Polling in every round she played in across 2024, except for one due to injury, Adelaide Thunderbirds’ Georgie Horjus was named the Super Netball Player of the Year.
Alongside back-to-back premierships, Horjus seized impressive numbers in attack across the regular season and finals series with 93 goals, 445 circle feeds and 297 centre pass receives.
Horjus and Garbin were both named in the Super Netball Team of the Year while 22-year-old Adelaide goaler Lauren Frew won the rookie award and her title-winning coach Tania Obst, the top coaching gong.
Terese Kennedy (Diamonds #57), Natalie von Bertouch (Diamonds #137), Pam Smith and Sue Taylor were inducted into the Netball Australia Hall of Fame in recognition of their contribution to the game.
TEAM OF THE YEAR: Goal shooter - Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard (West Coast Fever) , goal attack - Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens) , wing attack - Georgie Horjus (Adelaide Thunderbirds), centre - Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens), wing defence - Latanya Wilson (Adelaide Thunderbirds), goal defence - Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever) , goal keeper - Shamera Sterling-Humphrey (Adelaide Thunderbirds), attack interchange - Sophie Garbin (Melbourne Vixens), midcourt interchange - Liz Watson (Sunshine Coast Lightning), defence interchange - Ashleigh Ervin (Sunshine Coast Lightning).
