Westmeadows’ back Sarah Wright has been voted the Fernwood Fitness Women’s Player of the Month for May following the club’s impressive run, going undefeated in the first eight rounds of the season.
Wright won the public vote by just one per cent after a hotly contested and vocal contest between the Tigers' number 17 and Moonee Valley’s Kate Maxwell.
Named in the best and impressive in every game in May, the former North Melbourne player is a key cog in the defensive unit that only allows an average of nine points a game.
When asked about her move to the Tigers, Wright said: “I wasn’t sure if I’d come back to footy after leaving North, but Gemma convinced me to come back.”
“It’s been great being back, but it’s really physical - after Round 4 I walked away with bruised ribs,” she said, laughing.
Westmeadows coach and Sarah’s sister, Gemma, added: “Sarah and I had always said one day we’d come back and play together. She has always been around the club, so it’s been easy for her to settle in.
“She’s normally a really quiet person, but we can’t shut her up here. She’s really comfortable here.
“Coming off last year, we were expecting to be competitive, but we thought we still had a way to go to be top of the log. Adding in Sarah has been a big boost for us and has been a big driving force for us in pre-season and on the field.”
When asked about her approach to preseason, Sarah said: “In pre-season, I pushed the fitness side of things. Westmeadows have always had the skill, but in recent years we’ve been getting run over at the end of games by fitter teams.
“We’re a mature team, and the other teams in our comp are full of young, fit, and fast players, so we placed a big focus on that in the lead-up to the season. We’ve been running twice a week and introduced compulsory running during the week.
“I see my role as helping bring through younger players and helping Gemma wherever I can.
“West used to struggle for numbers at games and training, but this year we’ve had the opposite, and we’re having to drop players, which is amazing to see. The vibe is great, and I know we’re winning, but I think a lot of the work done in pre-season, including going away together, really set the foundations for us to have a successful season.”
Reacting to her Player of the Month win, Sarah joked: “I’ve copped a heap of fines for how much it’s been popping up on social media. But, there’s a bit of competition between Gemma and I for best player, so I’m buzzing to get the nomination and the win.”
