Geitz wins netball’s top honour

Australian defender Laura Geitz has capped off a remarkable 12 months, winning the coveted Liz Ellis Diamond and ANZ Championship Player of the Year honours at the 2011 Australian Netball Awards in Melbourne.

It was a year to remember for the blonde goalkeeper, who was a member of the Queensland Firebirds' premiership-winning team before joining Australia's successful world championship campaign in Singapore.

Geitz, who celebrated her 24th birthday two weeks ago, adds to her 2011 ANZ Championship with Queensland Firebirds, Network Ten's 2011 ANZ Championship Player of the Year and 2011 World Netball Championship winner's medallion.

The highest individual honour in Australian netball is named after former captain and most-capped Australian player Liz Ellis, who was on hand on Saturday night to present Geitz with a $5000 cheque and a one-carat diamond from Michael Wilson Jewellers.

Geitz continues defenders' dominance of the award, becoming the third to take home the coveted prize (Mo'onia Gerrard '08, Julie Corletto '09) with Natalie von Bertouch (2010) the only winner not to come from the defensive end of the court.

A big congratulations to Laura for her amazing efforts this year.

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