Turnage and Morrell crowned NBL1 Central MVPs

Norwood Flames’ CJ Turnage and Southern Tigers’ Teige Morrell have been named the NBL1 Central MVPs for the 2021 season.

Turnage took home the Woollacott Medal after a stunning campaign with the Flames where he averaged 24.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He also helped lead Norwood to an upset win over the Forestville Eagles in last night’s NBL1 Central Qualifying Final.

Morrell proved unstoppable during the year, as she averaged a double-double of 23.1 points and 12.4 rebounds per game to secure the Halls Medal. Her performances helped the Tigers finish on top of the women’s ladder, and they will face the South Adelaide Panthers in next week’s Semi-Final.

Turnage was also named in the NBL1 Central Men’s All-Star Five alongside Sam Daly (Sturt Sabres), Michael Harris (Forestville), Cameron Coleman (Southern) and Greg Mays (Forestville).

The NBL1 Central Women’s All-Star Five consisted of MVP Morrell, her Tigers teammate Morgan Yaeger, Ally Wilson (Norwood), Sam Simons (Forestville) and Olivia Thompson (South Adelaide).

The future is bright for the Eagles, as a pair of Forestville players were named the U23 Players of the Year, with Harris winning the Frank Angove Medal in the men’s division and Simons securing the Merv Harris Medal in the women’s division.

Coleman was named the men’s Best Defensive Player and North Adelaide Rockets star Jess Good won the women’s Best Defensive Player. Good was also recently recruited to Carlton’s AFLW team.

After both their teams finished on top of the ladder, Sturt men’s coach Paul Rigoni and Southern women’s coach Matthew Clarke won the Coach of the Year awards.

Vanessa Devlin (men’s division) and Danika Shepherd (women’s division) won the Phil Yuill Referee of the Year award.

Full list of award winners:

Woollacott Medal – CJ Turnage (Norwood Flames)

NBL1 Central Men’s MVP – CJ Turnage (Norwood Flames)

Halls Medal – Teige Morrell (Southern Tigers)

NBL1 Central Women’s MVP – Teige Morrell (Southern Tigers)

Men’s All-Star Five – Sam Daly (Sturt Sabres), Michael Harris (Forestville Eagles), Cameron Coleman (Southern Tigers), CJ Turnage (Norwood Flames), Greg Mays (Forestville Eagles)

Women’s All-Star Five – Morgan Yaeger (Southern Tigers), Ally Wilson (Norwood Flames), Sam Simons (Forestville Eagles), Olivia Thompson (South Adelaide Panthers), Teige Morrell (Southern Tigers)

Frank Angove Medal for U23 Men’s Player of the Year – Michael Harris (Forestville Eagles)

Merv Harris Medal for U23 Women’s Player of the Year – Sam Simons (Forestville Eagles)

Men’s Best Defensive Player – Cameron Coleman (Southern Tigers)

Women’s Best Defensive Player – Jess Good (North Adelaide Rockets)

Men’s Coach of the Year – Paul Rigoni (Sturt Sabres)

Women’s Coach of the Year – Matthew Clarke (Southern Tigers)

Phil Yuill Referee of the Year (men’s) – Vanessa Devlin

Phil Yuill Referee of the Year (women’s) – Danika Shepherd

Men’s Points Leader – Jack McVeigh (North Adelaide Rockets)

Women’s Points Leader – Olivia Thompson (South Adelaide Panthers)

Men’s Field Goal Percentage Leader – Daniel Webber (Norwood Flames)

Women’s Field Goal Percentage Leader – Teige Morrell (Southern Tigers)

Men’s Three-Point Percentage Leader – Jake Rios (Forestville Eagles)

Women’s Three-Point Percentage Leader – Jade Johnson (Sturt Sabres)

Men’s Free-Throw Percentage Leader – Jack McVeigh (North Adelaide Rockets)

Women’s Free-Throw Percentage Leader – Taylor Ortlepp (North Adelaide Rockets)

Men’s Offensive Rebounds Leader – Alex Starling (South Adelaide Panthers)

Women’s Offensive Rebounds Leader – Teige Morrell (Southern Tigers)

Men’s Defensive Rebounds Leader – Alex Starling (South Adelaide Panthers)

Women’s Defensive Rebounds Leader – Olivia Thompson (South Adelaide Panthers)

Men’s Rebounds Leader – Alex Starling (South Adelaide Panthers)

Women’s Rebounds Leader – Olivia Thompson (South Adelaide Panthers)

Men’s Assists Leader – Julian Jacobs (Woodville Warriors)

Women’s Assists Leader – Jordan Hunter (South Adelaide Panthers)

Men’s Steals Leader – Alex Starling (South Adelaide Panthers)

Women’s Steals Leader – Emily Winter (Woodville Warriors)

Men’s Blocks Leader – Joe Jackson (Woodville Warriors)

Women’s Blocks Leader – Jess Good (North Adelaide Rockets)