West Coast Fever Jessica Anstiss was named rebel Rising Star for her important role in her sides first ever national league netball grand final appearance. The 21-year-old finished the regular season with 11 intercepts, 29 deflections, 83 centre pass receives and 42 goal assists. 

Anstiss performance in the Suncorp Super Netball season was awarded by being named in the Australian Diamonds 2018/19 squad.

St George Illawarra Dragons winger Jess Sergis also enjoyed a memorable year and was awarded the rebel Rookie of the Year. While injuries may have limited her game time earlier this year, Sergis starred in the inaugural NRL Women's Premiership with 12 tackles, scoring a try and saving two tries. 

Like Anstiss, her performance throughout the year earnt her a debut call-up to the Australian Jillaroos for their test match against New Zealand.

Anstiss and Sergis will be part of the rebel Mentor program alongside other winners Libby Birch (AFLW), Sophie Molineux (Cricket) and Jada Whyman (W-League), who were announced earlier this year. 

The rebel Mentor program recognises and rewards up and coming female athletes for their on-field performance, off-field attitude, demonstration of skill, tenacity and good sportsmanship and a drive to grow the game and inspire other young women to have a go.

As part of winning, each athlete is provided a mentor session with former Diamonds captain and rebel Ambassador Laura Geitz.

Birch and Molineux, who have both met with Laura recently, were excited to have the opportunity to talk to the recently retired netball star.

"Fundamentally, I see Laura and have always seen Laura as one of Australia’s leading women in sport," Birch said.

Birch, who plays for Western Bulldogs, only started playing Aussie Rules 22 months ago and before then was heavily involved in high level netball for Victoria.

"At 30, she is now everything that I can aspire to be," she said

"At 20, I am keen to be everything she has become and am already well on my own personal journey in my new sport."

Molineux earned her first international T20 call up in March this year during Australia's Tour of India and has been named as a member of the squad for the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 next month. 

The 20-year-old also made her One-Day International debut, where she took a wicket.

"I was really interested to find out how she started to feel comfortable in Australian colours and what I took away from it was to stay true to yourself, and confidence will come naturally over time with hard work and reward," she said.

Having been part of her WBBL team since the 2015/16 season, where she was just 17 at the time, she is now one of the leaders in the game.

"In terms of leadership, the main thing that stuck with me was that you need to be able to laugh at yourself, she said you can’t take yourself too seriously," Molineux said.

"I honestly walked away from seeing her in awe of how she goes about her life and how genuine she really is," she said.

2017 – 2018 Season Award Winners include:

AFLW – Libby Birch 
WBBL – Sophie Molineux
W-League – Jada Whyman
Suncorp Super Netball – Jessica Anstiss
NRL  Women’s Premiership  – Jess Sergis