Bakewell-Doran was unveiled as the club’s Most Valuable Player at the annual Firebirds Awards held in Brisbane on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old, who passed the 50-game milestone during the 2025 season, polled votes in 12 of the 14 matches to finish on 54 votes overall – just two ahead of last year’s Laura Geitz Medallist Macy Gardner (52).
It’s Bakewell-Doran’s second time being named Firebirds MVP after taking out the honour in 2023.
Vice-captain Lara Dunkley (39) finished third in the voting for the second year running, polling 30 votes in the final four matches of the season to highlight her strong finish to the campaign.
Bakewell-Doran was the vote leader throughout, racking up 29 votes in the opening five rounds of the season while Gardner’s consistency led to her polling in 13 of 14 matches.
Tuesday’s function, held at The Warehouse in Brisbane, also featured the induction of NQ past President and Legacy Life Member June Bothwell AM to the Queensland Netball Hall of Fame.
Bothwell, who passed in 2023, was recognised for an involvement in Queensland netball that spanned decades and included coaching Western Districts Netball Association to multiple A-Grade premierships and holding positions on the WDNA and Netball Queensland Executive Committees.
Gardner’s impressive season was acknowledged with the midcourter receiving the Members’ Player of the Year while Dunkley was awarded the Players’ Player of the Year.
Hulita Veve was a popular winner of the Kierra Trompf Firebirds Spirit Award as determined by Firebirds management.
Queensland Firebirds 2025 Award Winners
Laura Geitz Medal MVP: Ruby Bakewell-Doran
Players’ Player of the Year: Lara Dunkley
Members’ Player of the Year: Macy Gardner
Kierra Trompf Firebirds Spirit Award: Hulita Veve
Congratulations to our 2025 Firebirds debutantes:
Imogen Allison (Firebird No.114)
Mary Cholhok (Firebird No.115)
Ash Barnett (Firebird No.116)
Elsa Sif Sandholt (Firebird No.117)
Dani Taylor (Firebird No.118)
