Bakewell-Doran was named the Firebirds’ 2023 MVP at the Awards Gala dinner at Cloudland on Saturday.
The 24-year-old polled in 12 of the 14 matches to finish on 66 votes - eight clear of fellow Australian Diamonds international Donnell Wallam (58) in the overall tally.
Firebirds’ captain Kim Ravaillion (38) and first-year player Remi Kamo (33) rounded out the top four.
“Ruby has put in several sensational performances across the campaign to confirm her status as one of the leading defenders in Suncorp Super Netball,” Firebirds head coach Bec Bulley said.
“Ruby’s competitiveness, leadership, quick thinking and agility have made her a standout on the court as she impressively built on her breakout 2022 with another imposing season.”
An ever-present in the Firebirds’ 14 matches in 2023, Bakewell-Doran ended the season with 30 intercepts – the fourth-best individual tally in the league – as well as 52 deflections, 19 rebounds and 62 gains.
Her defensive partnership with Kamo also caught the eye across the season as the former ACU Brisbane North Cougars duo reunited at SSN level.
The Laura Geitz medal win wasn’t the only success for Bakewell-Doran at Saturday’s function, claiming the Members’ Player of the Year prize.
Wallam’s eye-catching 2023 performances weren’t unrewarded, with the star goal-shooter named Players’ Player of the Year.
In just her second season of SSN netball, Wallam scored 719 points including 619 one-point goals and 50 Suncorp Super Shots – her overall tally of 669 goals only bettered by West Coast Fever’s Jhaniele Fowler (872) on the league scoring charts.
She also beat Fowler’s 2020 record for most points by an individual in an SSN game when she scored 71 points in the First Nations Round triumph over the Melbourne Vixens.
Dynamic midcourter Macy Gardner, who broke into the team for her first SSN start before an unfortunate wrist injury curtailed her campaign, was commendably named the 2023 Spirit Award winner.
Queensland Firebirds 2023 Award Winners
Laura Geitz Medal/MVP: Ruby Bakewell-Doran
Players’ Player of the Year: Donnell Wallam
Members’ Player of the Year: Ruby Bakewell-Doran
Firebirds Spirit Award: Macy Gardner
Congratulations to our 2023 Firebirds debutantes:
Remi Kamo
Ash Unie
Emily Moore
Leesa Mi Mi
