Reigning NSW Swifts MVP Grace Whyte has capped off a standout 2026 season by taking home the Marilyn Melhuish OAM Medal at the Netball NSW’s State Dinner on Saturday night.
The Medal is awarded to NSW’s best Super Netball player in each season, with players recognised for the most consistent, outstanding performances across the year, using a 3-2-1 voting system.
Whyte’s win comes in her first full-time Super Netball season. The Tumut product joined the QBE Swifts Academy in 2022, became a training partner in 2023 and was the Swifts’ 11th player in 2025 before earning her full-time contract for 2026.
Whyte said winning this award was a nice surprise to cap off her first full season of Super Netball.
“A goal for me as a player is finding consistency. I think in my first official season, I just wanted to go out and have fun and see how I went,” she said
“To be recognised by my peers on my consistency is really meaningful.”
The 21-year-old specialist attacker was also named the Swifts’ Most Valuable Player and Members’ Player at the Club’s presentation night in June.
“It’s an absolute privilege to be recognised. I feel like I’ve aspired to be a part of the New South Wales pathways system for as long as I can remember,” Whyte said.
“From watching my big sisters play, to being selected for a State Titles team myself, to Premier League and even state level teams.
“I feel like I’ve been on the journey here from the start and to receive this award within this organisation is just an absolute honour.”
Swifts Head Coach Dylan Nexhip said that it came as no surprise that Whyte was nominated by her peers for such a prestigious award.
Marilyn Melhuish OAM has made a significant and lasting contribution to netball at district, state, national and international level for over fifty years.
Over the past decade, Melhuish has continued to be a proud advocate of netball across all facets of the game, providing support and mentoring where needed.
She was inducted into the Netball NSW Hall of Fame in 2014.
