Hicks went into the final round tied of the count on 25 votes with Newbridge’s Amy Jackman.

The Maroons had the bye in the final round, so Hicks only needed one vote to clinch victory.

She did so when she polled one vote in the Superoos’ win over YCW.

Hicks, nee Spence, previously won the award in 2009 and 2012 and she was runner-up in 2013.

It was an outstanding effort considering it was her first season back from having her first child.

Hicks didn’t poll in the first three rounds, but burst to the lead when she polled 21 votes in eight games between rounds four and 11.

With four rounds to go Hicks led Newbridge pair Jane King and Jackman by five and six votes respectively.

King only polled one more vote to finish third on 21 votes, while Jackman tied things up when she polled back-to-back threes in rounds 15 and 16.

However, it was Hicks who had the final say in the last round.

A-grade netball leaderboard:

26 – Laura Hicks (Mitiamo), 25 – Amy Jackman (Newbridge), 21 – Jane King (Newbridge), 18 – Megan Bagnall (Marong), 17 – Teigan Redwood (Calivil United), 17 – Megan Jennings (Newbridge), 16 – Georgia Wills (Calivil United), 15 – Tahnee Cannon (Marong), 13 – Meg Allen (Bridgewater).

Lower grade awards were also announced on Monday night.

In the reserves football award, Bridgewater’s Brian Westley polled 16 votes to win by five from team-mate Cameron Hayes, YCW’s Rory Lowe, Calivil’s Walter Miller and Bridgewater’s Mark Oxley.

Inglewood’s Cade Cohalan polled 25 votes to win the under-18 football best and fairest by three votes from Bridgewater’s Peter Rothacker.

In the B-grade netball, Newbridge’s Sharlene Hanning polled 26 votes to defeat Mitiamo’s Lauren Knight on 21.

Bridgewater’s Jessica Rushton was named the best player in C-grade. She polled 23 votes, three clear of YCW’s Abbey Conway.

Mitiamo’s Jenny Morrison won a thrilling C-reserve count. Morrison edged out team-mate Meghan Ginnvian by two votes.

Inglewood’s Charlotte Edlin dominated the 17-and-under netball award.

Edlin polled 29 votes to finish five clear of Bridgewater’s Breana Merrin.

There was a three-way tie in the 15-and-under netball count.

Mitiamo’s Jasmine Condliffe, Calivil United’s Rylee Gallagher and Newbridge’s Shelby Webster all polled 26 votes.

Calivil’s Jessica Demeo was next best on 23 votes.

Bridgewater was rewarded for its consistency on the footy field and netball court when it won the LVFNL champion club award.

The netball rising star award was a tie between YCW’s Stephanie Donnellon and Pyramid Hill’s Megan Gunther.

Marong’s Justin Bateson won the football rising star trophy. Harding Medal winner Zeb Broadbent also won the El-Vee Award.

All award winners will receive with their trophies at the LVFNL presentation night next Monday.