A brilliant 69-37 victory ensured the second-placed Lightning retained their two-point buffer over Geelong Cougars on the championship ladder, with three rounds still to be played before finals.

It completed a memorable night for Gisborne's Stewart, who was chaired off the court by her team-mates following another sterling performance in her 150th game for the club.

Ever the team player, the BFNL's 2018 Betty Thompson medallist was more thrilled to emerge with such an important victory over a potential Victorian Netball League finals rival.

Not that her magnificent milestone by any means went unnoticed or unrecognised by those closest to her.

"It kind of crept up on me and I just treated it like any other game that I wanted to win, but the girls, both from Gizzy and from Melbourne Uni and my family made it very special. It was very nice," she said.

"There was no crowd allowed, but mum and dad were allowed to come, which was extra nice.

"The Gizzy girls put together a nice video for me, which was so special and they got a big teddy with a Gisborne jumper on it as well, with a bottle of fake tan with it.

"I did get a nice carry-off at the end of the game, so I'm glad the girls are nice and strong and could hold me up."

Stewart, who is enjoying another standout season with both Gisborne in the BFNL and Melbourne University, is in her 10th VNL season with the Lightning.

She started with the club as a 15-year-old in 2012 in the 19-and-under grade, before graduating to division one in 2014 and championship grade a year later.

Stewart, an automatic selection in BFNL representative teams across the years, considers her status as a one-club player in both the VNL and BFNL as a badge of honour.

"I am very lucky to have pretty much played at two clubs my whole life and kind of grown up at them," she said.

"I've had so many opportunities through MU and met some really special people; played with some awesome people and been coached by some equally awesome people.

"It's been fun. The girls that I have met have kept me going each year.

"And I love the challenge. The training environment is so good and the competition is great. It's just special."

A deep and versatile Lightning roster in 2021 has afforded Stewart plenty of opportunities away from her usual role deep in defence at either wing defence or centre, roles she has relished.

"It's something a bit different; I really like attacking," she said.

"We've got some awesome defenders, so that gives me the chance to mix it up."

Stewart praised the support early in her career of Bendigo and Victorian netball identity Melissa Ryan for initially getting her to the Lightning and being a 'fabulous mentor' in her first few seasons at the club.

While the individual accolades and milestones have come frequently for Stewart during her stellar career, it's the team ones that she rates the highest.

Gisborne's stirring BNFL premiership win in 2013 - the club's first and only in the BFNL at A-grade level - and the Lightning's 2016 VNL championship win are the moments she has cherished most in netball.

With the BFNL Bulldogs sitting in third spot behind Sandhurst and Kangaroo Flat on the BFNL ladder and the Lightning second behind City West Falcons, Stewart is well placed to again be able to challenge for premiership honours.

"The BFNL, like VNL, has been a very stop-start year, but hopefully we finish in that top three," she said.

"We've been a bit disappointed with the results in a couple of the games against Sandhurst and Flat, although we know we can take it to the top teams, it's just getting it right on the day.

"We're really looking forward to the next few rounds and then starting finals.

"With Lightning, we've lost two close games recently (v City West Falcons by nine-goals and Boroondara Express by two), but we're happy with how we came out of the couple of weeks off on Wednesday night.

"It was a big win - we only beat them by four last time, but in fairness, they had a couple of players missing last night with commitments and injuries.

"It was still a really good performance."

VNL finals are scheduled to start on August 18.

Melbourne University Lightning president Lindy Murphy was full of praise for Stewart, in particular, her leadership qualities.

"Maddy is just such a bubbly, positive, hard-working young lady and has just been a shining light in our club, the way she welcomes new players," she said.

"It hasn't always come easy for Maddy, there were a couple of years when she first made it into the championship team that she did spend a lot of time on the bench.

"But she just kept working, listening to what her coaches said to her and taking every opportunity she was given.

"She is now our club captain and has been for the last two years, she's won a championship MVP - there's not much she hasn't achieved in our club.

"It's a credit to her and her family, she's just such a delightful person to have in our team."

READ MORE:

2013: Gisborne survives fightback to win first BFNL A-grade flag

Gisborne star wins Betty Thompson Medal

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