Calder Cannons spearhead Chloe Molloy scoops TAC Cup Girls awards in premiership season

CHLOE Molloy was never going to settle for second best and it showed.

Chloe Molloy shows off her best and fairest and goalkicking awards. Picture: Jack Thomas.

CHLOE Molloy was never going to settle for second best and it showed.

The Calder Cannons spearhead was crowned the inaugural TAC Cup Girls best-and-fairest, finished as the competition’s leading goalkicker and led her side to a history-making premiership on Friday.

The 18-year-old, from Whittlesea, booted three goals as Calder romped to a 10.16 (76) to 2.1 (13) victory over Bendigo Pioneers to cap an unbeaten season.

“This is where I was setting my standards,” Molloy said.

“I hadn’t played footy before. This was my building block and if I was successful, that was the bare minimum of how I should play every game.”

Molloy, who has been a member of the Melbourne Boomers’ WNBL squad, has already been courted by AFL Women’s clubs.

Her stocks are certain to soar during the VFL Women’s campaign, where she will play for Diamond Creek.

“I have had one (AFLW club) contact me and you see all the coaches around the games,” she said.

“They’ve introduced themselves, but there hasn’t been any official contact. One club has really been making an effort with me, they’ve got their foot in the door first.”

Molloy said Calder’s success vindicated her decision to quit a burgeoning basketball career and pursue an AFLW future.

“It reassures me, this is what I have always wanted to do and I’m good at it,” she said.

Cannons coach Alicia Eva, Collingwood’s AFLW vice-captain, said Molloy had started the season as an unknown quantity before becoming one of the competition’s standout players.

“Chloe Molloy has already shown what she is capable of doing,” Eva said.

“When she came into the program we weren’t overly sure.

“We’d heard about her as someone who used to play footy but had given it away for basketball.

“Then she came in and to be awarded joint winner as best and fairest of the competition is pretty special for her.”

Chloe Molloy tries to shrug a tackle during Calder Cannons’ win over Bendigo on Friday. Picture: Jack Thomas.

Calder and Murray Bushrangers each finished the campaign undefeated, but the Cannons’ superior percentage — 412.75 — was enough to seal the premiership.

Molloy finished the season with 20 majors, eight clear of Murray’s Sophie Damon.

She also shared the TAC Cup Girls best-and-fairest award with Dandenong Stingrays’ Bridie Kennedy.

Molloy will jump straight into training for the VFL Women’s season on Tuesday night, with the Creekers’ Round 1 game against Seaford on Sunday, May 7.

Calder could have been further clear of the Pioneers at halftime in their Round 5 match, but recorded a wayward 2.10 to lead by 22 points at the main break.

The result was effectively sealed when the Cannons motored 43 points clear at three-quarter-time, led by Molloy, Sarah Dargan and Lauren Caruso.

Ruck Carla Rendelmann, defender Caitlyn Brown and forward Chloe Hodgson also performed well.

The TAC Cup Girls premiership was awarded to the team on top of the ladder at the end of a five-round season.