Australian Rules player Khobi Devine has been named Gunnedah’s 2024 Sports Person of the Year.

The Gunnedah Bulldogs AFL club member was presented the honour at Gunnedah’s Australia Day awards ceremony last week.

The award recognises a member of a sporting association within Gunnedah Shire for the last 12 months who has made a significant contribution to their sporting club or chosen sporting field.

In a club double for the Bulldogs club, Gunnedah’s Poochettes women’s side, captained by Khobi, was also named Senior Sports Team of the Year.

Khobi’s award nomination described her as an advocate for the growth of women’s, girls and junior football in Gunnedah.

She captained the Poochettes senior women’s AFL team to an exciting premiership win in a home grand final, was named in the north-west team of the year and was recognised as one of the top 10 best and fairest players in the zone.

Khobi was the first woman to achieve the milestone of playing 50 games for the Gunnedah Bulldogs. She is also heavily involved in both touch football and AFL in Gunnedah and is recognised as a reliable team member who goes above and beyond both on and off the field.

The Gunnedah Poochettes senior women’s AFL team represent Gunnedah in the North-West Australian Football League, and proudly achieved the 2023 North-West Women’s Premiership.

Its award nomination said the Poochettes features a playing squad of about 30 and provide a safe and inclusive place for women to come together and play AFL.

Khobi said the award came as a big surprise but one she was immensely proud to receive.

“The amount of sport we have in our community, there are so many deserving people of this award, so I was very honoured,” she said.

The captain spoke highly of the Gunnedah club’s achievements and said the award capped off a great season with hopes of more success to come in future years.

“It’s a nice little recognition for all the hard work,” she said.

List of Gunnedah’s 2024 Australia Day award winners: Gunnedah’s Australia Day awards 2024 – Gunnedah Times

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