Shooters Cynna Neele and Catherine Cox scooped the major trophies at the Netball Australia Annual Awards dinner at Star City Casino in Sydney.

Melbourne Kestrels vice-captain Neele took out the Commonwealth Bank Trophy Most Valued Player award while Australian team vice-captain Cox from the Sydney Swifts won the Australian Team Player of the Year award.

The Australian coaching staff voted on a 3-2-1 basis after each of Australia's 12 Tests over the past year.

While 28-year-old Cox missed the three-Test series in New Zealand with an ankle injury, she was Australia's Player of the Series on its South African tour earlier in the year and won the same award for her efforts in the recently completed home series against the Silver Ferns.

She markedly improved her shooting percentage this year and was chosen as vice captain for the home series against New Zealand, captaining Australia in the second Test when regular skipper Liz Ellis was injured.

Neele was presented with a $10,000 Award Saver account from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Officials did not release the full points total, but it was believed Neele took the award ahead of Cox and another goal-scorer Sharelle McMahon.

When voting went under wraps with four rounds remaining, McMahon was leading Neele by two points with Cox another two behind.

Neele's award followed recognition in previous years as the National League's Best New Talent in 2000 and joint winner of the National League Players' Player award last year.

However, the depth of shooting talent in Australia meant 23-year-old Neele still couldn't crack a spot in the Team of the Year.

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• Aussies clinch S Africa netball series
• NRL's Carl Webb caught drink driving
• Duo shine in netball opening round
• NSW wins netball title
• Australia downs NZ in first netball Test
• Aussie netballers down South Africans
• Phoenix ends Swifts' winning streak
• Aussie netballers on top of the world
• Silver Ferns bounce back to level series
• Carlton stars Houlihan, Walker fined
• Netball boss celebrates 'perfect start'
• Record crowd for Swifts
• Thunderbirds thrash Kestrels by 30 goals
• Netballers for trans-Tasman league
• Sydney on top after downing Thunderbirds
• NZ scores emphatic netball win
• Record crowd watches netball thriller
• Hall named at the top again
• Port Macquarie to host City-Country
• Kiwis fired up after award dinner 'snub'
• Plummer eyes bench players to back win
• Snowsill named Athlete of the Year
• Neitz to be fined $5000
• Ponting named cricketer of the year
• McMahon and Ellis net top awards
• Mannering named Warriors' best in 2008
• Kings facing a royal rumble
• Aussies to face NZ in netball battle

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