The most prestigious honours in women’s footy are set to be handed out at tonight’s W Awards. Watch live on Fox Footy and Kayo from 7:30pm AEDT!
The league best and fairest award headlines the night, given out in the style of the Brownlow Medal with 3-2-1 voting by the umpires in every game.
Brisbane, who will face North Melbourne in Sunday’s Grand Final, have won the past two awards through Emily Bates (now at Hawthorn) and Ally Anderson.
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Other past winners include Kiara Bowers and Brianna Davey (2021), Maddy Prespakis (2020), Emma Kearney (2018) and Erin Phillips (2017 and 2019).
North Melbourne’s Jasmine Garner, Adelaide’s Ebony Marinoff and Richmond’s Monique Conti are among the favourites to take home this year’s award.
North Melbourne captain Emma Kearney claimed her eighth All-Australian blazer in eight seasons to top off a remarkable campaign ending in the Roos’ maiden Grand Final berth on Sunday.
Kearney’s selection streak has brought her equal with Gary Ablett Jr (2007-14) as the only men’s or women’s players to be picked for eight consecutive seasons.
But the inaugural Bulldog-turned-Kangaroo was not given the captaincy of the side, with Kate Hore chosen by the selectors after topping the league goalkicking in her first season as Melbourne skipper.
The side looked starkly different to the previous edition with only seven players backing up their selection in season seven: Kearney, Hore, Chelsea Biddell, Monique Conti, Jasmine Garner, Ebony Marinoff and Eilish Sheerin.
Garner and Marinoff claimed their sixth All-Australian gongs and were named on the ball along with 20-year-old Swans ruck Ally Morphett,
Minor premier Adelaide had the most players in the side with four, followed by Brisbane, North Melbourne and Sydney (three), with the Swans earning their first ever All-Australian blazers through Morphett, Laura Gardiner and star forward Chloe Molloy.
The All-Australian umpires were Joel Clamp (field), Adrian Pretorius (boundary) and Emilie Hill (goal).
RISING STAR A WORTHY WINNER
GWS livewire Zarlie Goldsworthy won the Rising Star award by a single vote from All-Australian ruck Ally Morphett after a stellar second season.
All nine judges gave their top two slots to Goldsworthy and Morphett, but the Giants midfielder-forward emerged the victor 41-40 with West Coast key forward Ella Roberts finishing third.
Goldsworthy became the first ever Giant to win the AFL or AFLW Rising Star after averaging 18 disposals, seven tackles and three score involvements over 10 games in a best and fairest season.
The 169cm forward, who was taken with the Giants’ first pick in the 2022 national draft, was nominated in round two after a resilient 18-disposal game in a heavy loss to Melbourne.
Still a teenager after playing her first season while finishing year 12, Goldsworthy was named in the All-Australian squad but missed selection in the final team.
The former young Matilda had high impact when used as a forward, booting five goals against Carlton in round 8 and also snagging a three-goal haul against West Coast.
New South Wales had another winner earlier in the night when Maroubra Saints coach Kellie Nolan claimed the BHP Community Coach of the Year award.
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