Georgie Prespakis has ended Amy McDonald’s stranglehold on the Geelong AFLW best-and-fairest after claiming the award for the first time tonight (Saturday).
The talented 20-year-old midfielder, capped a stunning season where she guided the Cats to within four points of a maiden grand final berth by going one better than Season 7.
On the back of averaging a career-high 24.2 disposals, Prespakis polled 184 of a possible 260 votes to win by 26 from Nina Morrison on 158.
Prespakis and Morrison were named in the All-Australian squad and were unlucky not to be named in the final team.
For Morrison, it was her best finish in a best-and-fairest after finishing fourth in Season 6 and third in 2020 and Season 7.
McDonald, Geelong’s highest vote-getter in the AFLW best-and-fairest, finished a third on 82 votes.
A breakout season from defender Claudia Gunjaca was recognised with a fourth-placed finish (67), with the ultra-consistent Becky Webster finishing fifth on 53 votes despite missing the opening three rounds through injury.
First-year Irish star Aishling Moloney’s impressive adaption to the Australian game was reflected in a seventh-place finish.
Prespakis also claimed her second consecutive Fan MVP award, the retiring Renee Garing took out the values-based Hoops Award, and veteran big Kate Darby won her third Carter Family Community Champion award.
Voting System
At the completion of each AFLW match, the senior coach awarded a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rating for the five best players by his estimation. The three AFLW line coaches were also required to award a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rating each to the best five players by their estimation. These ratings are then combined, with 20 votes being the maximum number any player can receive for an AFLW Round.
