Cross-code superstar Conti wins the AFLW’s biggest award; Garner ‘officially invisible’

“[I had] just a great team around me … good people around me really helps and obviously, I’ve been challenged a lot this year and as the whole team as well,” she said.

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Conti, who thrives on being busy, said she would go crazy if she had to sit still. “I like to be go, go, go all the time. And I think that’s what makes me me… To go from one to the other keeps me going [and] that’s the way I like it.”

Conti finished with 23 of a possible 30 votes in the 10-round home-and-away season, ahead of Amy McDonald (Geelong), Chloe Molloy (Sydney), Ash Riddell (North Melbourne) and Claudia Whitfort (Gold Coast), who tied in second with 16.

For another year, North Melbourne star Jasmine Garner missed out on the league’s top gong.

Before Monday night, she had won almost every offer award available – a now six-time All-Australian, three-time club champion and three-time AFLPA champion player of year – but the prestigious best and fairest again eluded her. Her teammates, who were bewildered last year when she finished outside the top 10, would joke internally at the club that Garner needed to wear brighter-coloured boots so the umpires could see her. Garner averaged 29 disposals, 7.3 tackles and 6.6 clearances per game this season.

During the count, Essendon’s Jess Wuetschner was among the many clearly stumped by Garner’s result, tweeting simply: “Jas Garner officially invisible.”

Eight of the best for North’s inspirational leader

Earlier in the night, North Melbourne skipper Emma Kearney made her eighth consecutive All-Australian team – receiving the honour in every season in the AFLW’s history.

All that remains for the 34-year-old, who has won a flag and a league best-and-fairest award with the Western Bulldogs, is to lead the ’Roos to their maiden premiership.

Melbourne skipper and league leading goalkicker Kate Hore was named as All-Australian captain, while Essendon co-captain Bonnie Toogood was named as vice-captain in her first year in the side, named at centre-half forward.

The team had 11 first-timers, including 20-year-old Morphett, Crows Irish recruit Niamh Kelly, Crows star goalscorer Danielle Ponter and Lions winger Sophie Conway.

Seven players received back-to-back blazers in Chelsea Biddell, Conti, Garner, Hore, Kearney, Marinoff and Eilish Sheerin.

Ten teams were represented in the team with minor premiers the Crows with the most representation with four players named and the Lions, Swans and Kangaroos all with three.

Ally Anderson was recognised, after missed last year’s team despite taking out the league’s best and fairest award in that season, alongside Swans Laura Gardiner in her breakout season, young gun Charlie Rowbottom, consistent Tiger Conti and star Roo Riddell.

While the competition is not short of midfield stars, Prespakis sisters Georgie and Maddy and Crows Anne Hatchard were unlucky to miss out.

Rising Star

Second-year player GWS forward Zarlie Goldsworthy was crowned this year’s Rising Star after a breakout season in which she also earned the Gabrielle Trainor Medal.

The 19-year-old was also the Giants’ leading goalscorer and is the first GWS player to win the award across the men’s and women’s competition.

She kicked 13 goals in 10 games and averaged 18.3 disposals, 6.6 tackles and 2.9 score involvements a game.

Goldsworthy won the award with 41 votes ahead of Sydney’s Ally Morphett (40 votes), who was sidelined with a hand injury after round seven, West Coast Eagles’ Ella Roberts (23), Port Adelaide’s Matilda Scholz (13) and Hawthorn’s Jasmine Fleming (7 votes).

The mark of the year was taken out by Brisbane’s Courtney Hodder for her courageous grab running with the flight of the ball in round seven.

Richmond’s Caitlin Greiser won goal of the year.

Meanwhile, this Sunday’s AFLW grand final at Ikon Park sold out within hours of tickets going on sale on Monday, with the members tickets going on sale from 2pm, and 4pm for the general public. The capacity for the venue is 12,000.

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