Jasmine Fleming, Tahlia Fellows, Tamara Smith, Tamara Luke, Aileen Gilroy, Akec Makur Chuot and Ainslie Kemp have all taken home club awards at the inaugural Hawthorn AFLW best and fairest count.
Jasmine Fleming fittingly won the club’s Rising Star award.
The 18-year-old showed skills well beyond her years this season, with her bursts of speed, powerful kicking and composure all stand-out features of her game.
In her debut AFLW campaign, the classy midfielder averaged 14.4 disposals, 4.3 tackles and 3.2 clearances.
Her best performance came in Round 4 against the Western Bulldogs, recording a career-high 25 disposals in wet conditions at Box Hill City Oval.
The following round saw her earn a NAB AFLW Rising Star nomination for her 16 disposals and 10 tackles in Hawthorn’s inaugural AFLW win.
Tahlia Fellows was named Hawthorn’s Most Improved player following a breakout debut season in the brown and gold.
Coming into the season as the reigning VFLW Debbie Lee Rising Star Medallist, the 22-year-old took her game to the next level, with her lightning pace a key feature of her game.
The clever forward burst onto the scene in Hawthorn’s inaugural win over Sydney in Round 5, booting three goals in just her third AFLW game.
Overall, she kicked six majors in her eight games to go with averages of 5.8 disposals and 2.8 tackles.
Tamara Smith was awarded the team’s Most Courageous Player.
Smith played every game in her debut season and was known for her trademark tackling and pressure.
She ended the season with the record for the most tackles (83) of any player in their debut AFLW season.
The 22-year-old also finished fifth in the competition for tackles to go with an average of 10.3 disposals.
Tamara Luke was awarded the AFLW Club Person of the Year.
Despite her season being cruelly cut short by injury, Luke lived out the Hawks values and gold standards throughout her rehabilitation program.
An inaugural AFLW leadership group member, the talented ruck/ forward continued to display leadership qualities on the sidelines, assisting in the coaches’ box and attending training sessions despite not being able to train with the main group.
Aileen Gilroy was voted in by her peers as the club’s inaugural Gold Standards Award winner.
The 29-year-old held herself to incredibly high standards throughout the season and led by example with her work rate, determination and competitiveness.
Coming across to the Hawks as a defender, Gilroy excelled on the field in a number of roles, including up forward and in the midfield.
Playing all 10 games this season, Gilroy averaged 12.3 disposals to go with 5.3 tackles and 3.5 inside 50s, ranking in the competition’s top 20 for that statistic.
Akec Makur Chuot kicked the Goal of the Year in Round 8 against GWS.
The star defender-turned-winger ventured up forward in a moment of brilliance. Tucked up against the boundary, Makur Chuot danced around her opponent before threading the needle for her first goal in Hawks colours.
Ainslie Kemp took the Mark of the Year in Round 9 against the Brisbane Lions.
The defender intercepted a Lions kick out of defence with an almighty leap into the side of the pack.
Going back with composure, Kemp gave the Frankston crowd something to cheer about under Saturday night lights.
See the full list of award winners below.
Rising Star: Jasmine Fleming
Most Improved: Tahlia Fellows
Most Courageous: Tamara Smith
AFLW Club Person of the Year: Tamara Luke
Gold Standards Award: Aileen Gilroy
Goal of the Year: Akec Makur Chuot
Mark of the Year: Ainslie Kemp
