Hawthorn star Eliza West has taken out the club’s best and fairest award in her first season in the brown and gold.
The vice-captain polled 68 votes across the 2024 season, while captain and 2023 winner Emily Bates came in second on 60 votes, followed by young gun Jasmine Fleming on 58 votes.
West’s win is the result of her outstanding efforts in an impressive debut season with the Hawks, appearing in every game in 2024.
The 27-year-old led the team in average disposals (21.9), contested possessions (14), handballs (13.8), ground ball gets (9.8), tackles (7.8) and clearances (5.6).
West was appointed as vice-captain ahead of the 2024 season, immediately earning the respect of her fellow teammates after joining the club in the off-season.
The maximum number of votes a player can poll is eight, which West received on two occasions – In Week 5 against Geelong (season-high 16 tackles, 24 disposals and seven clearances) and Week 6 against Gold Coast (23 disposals and a goal).
Fellow midfielder and captain Bates was named runner-up after another stellar year for the Hawks.
In her first season as captain, Bates led by example with an average of 21 disposals, 4.6 clearances and a total of five goals for the year.
The 29-year-old also polled eight votes on two occasions, with her best games coming in Week 7 against West Coast (two goals and eight clearances) and Week 8 against GWS, when she broke a Hawthorn AFLW record for disposals in a game with 34, which was also a career high.
Bates finished equal-fourth in the league best and fairest count, further validating her impressive season with the Hawks.
In third place was Fleming, marking her third consecutive podium finish, highlighting her consistency and excellence at just 20 years old.
Fleming averaged 18.6 disposals, 12.1 kicks, 4.4 inside 50s, 3.3 clearances and 1.8 bounces (23 total), as well as slotting her first career goal, with five total for the season.
Fleming’s best game came in the semi final clash with Port Adelaide, where she polled seven votes. She finished with a goal, 15 disposals, nine score involvements and a team-high four clearances.
Other award winners from the night saw Lucy Wales take out the World Class Award, Emily Everist was awarded the Competitor Award, Ainslie Kemp claimed the Unbreakable Award, Emily Bates and Jasmine Fleming tied for Best Player in Finals and Greta Bodey was named the Players Player.
2024 AFLW Best and Fairest Top 10
1 – Eliza West (68)
2 – Emily Bates (60)
3 – Jasmine Fleming (58)
4 – Tilly Lucas-Rodd (51)
5 – Jenna Richardson (49)
6 – Lucy Wales (48)
7 – Aileen Gilroy (46)
8 – Emily Everist (40)
9 – Aine McDonagh (39)
10 – Tamara Smith (38)
2024 AFLW club award winners
World Class Award – Lucy Wales
Competitor Award – Emily Everist
Unbreakable Award – Ainslie Kemp
Best Player in Finals – Emily Bates & Jasmine Fleming
Players player – Greta Bodey
Votes for the 2024 Hawthorn AFLW Best and Fairest were awarded by two groups after each home-and-away match; Senior Coach Daniel Webster and one card between line coaches Steph Binder, Keegan Brooksby & Mitch Cashion
A maximum of 8 votes can be accumulated by a player after the voting cards are submitted using the following grading system: One vote to players who played their role or beat their opponent, two votes for a significant influence on the game, three votes to the best player or players on the ground. A player or players may receive four votes for an exceptional game.
There is no restriction on the number of players who receive votes in a match. Votes are recorded across the home and away season and Finals.
