A brilliant seven-game stint in the VFLW has seen young Geelong midfielder Laura Gardiner named as one of two Cats in the 2022 rebel VFLW Team of the Year.
Gardiner was named at rover in the honourary team, while then VFLW-listed Cat Paige Sheppard was named on the bench at Monday's 2022 VFL and VFLW Awards.
Gardiner, 19, had a breakthrough season, smashing the league disposals record when she notched up an astounding 49 possessions against Port Melbourne in Round 10.
The record came in a season where she averaged nearly 35 disposals a game in an extraordinary run as the Cats went on to make finals for the second year running.
Despite only playing half the season between AFLW commitments, Gardiner's outstanding form was enough to see her named in the followers division in the team of the year. It follows on from the teenager finishing runner-up in the Cats' VFLW best and fairest award for the season.
It is the second season in a row Gardiner has made the team, after being named on a wing in the 2021 edition.
Sheppard, who won the Cats' best and fairest award this year, was also named in the team of the year, following another strong season, which culminated in her being selected by AFLW expansion team Sydney as an open-age recruit in their inaugural season.
The star onballer averaged 22.2 disposals and 6.5 tackles a game this year, continuing on the strong trajectory from an impressive 2021 season.
