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Geelong midfielder Amy McDonald has been named Geelong’s 2021 AFLW Best & Fairest winner at tonight’s count at GMHBA Stadium.
McDonald was the clear winner, polling 71 votes ahead of Meghan McDonald (36 votes) and Becky Webster (34 votes).
Hailing from Ballarat, McDonald was selected at pick 80 in the 2019 AFLW draft, following a standout VFLW season with Geelong where she was named in the VFLW Team of the Year.
In her second AFLW season, McDonald played all nine games, averaging 20 disposals and seven tackles.
McDonald’s versatility has seen her alternate between playing halfback, wing and inside mid over her 15-game career and it was her consistency in season 2021 that saw her stand out.
Geelong AFLW coach Paul Hood congratulated McDonald on her outstanding season.
“Amy worked really hard throughout winter last year to improve her skills and fitness. Her outstanding training ethic has played a big part in getting her to where she is today,” Hood said.
“Her confidence has grown significantly over the course of her two seasons of AFLW and she now has the belief in her ability to influence games.
“Amy is tenacious in her attack on the football; her great tackle pressure sees her win the ball. She is improving rapidly but still far from reaching her eventual ceiling.”
In her first year as captain, Meghan McDonald finished runner-up in this year’s count. A dependable defender in the Cats’ backline this season, McDonald led from the front in all nine games and was named in the AFLW All-Australian squad of 40 earlier this week.
Becky Webster finished in third position after a breakout third AFLW season. The 20-year-old collected a season-high 24 disposals in Round 4 against St Kilda, and averaged 15 disposals across the season.
AFLW Best & Fairest – Top 5
1st Amy McDonald (71 votes)
2nd Meghan McDonald (36 votes)
3rd Becky Webster (34 votes)
= 4th Renee Garing (25 votes)
= 4th Olivia Purcell (25 votes)
Voting system
At the completion of each AFLW match, the senior AFLW coach awarded a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rating for the 5 best players. The 3 AFLW line coaches are also required to award a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 to the 5 best players for each match. These two ratings are combined to give each player an aggregate score out of 30 for that AFLW round.
The ‘Hoops’ Award: Georgie Rankin
Georgie Rankin is the recipient of the 2021 ‘Hoops’ Award. Georgie has a genuine care for her teammates, coaches and staff and radiates a positive energy amongst the group. Her generous nature sees her regularly giving back to the community through club programs and initiatives.
The ‘Hoops’ award is voted by players, AFLW staff and coaches and is awarded to the player making a values-based contribution to the club, in line with the criteria for the men’s Tom Harley award.
Carter Family Community Champion Award: Renee Garing & Steph Williams
Renee Garing and Steph Williams are joint winners of the Carter Family Community Champion Award for 2021. Both Renee and Steph are worthy recipients of the award after providing outstanding commitment to community across the season.
Throughout the past year, Renee has continued her stellar work as a club Just Think ambassador and volunteer for the Pretty Foundation, Salvation Army and Fight Cancer Foundation.
Renee also volunteers her time for initiatives like Barwon Health Foundation’s Virtual Run 4 Geelong event. She always seeks opportunities to give back where she can.
In her first year at the club, Steph has been quick to embrace the opportunity AFLW affords her to give back to the community. She was the face of the AFLW Cats’ first Djilang Game, working alongside the club’s community and marketing teams, along with the AFL, to promote the inaugural AFLW Indigenous Round and the Cats’ guernsey.
Steph took the opportunity that week, and at other times, to educate players and staff from her personal experiences and stories, and attended Geelong Art Gallery storytelling of Corrina Eccles. Soon after being drafted, Steph took Geelong Cats merchandise back to share with the community of Belyuen in the Northern Territory.
The Carter Family Community Champion Award is presented to the players that have provided outstanding commitment to community, both for the Geelong Cats and/or via relationships and engagement with community-based organisations, programs, campaigns and initiatives.
