Inaugural Carlton AFLW Best & Fairest Count
Cross-code Carlton star Brianna Davey has been recognised for her outstanding efforts throughout the 2017 AFLW season after being named the Club’s inaugural Best and Fairest winner. The defender finished this evening’s count on 53 votes, ahead of key defender Danielle Hardiman (31) and imposing ruckman Alison Downie (28) at the Blues’ AFLW Best and Fairest, an evening proudly presented by Anaconda. Across six games this season, the star defender averaged 19 disposals, nine handballs and 10 kicks. The 21-year-old is one of only a handful of female footballers that have played another sport at the highest level. Hailing from a soccer background, Davey joined the Matildas national squad as a goalkeeper, before signing with the Blues as a marquee player in 2016.
Senior coach Damien Keeping lauded the on-and-off field achievements of the versatile star. “Brianna has truly exceeded our expectations both on and off the field this season,” Keeping said. “Her dedication and commitment to the team is evident in everything she does and she is a very deserving winner of this inaugural award. We have high hopes for Brianna that she will continue to develop at the Club and continue to be a positive role model for those who come through the ranks - we know she will have a long career at the Carlton Football Club.”
Runner-up Danielle Hardiman trailed by 22 votes at the final count. The gun defender returned from an injury that interrupted the second half of her 2016 VFL campaign, to be taken by Carlton at pick 35 in the NAB AFLW National Draft. In 2017, the 22-year-old averaged 11 disposals, two marks and nine kicks.
Alison Downie placed third overall in the count with 28 votes. Her elite tap work throughout the 2017 season earned the ruckman a well-deserved inclusion in the 40-player squad for the inaugural AFLW All-Australian team. The 32-year-old averaged 13 hit-outs and seven disposals across the seven games throughout the season.
Rounding out the top 10 in the vote count was Katie Loynes (25) in fourth place, followed by Sarah Hosking (24), Kate Gillespie-Jones (20) in sixth, Tilly Lucas-Rodd (19), Breann Moody (18) and Lauren Arnell and Darcy Vescio tying for ninth (17).
Held at Luminare, South Melbourne on Monday evening, Chris Lude, General Manager of Anaconda, congratulated the Blues’ inaugural AFLW team. “Anaconda is thrilled to be partnering with the Carlton Football Club to help celebrate the inaugural AFLW Best and Fairest awards night,” Lude said. “Tonight is a celebration, not just of some of the best female athletes in the country, but of their passion, determination and dedication to their sport. “We extend our congratulations to all Carlton AFLW players on their groundbreaking achievements this season.”
In addition to taking home the AFLW Leading Goalkicker award at the W Awards, fan-favourite Darcy Vescio capped off her stellar season tonight after she was named the Club’s leading goalkicker. The forward managed 14 goals over the seven-week season, with four goals being collected in the season-opening victory against Collingwood at Ikon Park.
Twenty-year-old Breann Moody was named Carlton’s Most Improved Player, after being taken at pick 67 in the NAB AFLW National Draft. Standing at 180cm and proving to be a player on the rise, Moody bolstered the Blues’ ruck stocks with an average of 12 hit-outs over her 2017 campaign.
Co-vice-captain Madeline Keryk’s contributions both on and off the field were also recognised tonight as she took home the 'Blue Bloods’ award. Presented to the player that has made a significant contribution to the Carlton Football Club, Keryk was acknowledged for her dedication and living to the Club’s values consistently throughout the season.
Cross-code Carlton star Brianna Davey has been recognised for her outstanding efforts throughout the 2017 AFLW season after being named the Club’s inaugural Best and Fairest winner. The defender finished this evening’s count on 53 votes, ahead of key defender Danielle Hardiman (31) and imposing ruckman Alison Downie (28) at the Blues’ AFLW Best and Fairest, an evening proudly presented by Anaconda. Across six games this season, the star defender averaged 19 disposals, nine handballs and 10 kicks. The 21-year-old is one of only a handful of female footballers that have played another sport at the highest level. Hailing from a soccer background, Davey joined the Matildas national squad as a goalkeeper, before signing with the Blues as a marquee player in 2016.
Senior coach Damien Keeping lauded the on-and-off field achievements of the versatile star. “Brianna has truly exceeded our expectations both on and off the field this season,” Keeping said. “Her dedication and commitment to the team is evident in everything she does and she is a very deserving winner of this inaugural award. We have high hopes for Brianna that she will continue to develop at the Club and continue to be a positive role model for those who come through the ranks - we know she will have a long career at the Carlton Football Club.”
Runner-up Danielle Hardiman trailed by 22 votes at the final count. The gun defender returned from an injury that interrupted the second half of her 2016 VFL campaign, to be taken by Carlton at pick 35 in the NAB AFLW National Draft. In 2017, the 22-year-old averaged 11 disposals, two marks and nine kicks.
Alison Downie placed third overall in the count with 28 votes. Her elite tap work throughout the 2017 season earned the ruckman a well-deserved inclusion in the 40-player squad for the inaugural AFLW All-Australian team. The 32-year-old averaged 13 hit-outs and seven disposals across the seven games throughout the season.
Rounding out the top 10 in the vote count was Katie Loynes (25) in fourth place, followed by Sarah Hosking (24), Kate Gillespie-Jones (20) in sixth, Tilly Lucas-Rodd (19), Breann Moody (18) and Lauren Arnell and Darcy Vescio tying for ninth (17).
Held at Luminare, South Melbourne on Monday evening, Chris Lude, General Manager of Anaconda, congratulated the Blues’ inaugural AFLW team. “Anaconda is thrilled to be partnering with the Carlton Football Club to help celebrate the inaugural AFLW Best and Fairest awards night,” Lude said. “Tonight is a celebration, not just of some of the best female athletes in the country, but of their passion, determination and dedication to their sport. “We extend our congratulations to all Carlton AFLW players on their groundbreaking achievements this season.”
In addition to taking home the AFLW Leading Goalkicker award at the W Awards, fan-favourite Darcy Vescio capped off her stellar season tonight after she was named the Club’s leading goalkicker. The forward managed 14 goals over the seven-week season, with four goals being collected in the season-opening victory against Collingwood at Ikon Park.
Twenty-year-old Breann Moody was named Carlton’s Most Improved Player, after being taken at pick 67 in the NAB AFLW National Draft. Standing at 180cm and proving to be a player on the rise, Moody bolstered the Blues’ ruck stocks with an average of 12 hit-outs over her 2017 campaign.
Co-vice-captain Madeline Keryk’s contributions both on and off the field were also recognised tonight as she took home the 'Blue Bloods’ award. Presented to the player that has made a significant contribution to the Carlton Football Club, Keryk was acknowledged for her dedication and living to the Club’s values consistently throughout the season.
| Rank | Player | Votes |
| 1 | Brianna Davey | 53 |
| 2 | Danielle Hardiman | 31 |
| 3 | Alison Downie | 28 |
| 4 | Katie Loynes | 25 |
| 5 | Sarah Hosking | 24 |
| 6 | Kate Gillespie-Jones | 20 |
| 7 | Tilly Lucas-Rodd | 19 |
| 8 | Breann Moody | 18 |
| Eq. 9 | Lauren Arnell | 17 |
| Eq. 9 | Darcy Vescio | 17 |