Ex-GWS AFLW midfielder Stephanie Walker is the Adelaide Footy League’s division one best and fairest winner
Stephanie Walker was plagued with injuries during her short stint with GWS. Two years later, she is the Adelaide Footy League Women’s best and fairest.
Adelaide University midfielder Stephanie Walker says having a former Crows AFLW assistant coach as the Blacks’ mentor this season is the catalyst behind her success.
Ex-Crows assistant Mark Moody took over the reins from Guy Ridgeway and under his guidance Walker took her game to a new level.
She claimed the Adelaide Footy League Women’s Dutschke Medal as the division one best and fairest player with 14 votes on Wednesday night.
The 25-year-old was named in the Blacks’ best in seven out of 11 matches and finished with 13 goals.
Walker, who featured with Woodville-West Torrens in its inaugural SANFLW season before rejoining the Blacks, is known for her run and carry and her ability to take the game on.
Her strong performance helped the Blacks finish top of the ladder with a 9-2 record.
“We had a new coach this year, so it was quite refreshing to get an outsider’s opinion on my game,” Walker, of Pooraka, says.
“I just needed some fresh eyes on my game and I played more in the midfield this year than forward, so that was new for me.
“I think this (the award) is more of a recognition of our team’s hard work and I’ve benefited from that as well.”
Originally from Tumut, a town in the Riverina region of NSW, Walker played for Sydney University and won the club’s best and fairest in 2014.
She was then recruited by GWS for its AFLW campaign in 2017 but only managed three matches, mainly through recurring shoulder complaints, and was delisted at the end of that year.
Walker moved to Adelaide at the beginning of last year and lined up in 11 games with the Blacks, including the grand final loss to Salisbury.
She says having a full season with without suffering any injuries made her fall back in love with footy and is likely to put her name up for October’s AFLW draft.
But for now she is preparing to lead the Blacks into a preliminary final against Salisbury at home on Sunday.
The winner will take on SMOSH West Lakes in the flag decider at Thebarton Oval on Sunday, September 8.
“I guess the medal-win puts me in good stead to put my name up for the (AFLW) draft this year,” Walker says.
“It’s the dream to play in the AFLW again, I’ve got a lot of work to do, but this is a good start.”