Norwood’s Canberra recruit Najwa Allen wins 2019 SANFLW best and fairest after a standout season
Norwood star midfielder Najwa Allen proves to be a cut above the rest taking out the SANFLW best and fairest along with other accolades at an awards ceremony on Tuesday night.
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Norwood midfielder Najwa Allen capped a stunning inaugural SANFLW season after being crowned the competition’s best and fairest on Tuesday night.
Allen, who was recruited from Canberra during the off-season, averaged 25.4 touches, five marks and three clearances, while also booting seven goals across 10 minor rounds.
The 24-year-old, who also featured with GWS in the NSW/ACT women’s winter series last year, polled 17 votes to claim the accolade during an awards ceremony at Adelaide Oval.
She edged out Redlegs teammates Monique Hollick (14) and fellow Canberra recruit Hannah Dunn (13)
Allen also claimed the SANFLW’s coach’s trophy with 68 votes – 20 ahead of North Adelaide co-captain Nadia von Bertouch.
Allen said she was shocked to have been recognised so highly.
“I am elated and extremely surprised,” Allen said.
“I wasn’t ready for that but I am extremely grateful.
“It’s funny because me and Hannah (Dunn) who also moved from Canberra were watching Norwood’s videos on Facebook and we were like ‘the standard is so good, are we even going to play footy?’
“Thankfully we got to play but the standard is really good here.
“It’s great to play good footy and the girls (at Norwood) are outstanding footy players but also good people.
“There’s a really good vibe at Norwood, it’s brilliant.”
Allen starred in the minor round but suffered a knee injury in the semi-final loss to South Adelaide a fortnight ago.
She watched the Redlegs’ heartbreaking two-point loss to North Adelaide in the preliminary final at Norwood Oval last Friday night from the sidelines.
“It was horrible but I felt like (not playing) was the right decision.
“It just comes down to who turns up on the night and that was North Adelaide and they deserve to be playing in the grand final.”
Allen played soccer as a youngster despite her father Bryant hailing from New Zealand and being a mad rugby fan.
Her mother, Fadwa, is Palestinian and didn’t know anything about Australian football when Allen started playing with Canberra’s East-lake Demons four years ago.
Allen plans to remain in Adelaide during the off-season to get her knee right before lining up with Port Adelaide in a couple of showcase matches against the Crows later this year.
Sturt, North Adelaide, Glenelg and Central District prospects will form a Crows squad, while West Adelaide, South Adelaide, Norwood and Eagles’ best talent will represent Port Adelaide.
In other awards, North’s Kelly Barltrop won the leading goal kicker gong after finishing with 26 majors from 10 minor rounds, while 17-year-old South forward Teah Charlton was named the competition’s rising star.
