AFLW Awards 2024: Ebony Marinoff wins best and fairest and MVP, All-Australian team named, Matilda Scholz cleans up
Crows superstar Ebony Marinoff has put the AFLW on notice after taking out this year’s B&F and AFLWPA MVP in declaring her competitive drive will continue to push her to new heights.
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Legend has it that Ebony Marinoff once kicked six goals in a quarter against her own Under-9s Lockleys side after being forced to play for the opposition to even out numbers.
The newly-crowned best and fairest winner added an AFL Players Association’s MVP gong on Tuesday night, one day after claiming her first B&F.
Adelaide co-captain Ebony Marinoff added the 2024 Most Valuable Player to her trophy cabinet. Voted by her peers as the competition’s best, Marinoff joins legends Erin Phillips (2017 and 2019) and Andrew McLeod (2001) in Crows players being named as the MVP for a season. In addition to the main award, Marinoff also was named as the best captain by players on Tuesday night.
The scariest thing for her rivals? She wants to get even better.
“I don’t think I’ve met anyone more driven than myself,” Marinoff said of her competitive instinct.
“I’m a competitor. I love to win.
“Growing up with my brother, he’s two years older than me, and everything was always a competition. If you ask my teammates, no matter what training session it is or what we’re doing, I’m always wanting to win.
“I’ll have to get to work more than I probably ever have before. That’s a challenge that I’m going to love and thrive on.
“I’m never satisfied and I won’t be complacent. It’s always daunting but it’s a challenge that I’ll happily accept.
“Win at all costs, that’s who I am.”
Ebony Marinoff take a bow! https://t.co/1N5zSiYZHipic.twitter.com/KtuOlfrnDg
— Adelaide Crows AFLW (@CrowsAFLW) September 29, 2024
At 27 years old, Marinoff is already a seven-time All Australian, three-time premiership player, two-time Crows club champion, AFLW Rising Star and games record holder.
A W Medal was the only accolade missing from Marinoff’s illustrious resume.
Now, she’s arguably the most accomplished player in the competition after pipping North Melbourne’s Ash Riddell by three votes, becoming just the second Crow to claim the top gong after dual winner Erin Phillips.
But it’s clear where Marinoff would rather be – at home preparing for another grand final after an 18-point loss to Brisbane 48 hours earlier marked Adelaide’s third preliminary final loss in a row.
“To win as many premierships as I can,” Marinoff said when asked about her career aspirations.
The moment Ebony Marinoff becomes the AFLW Best and Fairest â¤ï¸#AFLWAwardspic.twitter.com/aJt06FgYSg
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) November 25, 2024
“It’s why I play. It’s what drives me.
“It’s so nice to have. I think when you reflect on your career, to be in that calibre of players is awesome.
“But I would much rather be in Adelaide without this medal fighting it out for a premiership cup because that’s why we play. To be standing in the same spot is bitterly disappointing and we need to get better.
“I’ve felt that feeling and there’s nothing better. It’s special but there’s no way you’d ever trade anything for that success.”
Marinoff partied long into the night with her teammates, finishing up at around 5am to give herself one hour of sleep before her media commitments began.
The 2024 AFLCA champion player of the year has tipped North Melbourne to take out Saturday’s AFLW grand final against Brisbane.
In the other awards on Tuesday night, Marinoff’s teammate Chelsea Randall was named as the Most Courageous Player, her sixth time she had won the award. This equals the record held by North Melbourne great Glenn Archer in the mid-2000s. Rounding off the SA dominance was Port Adelaide young gun Shineah Goody taking home the Best First-Year Player Award. The gun midfielder beat Essendon’s Amy Gaylor and Collingwood’s Lucille Cronin to the award after an impressive first season for the rapidly rising Power.
AFLW AWARDS WRAP: MARINOFF CROWNED THE QUEEN OF AFLW
— Ed Bourke
Adelaide star Ebony Marinoff made it clear she would rather be at home preparing for another grand final.
But the star midfielder’s “head down, bum up” approach to her stellar AFLW career finally earnt her a maiden league best and fairest as she pipped North Melbourne’s Ash Riddell in a nail biting vote count.
Marinoff was crowned the AFLW’s champion player on Monday night with 23 votes to Riddell’s 20, becoming the second Crow to claim the top gong after dual winner Erin Phillips.
The 27-year-old polled three, three and two votes consecutively in a blistering start to the count, but narrowly trailed Ash Riddell after six rounds before coming back to claim victory.
As expected, the star Kangaroos double-act of Riddell and Jasmine Garner were again their own worst enemies on the league’s night of nights, with Garner – despite managing only 10 votes – outpolling Riddell in the final rounds to ensure victory for Marinoff.
AFL boss Andrew Dillon had to pause the count during round 5 when the perpetually overlooked Garner finally polled her first votes, prompting a wave of prolonged cheers from across the room at Crown Palladium.
Marinoff acknowledged both Garner and Riddell for their fantastic seasons, but pointed out she had a similar vote-pinching arrangement with teammate Anne Hatchard.
“One day Jassy (Garner) will be up here, and Ash (Riddell) you had an amazing year,” Marinoff said after accepting the medal.
“To go into battle with the best, that’s what I love doing.”
The Adelaide product from the inner-west suburb of Lockleys, who joined the Crows as a foundation player, thanked her family and friends – particularly her mum for allowing her to switch from netball to football as a kid.
“I played netball how I played footy … too many contacts,” she said.
“I’m a proud South Australian, to be able to play for the club I support and be there for the success … for the crew watching back home, I wish you could be here, because I’m sure we’ll party hard with Hannah (Mungard) winning goal of the year as well.”
Marinoff, who also earnt a seventh All-Australian blazer after averaging a career-high 31 disposals, 12 tackles and seven clearances in 2024, was open in her disappointment at the Crows losing to Brisbane in their preliminary final 48 hours earlier.
“To be standing up here is not where I want to be, I want to be back in Adelaide preparing for a grand final, so I’m envious of Brisbane and North Melbourne for sure,” she said.
“You’re proud, but you’re disappointed. Make sure that we grind away in the off-season, because you don’t play to be up here, you play to win premierships.
“I think (the medal) just goes to hard work. I’m a really competitive person and I have incredible drive to get the best out of myself, both on and off the field. Head down, bump up, get to work.”
Madi Prespakis, Emily Bates and reigning winner Monique Conti finished equal third with 18 votes, with Prespakis and Bombers teammate Georgia Nanscawen (17) the big surprises of the count as they consistently stood out for the 2024 finalists.
NEXT GEN TAKES OVER AA SIDE
Star midfielders Jasmine Garner and Ebony Marinoff continued their stranglehold on AFLW All-Australian selection as both were named in the side for a seventh time on Monday.
Only eight players retained their spots from 2023 as last year’s league best and fairest Monique Conti was the biggest name to be overlooked following a quieter season.
Hawthorn midfielders Eliza West and Emily Bates were also overlooked despite their roles in taking the Hawks to second on the ladder with a 10-1 record.
Kangaroos vice-captain Garner was named skipper of the side for the second time after receiving the same honour in 2022 season seven, while Crows co-captain Marinoff was named her deputy.
The pair joined Roos captain Emma Kearney (eight All-Australian blazers) as the only AFLW players to be named in the side on seven occasions.
Irish trio Aisling McCarthy, Aishling Moloney and Aileen Gilroy were named on the half-forward line after their superb campaigns, as they were among 12 players to receive All-Australian selection for the first time.
One of those was 20-year-old West Coast star Ella Roberts, who was the youngest member of the side after a terrific season averaging 21 disposals, five marks and six tackles.
Adelaide and Brisbane were the leading clubs with four players named, while North Melbourne and Fremantle had three.
Preliminary final side Port Adelaide was snubbed with all three of its nominations overlooked, as the selectors decided not to name Matilda Scholz as a second ruck option behind Fremantle star Mim Strom.
PORT YOUNG GUN’S RAPID ASCENT CONTINUES
Port Adelaide ruck Matilda Scholz has finished her brilliant second season on a high after taking home both the AFLW Rising Star and mark of the year awards on Monday night.
The Power’s youth-driven surge from 15th in 2023 to a preliminary final was reflected with Scholz (57 votes) being closely tailed by teammate Shineah Goody (48) in the Rising Star voting.
There was daylight between the Port duo and third-placed Essendon defender Amy Gaylor (26 votes), who was followed by fellow interceptors Lucy Cronin (Collingwood) and Beth Schilling (West Coast).
It made Scholz Port Adelaide’s second Rising Star winner in three seasons after inactive midfielder Hannah Ewings took the accolade in 2022 season seven.
Scholz, 19, won mark of the year for her soaring overhead mark against Collingwood in round 7, which she followed with an important goal to put her side 13 points clear close to three-quarter time.
It would have narrowly edged Hawthorn youngster Mattea Breed’s effort against Melbourne in Cairns, while Geelong’s Rachel Kearns had the other nomination for her mark in the final round of the season.
Adelaide forward Hannah Munyard’s stunning banana finish from the boundary against St Kilda in round 6 was awarded goal of the year over fellow contenders Gemma Houghton (Port Adelaide) and Deanna Berry (Western Bulldogs).
Munyard received $50,000 from NAB with a further $10,000 donated to her former Mt Barker Football Club, while Scholz won two million Velocity points from Virgin Australia.
Fremantle’s Madi Scanlon won the first AFLW-only Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award, which is now given to a women’s player as well as being presented to a men’s player at the Brownlow Medal.
Scanlon was recognised for her work as a sporting mentor at the Melaleuca Women’s Prison as well as being a surf instructor at Ocean Heroes, which works with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
“On behalf of the AFL I would like to congratulate Madi for receiving the 2024 Jim Stynes
Community Leadership Award – Madi should feel very proud of the positive impact she’s
having in the community,” AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said.
“Her work as a volunteer surf instructor for Ocean Heroes also helps children on the
autism spectrum participate in organised sport in a safe and inclusive environment,
which is vital for all young children to have that opportunity.
“We are lucky to have so many amazing people playing our game, and I would like to
recognise and acknowledge all our finalists – Darcy (Vescio), Chloe (Dalton) and Bella (Eddey) – for the commitment and passion they have dedicated to their charities and initiatives.”
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Originally published as AFLW Awards 2024: Ebony Marinoff wins best and fairest and MVP, All-Australian team named, Matilda Scholz cleans up
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