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Suns AFLW: Our predictions for the 2020 Club Champion awards including best and fairest, players’ player and player of the finals

Tonight the Gold Coast Suns are set to host the first ever AFLW Club Champion event after their season came to an end in March following a historic first finals appearance for the club. To celebrate the occasion, we’ve looked into our crystal ball and predicted who will win each of the major awards.

IT’S the Suns’ night of nights, albeit it will look a little different than usual.

Tonight the Gold Coast Suns are set to host the first ever AFLW Club Champion event after their season came to an end in March following a historic first finals appearance for the club.

Due to social-distancing restrictions, the Suns will be hosting the event over Zoom with players to attend from their homes.

The AFLW players will still dress up for the occasion to celebrate what was a momentous debut season for the club.

Seven awards will be presented at the event, including the inaugural AFLW Club Champion award, which was voted on by the coaching panel after each game.

To celebrate the occasion, we’ve looked into our crystal ball and predicted who will win each of the major awards.

All will be revealed tonight.

HOWARTH NAMED ALL-AUSTRALIAN

Club Champion

When it comes to champions, look no further than Jamie Stanton. The midfielder took her game to yet another level in 2020. Chalking up her 30th AFLW game in their semi-final against Fremantle, Stanton consistently starred and led the Suns in disposals, metres gained, contested possessions, clearances, kicks, score involvements and inside 50s. And considering the Club Champion is decided on by coaches, Stanton’s 9th place finish in the AFL coaches association award tally, the highest of any Sun, is a fair indication of how highly the head coach rates her impact.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 29: Jamie Stanton of the Suns kicks the ball during the round four AFLW match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Gold Coast Suns at Arden Street Oval on February 29, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/ via Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 29: Jamie Stanton of the Suns kicks the ball during the round four AFLW match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Gold Coast Suns at Arden Street Oval on February 29, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/ via Getty Images)

WHY SUNS WERE LUCKY TO LOSE MONSTER CLASH

Club Champion Runner-Up

While we’re pretty confident Stanton will take out top spot, the battle for runner-up is a little more complicated. Jade Pregelj, Kate Surman and Kalinda Howarth all make strong cases but we’re going to go with Howarth because her ability to break open a game is unrivalled. The All-Australian emerged as one of the league’s most prodigious talents and finished the season with nine goals (5th overall in the AFLW and 1st for the Suns).

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Kalinda Howarth of the Suns kicks the ball during the 2020 AFLW Round 06 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Gold Coast Suns at Mineral Resources Park on March 15, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Kalinda Howarth of the Suns kicks the ball during the 2020 AFLW Round 06 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Gold Coast Suns at Mineral Resources Park on March 15, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Players’ Player

Best and fairests always seem to favour midfielders but we’d be very surprised to see Jade Pregelj walk away from 2020 without some individual recognition. The defender looked right at home at AFLW level and led the AFLW in intercept possessions with 55. She was nominated by teammates for the AFL Players Association ‘Most Courageous’ gong which demonstrates how highly her teammates rate her impact.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 15: Jade Pregelj of the Suns in action during the round 2 AFLW match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Richmond Tigers at Metricon Stadium on February 15, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 15: Jade Pregelj of the Suns in action during the round 2 AFLW match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Richmond Tigers at Metricon Stadium on February 15, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

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Player of the Finals

We’d much rather celebrate a cohesive team performance but unfortunately, a daunting travel schedule completely exhausted the Suns by the time they got to Perth to face Fremantle. A 70-point drumming provided a lot of lessons to be learned ahead of next year but up against hardened bodies, Jacqui Yorston is our player of the finals. The midfielder battled tirelessly all day to finish with 22 disposals and three tackles in a polished performance.

Jacqui Yorston (left) of the Suns tackles Gabby Collingwood (right) of the Lions during the Round 3 AFLW match between the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, Saturday, February 22, 2020 (AAP Image/Darren England)
Jacqui Yorston (left) of the Suns tackles Gabby Collingwood (right) of the Lions during the Round 3 AFLW match between the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, Saturday, February 22, 2020 (AAP Image/Darren England)

Coach’s Award presented

Head coach David Lake loves what every single one of his players brings to the team so we’re predicting this was one of the harder awards to pick. However don’t be surprised to see midfielder Hannah Dunn recognised. The 28-year-old had to work harder than most to earn her chance at the top level after debuting for GWS three years ago, but she thrived in 2020 as a tough contested midfielder.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 15: Hannah Dunn of the Suns in action during the round 2 AFLW match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Richmond Tigers at Metricon Stadium on February 15, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 15: Hannah Dunn of the Suns in action during the round 2 AFLW match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Richmond Tigers at Metricon Stadium on February 15, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES ROLL IN FOR SUNS YOUNG GUNS

Most Professional

When you look up professionalism in the dictionary, you’re met with a picture of Tirana Ernst. In the off-season, the premiership-winning Bulldog managed a move to Queensland, a move to the midfield and a role in the leadership group all while delivery babies as a doctor in Brisbane. Ever diligent, you can always trust Doc to get the best out of herself.

Tiarna Ernst. Suns AFLW players at all-in media day. Pic Tim Marsden
Tiarna Ernst. Suns AFLW players at all-in media day. Pic Tim Marsden

Member’s AFLW Player of the Year

We’re giving this one to Howarth. After a quiet start to the season, the 20-year-old had a breakout game against her former side the Brisbane Lions and ended the season with a maiden All-Australian berth. Should be the first of many but Howarth’s electricity and brilliance around goal make us think she captured the hearts and minds of members.

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/afl/suns-aflw-our-predictions-for-the-2020-club-champion-awards-including-best-and-fairest-players-player-and-player-of-the-finals/news-story/9abbaed8dc54711a8a8cf65a154d003d