AFLW 2023: Geelong star Amy McDonald believes Georgie Prespakis and Nina Morrison reserved All-Australian recognition

Geelong star Amy McDonald wasn’t just surprised with her own vote tally. She was also shocked to see her teammates miss out on recognition at the W Awards.

Amy McDonald in action. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Geelong star Amy McDonald believes her partners in crime Georgie Prespakis and Nina Morrison should have been named in the AFLW All-Australian side, saying the club was left “unrewarded” at the W Awards.

No Geelong players were named in the team despite their preliminary final berth and McDonald, who finished equal second in the AFLW best and fairest, didn’t make the cut for the 42-player All-Australian squad.

McDonald, 25, was shocked by the omissions of Prespakis and Morrison from the team and her own vote count, where she tallied 16 votes to tie with North Melbourne ball-magnet Ash Riddell, Sydney livewire Chloe Molloy and Gold Coast midfielder Claudia Whitford.

The three-time club best and fairest winner is honoured to be recognised among the top players in the competition but conceded she stole votes off Prespakis and Morrison at times, who she felt were more deserving.

She highlighted their round 10 win over Hawthorn in particular where she polled two votes for her 23 touches while Prespakis racked up 35 disposals and eight clearances yet didn’t receive a vote.

Amy McDonald believes her teammates were unlucky. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“I think Geelong as a whole went pretty unrewarded I guess throughout the awards period,” McDonald said.

“We came four points off making a grand final and didn’t have anyone in the All-Aus. I was expecting both of them to be in the team and yeah it was a huge shock but everyone sees everything differently and it is what it is I guess.

“A huge surprise (to finish second) and I think I stole quite a few of ‘Pres’ and Nina’s votes when they were probably pretty deserving.

“Probably don’t see myself fitting in with those top few in the competition, but I think it is probably a credit to our entire team and ‘Pres’ and ‘Nins’ probably went a little unrewarded within the vote count.

“(I was) sitting there on the night expecting a different name to come up so it was quite surprising but I’m extremely happy and proud of the achievement.”

McDonald had a level of disappointment after her all-Australian squad snub but said she isn’t fazed by outside opinions of her.

Asked if she feels underrated in the AFLW competition, McDonald said: “To be honest either myself as an individual or as Geelong as a team I actually think being an underdog and not seen as a threat or anything like that is actually a really great position to be in.”

“What is important to me is that I’m valued from my team and my teammates which I feel really comfortably placed within Geelong.

“Obviously there is a part of me that is a bit disappointed not to make it but it doesn’t spur me on anymore for the rest of the season.”

However, McDonald was surprised by the omission of defender Claudia Gunjaca, who ranked equal third for intercept marks this season.

She was beaming with pride for Irish sensation Aishling Moloney, though, who was recognised as the 2023 best first year player.

Amy McDonald celebrates with Aishling Moloney, who was named as best first year player. Picture: Getty Images

“I had (Gunjaca) in there as a lock … She was so reliable to either lock down a key forward or to read the play so well and get intercept possessions,” McDonald said.

“She would have been in my squad that’s for sure but we know how valuable she is as a player and that’s what is important this year.”

“(Moloney’s) probably been here for five months now and within our team she has added so much value to our forward line and on and off the field she is an incredible person.

“I’m so glad that she came to Geelong and I’m just so glad that she was recognised for that achievement because it was very well deserved.”

McDonald said the Cats are still licking their wounds after their heartbreaking loss to Brisbane in the preliminary final but said the silver lining was the enormous strides they made in 2023.

The Cats will spend this weekend together in the Geelong region to celebrate the campaign.

“It is still absolutely disappointing and I wish we were playing this weekend, but you can’t be disappointed with the season that we’ve had and the steps we’ve took forward as a group,” McDonald said.

Originally published as AFLW 2023: Geelong star Amy McDonald believes Georgie Prespakis and Nina Morrison reserved All-Australian recognition