AFLW: Georgie Prespakis wins Geelong best and fairest
Cats coach Dan Lowther has lauded star midfielder Georgie Prespakis after the 20-year-old sensation claimed her first club best and fairest award on Saturday night.
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Cats coach Dan Lowther has lauded star midfielder Georgie Prespakis after the 20-year-old sensation claimed her first club best and fairest award on Saturday night.
Prespakis became the youngest club best and fairest winner since Olivia Purcell claimed the award in 2020 as a 19 year old during Geelong’s second campaign in the AFLW.
Averaging 24.2 disposals, 7.2 tackles and 6.6 clearances per game, Prespakis polled 188 votes to win the award with a 25-vote lead over second-placed Nina Morrison.
Lowther said Prespakis had endured some frustrating struggles throughout the season as her reputation grew around the competition.
“As a young player coming into the league with a fair bit of hype around her and Maddy (Prespakis) being an exceptionally gifted player as well, the competition expected Georgie to come in and be the best player straight away,” he said.
“The thing about Georgie is that she wants to be the best player, she’s super competitive and she’s got players like Amy (McDonald) and Nina (Morrison) and Becky (Webster) and a whole raft of players in our group to support her and drive her.
“There’s been some frustrating times this season in particular, she works really closely with Josh (Finch) our midfield coach to get her craft right.
“She knows from week to week she’s going to be sat on by the best defending mid or the best player, and as much as it can frustrate her, her drive and passion for the game and her commitment to being the best player she can and the best teammate she can is only getting stronger.”
Across 13 games this season, Prespakis failed to reach the 20-disposal mark just three times, while also eclipsing 25 touches seven times, including a career-high 35 touches against Hawthorn in round 10.
She also had at least seven tackles in nine of her 13 games this season, including 13 in the semi final win over Melbourne.
Prespakis said she was excited to see the growth in the playing group this season, with the Cats now firmly in a premiership window.
“It’s honestly so exciting for what’s to come and to get a taste of that this season has been truly amazing,” she said.
“I’ve loved every bit of it.”
Rising Cat secures maiden best and fairest award
Rising AFLW star Georgie Prespakis has claimed her first Cats’ best and fairest award on Saturday night.
The 20-year-old midfielder enjoyed her best season in the hoops to date in 2023, averaging 24.2 disposals, 7.2 tackles and 6.6 clearances a game, and was an important part of the midfield, helping Geelong to its first-ever preliminary final.
Prespakis was the runner up in Season 7’s count to Amy McDonald, however her dominance this year helped her pip the three-time best-and-fairest winner.
The young gun polled 188 votes, 25 clear of Nina Morrison after a season that saw her rank equal third in the competition for average clearances (6.6), sixth for contested possessions (13.7) and equal seventh for ground ball gets (9).
Morrison enjoyed a stellar campaign as well and finished second in the count, claiming 163 votes, while McDonald polled 82 votes to finish third.
Morrison averaged a career-high 22.9 disposals and 4.8 clearances a game, turning into one of the competition’s dominant inside midfielders while also booting six goals for the season.
McDonald averaged 22.7 disposals per game (up on her career average of 21), 7.2 tackles and 5.8 clearances a game, while she also finished in a tie for second in the AFLW Best and Fairest award.
Defender Claudia Gunjaca’s breakthrough season was recognised, finishing fourth in the count on 69 votes, with Becky Webster finishing fifth on 53 votes.
In other awards on the night, Prespakis claimed her second consecutive Fan MVP award, while retiring Cat Renee Garing claimed the values-based Hoops Award.
Kate Darby also claimed her third Carter Family Community Champion award.
2023 Geelong Cats AFLW Best and Fairest Top 10
1. Georgie Prespakis – 188 votes
2. Nina Morrison – 163 votes
3. Amy McDonald – 82 votes
4. Claudia Gunjaca – 69 votes
5. Becky Webster – 53 votes
6. Jackie Parry – 50 votes
7. Aishling Moloney – 34 votes
8. Chloe Scheer – 23 votes
9. Chantel Emonson – 21 votes
10. Meghan McDonald – 19 votes
Originally published as AFLW: Georgie Prespakis wins Geelong best and fairest
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