Richmond star Monique Conti wins AFLW best and fairest
Cross-code star Monique Conti has claimed the AFLW best and fairest in a boilover seven-vote victory one day after playing in the WNBL.
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Richmond midfielder Monique Conti has stormed to her first ever AFLW best and fairest medal in an emphatic result secured with two rounds remaining in the count.
The cross-code star spent her Sunday in Traralgon on court for the Melbourne Boomers in the WNBL, but on Monday was crowned the AFLW’s best player after bursting away early in the vote count with a series of dominant performances.
Conti, 23, sat atop the leaderboard for the entire night after surging away with an average 27 disposals and a goal per game over the first five rounds.
North Melbourne star Jasmine Garner was tipped to challenge Conti, but just like her dominant 2020 season could not attract the umpire’s attention and trailed the Tiger by nine votes after round 6.
Conti went on to win with 23 votes from a four-way tie for second on 16 votes, which included Garner’s teammate Ash Riddell, who again outpolled her fellow Roo despite Garner taking out the coaches’ association player of the year award last week.
Recruited to the Western Bulldogs ahead of the competition’s second season before joining Richmond for its inaugural campaign, Conti also claimed her fifth All-Australian blazer and could add to her haul of awards with the AFL Players’ Association MVP on Tuesday night.
Conti had the award sewn up by the end of round 8 after she was given three votes for her 35-disposal game against Hawthorn, moving seven votes clear of her nearest rival.
The mathematics were lost on the crowd at Crown Palladium, with little celebration from even the Tigers table until the result sunk in when the count resumed for the next round.
“I’m sweating right now and shaking … it’s amazing,” Conti said after being presented the medal.
“I was just sitting there trying to do the maths, and I had (Tigers captain) Katie Brennan staring at me the whole time which made me even more nervous.
“(I knew) I had a pretty good game, last game, we had an amazing win. I was so happy to finish on that (claiming three votes).”
Conti said while her body “sometimes doesn’t feel 23”, she had no plans to stop juggling both football and basketball.
She paid tribute to Richmond teammate and Bendigo Spirit basketballer Tessa Lavey as well as cross-code trailblazer Erin Phillips in her speech.
“I like to enjoy being on the go all the time, and I think that’s what makes me me. I wouldn’t be the same if I was sitting still, I go from one to the other to keep me going and that’s the way I like it,” she said.
“That’s what keeps me going, knowing that I can help create a path for young girls who are being told to choose between one sport or another.”
Roos captain continues stunning streak
North Melbourne captain Emma Kearney has claimed her eighth All-Australian blazer in eight seasons to top off a remarkable campaign which will end with the Roos’ maiden Grand Final berth on Sunday.
Kearney’s selection streak has brought her equal with Gary Ablett Jr (2007-14) as the only men’s or women’s players to be picked for eight consecutive seasons.
But the inaugural Bulldog-turned-Kangaroo was not given the captaincy of the side, with Kate Hore chosen by the selectors after topping the league goalkicking in her first season as Melbourne skipper.
The side looked starkly different to the previous edition with only seven players backing up their selection in season seven: Kearney, Hore, Chelsea Biddell, Monique Conti, Jasmine Garner, Ebony Marinoff and Eilish Sheerin.
Garner and Marinoff claimed their sixth All-Australian gongs and were named on the ball along with 20-year-old Swans ruck Ally Morphett,
Minor premier Adelaide had the most players in the side with four, followed by Brisbane, North Melbourne and Sydney (three), with the Swans earning their first ever All-Australian blazers through Morphett, Laura Gardiner and star forward Chloe Molloy.
The All-Australian umpires were Joel Clamp (field), Adrian Pretorius (boundary) and Emilie Hill (goal).
Rising Star a worthy winner
GWS livewire Zarlie Goldsworthy won the Rising Star award by a single vote from All-Australian ruck Ally Morphett after a stellar second season.
All nine judges gave their top two slots to Goldsworthy and Morphett, but the Giants midfielder-forward emerged the victor 41-40 with West Coast key forward Ella Roberts finishing third.
Goldsworthy became the first ever Giant to win the AFL or AFLW Rising Star after averaging 18 disposals, seven tackles and three score involvements over 10 games in a best and fairest season.
The 169cm forward, who was taken with the Giants’ first pick in the 2022 national draft, was nominated in round two after a resilient 18-disposal game in a heavy loss to Melbourne.
Still a teenager after playing her first season while finishing year 12, Goldsworthy was named in the All-Australian squad but missed selection in the final team.
The former young Matilda had high impact when used as a forward, booting five goals against Carlton in round 8 and also snagging a three-goal haul against West Coast.
New South Wales had another winner earlier in the night when Maroubra Saints coach Kellie Nolan claimed the BHP Community Coach of the Year award.
Originally published as Richmond star Monique Conti wins AFLW best and fairest
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