AFLW Most Valuable Player: Monique Conti, Chelsea Randall, Eilish Sheerin make grand final selections
AFLW MVP, Monique Conti, Most Corageous Chelsea Randall and best first year player, Eilish Sheerin have made their grand final picks. Who have they tipped for the flag?
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Richmond star Monique Conti was rewarded for a dominant year on Wednesday night with the seventh season’s top player-voted gong as the AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player. With Chelsea Randall (Most Corageous) and Eilish Sheerin (Best First Year player), she sat down with Lauren Wood for a fast five questions.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR HIGHLIGHT OF THIS SEASON?
Monique Conti: Making finals. Cementing that spot and ticking off that finals box that we had in our sights was great. And the hot girl hot streak (of seven-straight wins).
Chelsea Randall: Watching our young teammates just take the game on. Playing for the first time, just that energy that they bring, it’s infectious and reminds you of how special this game is. The smiles on their faces and watch them take their game to the next level … I’m just stoked for their future.
Eilish Sheerin: Can’t go past the hot girl hot streak (when Richmond won seven games on the trot). We had a couple of close losses early in the season and we built it off great off-field connection and a great group of girls.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN THE GAME AT THE MOMENT THAT YOU WANT TO SEE ADDRESSED IN THE SHORT-TERM?
MC: It would be really nice to play on different grounds. Playing on Marvel Stadium would be great. We could play on bigger, better grounds some of the time, and I think that would bring more people to the game and lift our standard. Maybe lengthening quarters, too.
CR: I think our game is great. We’re forever evolving, that’s a given. There’s always things to review and try and do better. But it’s an exciting game and our fans are incredible. I just want to see this continue to keep developing.
ES: The grounds and having technology consistently across all grounds. There was a lot of games this season where upon review, they might have had different outcomes if we had that access to better facilities (like goal line technology). It would be great for the game.
WHAT IS THE IDEAL SEASON LENGTH AND TIME OF YEAR TO PLAY?
MC: I think we’ve got to play everyone in a season. I think it needs to be put wherever it fits that people will come and watch our games and that it can be on the TV.
CR: We’ve had an opportunity to trial it in this time frame and it will be really interesting to see what the data tells us. As athletes, we just love playing the game.
ES: We recognise that you need to build into (more games), you can’t just go from A to B without all the steps in between. It’s great to be out there.
WHERE DO YOU SEE THE COMPETITION IN 10 YEARS?
MC: Nothing but bigger and better than it is now. More people interested, more people watching, bigger fanbase, a higher level and growing just as fast as it’s been growing. Absolutely (I’ll still be playing). Will see how the body holds up.
CR: I might be on the couch watching it and enjoying a beer! With how quickly it’s evolved in seven seasons, to 18 teams, 540 players … and the talent and skill level is just going to get faster and more competitive than it already is, which is a scary thing.
ES: It’s going to be much, much improved and an amazing game. I’m looking forward to seeing when it’s there.
WHO IS YOUR GRAND FINAL AND BEST-ON-GROUND TIP?
MC: I think it’s whoever rocks up on the day. It’s heated, there’s pressure, there’s nerves. It could be anyone. You’ve got a lot of experienced players playing and it’s a matter of who turns up. I do think Melbourne may be just a little bit stronger. I reckon Paxy (Karen Paxman) or Hanksy (Tyla Hanks) if they win.
CR: They’ve been the two best teams throughout the season. It’s going to be a hot contest. I’m excited to watch it, but unsure who is going to win. There’s a few bloody good players out there to pick who’s going to shine on grand final day. Maybe some experienced players … whoever pulls it together on the day.
ES: I think Melbourne … but both amazing teams. Can’t go past Ally Anderson for best-on, can we, after Tuesday night?
Monique Conti scores players MVP day after W Award snub
Monique Conti’s shift from basketball to AFL Women’s has been franked by her peers with the Tiger crowned the players’ queen of the game.
The 22-year-old turned her focus to football from juggling WNBL and AFLW at the end of last year and capped her choice on Wednesday night with the seventh season’s top player-voted gong as the AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player.
But the Tiger midfielder stopped short of saying her move had been vindicated.
“I’m very honoured that my peers think I had a good season,” Conti said on Wednesday.
“It’s been a really successful season for the club, as well, and to have a really good collective around me definitely helps on-field with individual performance.
“It’s very special.
“You don’t really ever play for the individual stuff. It’s always good to be somewhat reconised no matter what in any field of life, really, so I guess so, but you really are playing for the team stuff.
“This is a bit of a cherry on top.”
Conti is the youngest winner of the award, edging out Kangaroos star Jasmine Garner and Western Bulldogs captain Ellie Blackburn for the prize.
All-Conquering Conti âš¡âš¡âš¡
— aflplayers (@AFLPlayers) November 23, 2022
At just 22 years of age, @RichmondWomens star midfielder Monique Conti stamped herself as the AFLW competition's best player in Season 7, winning plaudits from her peers to take home her maiden AFLW MVP Award, proudly presented by #Snafflepic.twitter.com/84bJH6Rnae
Adelaide skipper Chelsea Randall was recognised at the Melbourne event on Wednesday night with dual honours, voted the games best captain for the first time and named — for the fifth time — the game’s most courageous player.
And despite putting herself in the line of fire with her trademark tenacity, with a recent head knock sidelining her from the Crows’ semi-final, the 31-year-old won’t go changing.
“It’s an interesting style (I have),” she said.
“When I did my ACL in 2020, I thought, ‘gee, I need to start seriously thinking about how I attack this football and I need to maybe make sure I look after my body so I can keep playing for a little bit longer’.
“But when you’ve built such habits about how you see the ball and get the ball, it’s just the style of how I try to play my football and how you try to live your life.
“Courage is a really meaningful word to me — it’s probably one of my biggest values, having courage to take risks and embrace life’s challenges.”
Breakout Tiger Eilish Sheerin took out the best first year player nod — at 30 years of age, in what she said was a sign of what is achieveable.
It doesn’t matter where you come from, what walk of life or who you are,” Sheerin said.
“Just pursue what you want to pursue, and do it with a lot of heart, and it pays off.
“Doors don’t close.”
In a further boon to the Lions in the wake of Ally Anderson’s league best and fairest win, Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich was on Wednesday named the AFL Coaches’ Association AFLW coach of the year.
AFLW PLAYERS’ MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
1. Monique Conti
2. Jasmine Garner
3. Ellie Blackburn
4. Ebony Marinoff
5. Amy McDonald
MOST COURAGEOUS
1. Chelsea Randall
2. Kirsty Lamb
3. Kiara Bowers
4. Karen Paxman
5. Vaomua Laloifi
BEST CAPTAIN
1. Chelsea Randall
2. Daisy Pearce
3. Ellie Blackburn
4. Breanna Koenen
5. Katie Brennan and Meg McDonald
BEST FIRST YEAR PLAYER AWARD
1. Eilish Sheerin
2. Jasmine Fleming
3. Abbey Dowrick
4. Rylie Wilcox
5. Vikki Wall
AFLW award votes that baffled players, scrambled media plans
The absence of star Kangaroo Jasmine Garner from W Award voting has raised eyebrows in AFL Women’s circles, with the prolific midfielder failing to poll in games that were rated perfect by the coaches.
Garner, who won the AFLW coaches’ player of the year award after polling in every game of the season, finished outside the top 10 in the AFLW’s best-and-fairest after receiving zero votes from umpires in five games in which she starred.
Lions midfielder Ally Anderson was a shock winner of the award, finishing two votes ahead of Richmond’s Mon Conti, who also missed out on votes from the umpires in her 30-possession game against Carlton in round 8 when she was rated best on ground by both coaches.
Collingwood skipper Steph Chiocci expressed her shock at Garner being overlooked throughout the thrilling count, with the Kangaroo – who was named captain of the All-Australian team – not polling a vote until round 5 in the individual award.
“Is Jasmine Garner invisible in games, or am I (and many others) missing something???,” Chiocci tweeted from the event.
Hawthorn captain Tilly Lucas-Rodd said Garner “does the simple things too well”, while Saints tall Kate Shierlaw said the Roo “makes footy look way too easy”.
North Melbourne’s AFLW Twitter account had a suggestion for the star to garner more attention from the whistleblowers.
“Let’s get Jammin some fluoro boots for season eight,” the club wrote.
Is Jasmine Garner invisible in games or am I (and many others) missing something??? 🤯#AFLWAwards
— Steph Chiocci (@Steph_Chiocci) November 22, 2022
Round 4 and Jasmine Garner still doesn't have a vote. This medal now has no credibility. What a disgrace.
— Karen Lyon (@klioness) November 22, 2022
Garner polled a perfect 10 votes from the coaches in rounds 1 and 2 but, much to the shock of those in the room, she received no W Award votes in those games.
In rounds 3 and 4, Garner received six and four coaches’ votes respectively, but zero W Award votes.
Garner thanked her Roos teammates when she was named All-Australian captain for “allowing me to play the footy I do”.
The winner traditionally completes a full morning of media commitments the day after their victory. Such was the shock of Anderson’s win, breakfast TV slots had to be quickly shifted given they had been booked to occur in Melbourne.
Anderson and her teammates were not in the room for the count at Crown Palladium, staying in Brisbane and sipping soft drinks as they prepare for the grand final on Sunday against Melbourne.
Anderson joked that foregoing a “shoey” from her coach Craig Starcevich – who tipped into his dress shoes when fellow Lion Emily Bates saluted with the award earlier this year – was a small price to pay given the “ultimate” prize on offer on Sunday.
#WAward press conference vibes when the winner is interstate 💪ðŸ½ðŸ‘🼠https://t.co/KCux9BUlr0pic.twitter.com/sDbFkvToix
— Lauren Wood (@LaurenHeraldSun) November 22, 2022
As a Carlton fan… how did Mon Conti not get a vote in round 8? She changed the game & we couldn’t stop her out of the middle #AFLWAwards
— Brandon (@BrandonMcKay6) November 22, 2022
Lions shocks AFLW with thrilling win
Grand finalist Lion Ally Anderson kicked off her lead-in to the premiership decider in ultimate style, claiming the AFL Women’s league best-and-fairest medal.
The Brisbane midfield star — who was not named in the season seven All-Australian team — took honours in the count that went down to the final game, finished on 21 votes for the 10-game season, edging Tigers star Monique Conti (19) by two votes after taking three votes in the three final games of the season.
“I’m in disbelief right now. All the girls were more confident than I was … but I’m just really shocked, to be honest,” Anderson said. “I’m a bit lost for words.”
She was presented the medal by reigning award winner and Lions teammate Emily Bates, with the team staying in Brisbane for the event as Sunday’s grand final looms.
Previous winner Essendon Madison Prespakis and triple-premiership Crow Ebony Marinoff rounded out the top four.
It was a thrilling count.
Anderson, Greater Western Sydney ballwinner Alyce Parker, Essendon midfielder Madison Prespakis and triple-premiership Crow Ebony Marinoff were all tied into the final rounds, but it was Anderson’s blistering showings against Collingwood (26 disposals), Richmond (21 disposals) and Adelaide (15 disposals) that secured the victory.
Conti’s 30-disposal, five-clearance game against Carlton in Round 8 went unrewarded.
Two-time Lions best-and-fairest winner Anderson is hunting a second AFLW premiership on Sunday, when the Demons will travel to Brighton Homes Arena at Springfield.
“It’s definitely a big week, and this has made it even bigger, I guess,” Anderson said.
“I’ll have to move on pretty fast, because my main focus is the grand final.”
Anderson said it was “disappointing” for all players — including her — who didn’t earn All-Australian selection.
“At the end of the day, it didn’t really matter to me … (when I wasn’t selected) I thought I definitely won’t be up there with the votes,” she said.
“I had a consistent year and am surrounded by such great teammates.”
If anything, she thought her Lions teammates would all pinch votes off one another.
“I’m surprised I polled as well as I did in a team like we have,” she said.
“Everyone performs, people pop up this week. Someone else is a best on ground each game. I was surprised a few of the girls didn’t steal a few more votes. But pleasantly surprised.”
“Ally now adds the most prestigious individual honour — the AFLW best-and-fairest award,” league chairman Richard Goyder said.
Anderson, 28, is a foundation player of the Lions who, born and bred in Brisbane, had grown up playing rugby league.
But her path in AFLW well and truly shifted where her heart lies.
“I like it way better than rugby league now,” Anderson laughed.
“(Football) has taken me to a place that I never thought I would be, including up here.”
There was no “shoey” like last season from coach Craig Starcevich — there is a bigger prize on offer this weekend.
“The real dangler (medal is) at the end of the week,” Anderson said.
“And that’s what we’re striving for.”
SEASON 7 MARK AND GOAL OF THE YEAR
At the W Awards at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium on Tuesday night, young Cats star Chloe Scheer was recognised with the mark of the year award and Gold Coast Suns forward Ashanti Bush with the goal of the year for her stunning snap against Greater Western Sydney.
Kearney 7th makes All-Australian history
Seven seasons, seven All-Australian nods.
North Melbourne skipper Emma Kearney has the complete set of AFL Women’s All-Australian selections after making history on Tuesday night as the only player to be selected in every edition of the team.
Kearney, who started work this week as a development coach in the Kangaroos’ men’s team program with senior coach Alastair Clarkson, was named in defence while her star teammate Jasmine Garner was anointed captain of the season seven outfit.
Garner’s glittering season earned perfect votes from the coaches in five games, averaging almost 23 disposals per game.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE 2022 AFLW SEASON 7 ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM
Adelaide and Brisbane had the most representatives with Crows Chelsea Biddell, Anne Hatchard, Ebony Marinoff and captain Chelsea Randall all picked alongside Lions Breanna Koenen, Jesse Wardlaw, Natalie Grider and Greta Bodey.
Bodey, Koenen — who was named vice-captain — and Wardlaw are All-Australians for the first time.
Teammate Grider went back-to-back with her selection.
Grand finalists Melbourne have Kate Hore and Olivia Purcell in the side.
The Lions hit the track at grand final venue Brighton Homes Arena for the first time on Monday night, christening the turf with Koenen — the team’s skipper — allowed to kick the first goal on the ground with a guard of honour formed by her teammates.
“Pretty special moment,” she wrote on social media.
Cats duo Georgie Prespakis — whose sister Maddy was also selected for a third time — and Chloe Scheer also earned nods alongside Amy McDonald who was named on the bench.
Richmond defender Eilish Sheerin capped a stellar debut season in the competition to be named at halfback after averaging more than 16 disposals per game and the highest metres gained of any selected player, while her retiring teammate Courtney Wakefield leaves the game with a bang, selected for the first time.
Carlton’s Breann Moody was selected as the competition’s premier ruck.
Moody said there had been discussion among players about getting the team on a field – floating the idea of an international rules game.
“I think that would be pretty cool, for sure,” she said.
“We were just talking backstage that it would be pretty cool to put it on a world stage.”
Power’s Ewings a rising star
One of the league’s newest teams has the game’s newest rising star, with Port Adelaide’s top draft pick Hannah Ewings named the best young player in the game.
Ewings, 18, is a top local talent who was jagged by the Power to slot straight into their midfield, playing every game in season seven.
Ewings was nominated in Round 3 and proved a shining light for Port Adelaide in a difficult first season in the competition.
Power coach Lauren Arnell said recently that the likes of Ewings and teammate Abbey Dowrick had created a great sense of optimism for the future at Alberton.
“Our list has 20 from our group of 30 who are all aged under 24,” Arnell said.
“And a very big percentage of this group are first-time AFLW players.
“The youth in our squad and the experience around them is what we are really excited about.”
Ewings claimed honours ahead of teammate Abbey Dowrick, capping a stellar year that included claiming a SANFL premiership.
“There’s a lot of great young women here that truly deserve to be here … it’s just a great feeling,” she said.
To be up here and being in this environment is just a dream come true.”
While the Power won just one game in its inaugural season, Ewings said the team took plenty from its first 10 games.
“We made a lot of core memories and really took a lot of positives out of it,” she said.
“It was great to be around these great women.”
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