Brisbane Lions player Emily Bates has taken out the AFLW’s highest honour, winning the best and fairest award for the 2022 season.
Bates received 21 votes for the award, coming in ahead of Adelaide’s Anne Hatchard, who received 20 votes, and Ebony Marinoff on 18 votes.
It is the second major award Bates has received this season, having already taken home to AFLCA champion player of the year award.
In her best and fairest acceptance speech, Bates paid tribute to her father who introduced her to football, and to the “sisterhood” of the Brisbane team, who helped her in the aftermath of her home flooding in Brisbane recently.
“The girls were straight away there to clean up the house and do what they could for our home which was ruined by the floods. Sisterhood is definitely what it feels like at the Lions and I love these girls like sisters,” she said.
“That’s what feels like has driven our success, that love for each other and care.”
She also talked about how she has looked up to the players who have won the award in previous years.
“I’ve always idolised the players who have won this award in the past, Erin (Phillips), (Emma) Kearney, Maddy (Prespakis) and (Bri) Davey and (Kiara) Bowers last year,” Bates said in her press conference.
“I’d be doing running sessions and thinking about Erin – ‘would she give up now? No, she wouldn’t’.
“I’ve always had these girls as inspirations. So the fact I was even in the conversation earlier this week was astounding to me, and the fact that I’ve won it is even more astounding.
“It’s pretty cool, but I don’t think it will sink in for a little while.”
The 2022 AFLW grand final, between Adelaide Crows and Melbourne, will be held at Adelaide Oval this Saturday, April 9.