CO-CAPTAIN Eliza Wood has added another trophy to the cabinet.
Tonight has marked the end of the 2024 VFLW season, with plenty of fresh faces joining the Navy Blue this year. A youthful side put other experienced ones up to the challenge and held their own on multiple occasions.
Carlton co-captain Eliza Wood was named the 2024 Best and Fairest, polling a total of 96 votes during the home-and-away season. This was Wood’s fifth year with the Blues and her first serving as co-captain alongside Octavia Di Donato.
The 25-year-old was also named the Best Club Person, consistently keeping the team positive and on their feet when faced with difficult results.
Wood was on a roll between rounds 7 and 14, polling a near-perfect score in Round 7.
The Carlton skipper was part of an exclusive group that played in Rounds 12 and 13, which heavily featured AFLW-listed players, and this boosted her confidence knowing she could keep up with the calibre that is the AFLW.
Speaking of AFLW, Keeley Sherar was named joint runner-up Best and Fairest alongside Isla Baldwin. Sherar, who played in only seven out of 14 games, finished with 44 votes, with the midfielder consistently being one of the best on the field.
The 20-year-old opened her season with a bang, with a perfect 16 votes in the Round 1 victory over Geelong.
Another midfielder in Baldwin shared the honour with Sherar, bringing speed out of a contest and always having vision down the field.
This was followed by the third-placed Best and Fairest, which was awarded to the other skipper, Di Donato. The defender brings strong game smarts while providing vision downfield and the ability to get the ball to her teammates cleanly.
Di Donato racked up 38 votes, despite being absent for three rounds due to suspension.
In only her second year with the Blues, Izzy Khoury has taken out the Coaches Award after being named Rising Star at last year’s awards night.
The tackling machine of Carlton continued to improve throughout the year, both in defense and attack, making it hard to ignore Khoury's efforts this season.
Khoury isn’t afraid to look long at goal, especially in pressure moments. Her grit and determination on and off the field steer the team to success, building up confidence within the group to perform.
Baldwin was also named Best Young Player in a team full of youngsters. The 18-year-old midfielder averaged 16 disposals, four tackles, and two clearances in her debut VFLW season.
Baldwin’s best game was in Round 7 against Geelong, notching up 26 disposals, seven tackles, and six clearances.
2024 Best and Fairest award winners
VFLW Best and Fairest: Eliza Wood
VFLW Runner-Up Best and Fairest: Isla Baldwin and Keeley Sherar
VFLW Third Best and Fairest: Octavia Di Donato
Coaches Award: Izzy Khoury
Best Young Player: Isla Baldwin
Best Club Person: Eliza Wood
