Cross-code Carlton star Brianna Davey has tonight been recognised for her outstanding efforts throughout the 2017 AFLW season after being named the Club’s inaugural Best and Fairest winner.
The defender finished this evening’s count on 53 votes, ahead of key defender Danielle Hardiman (31) and imposing ruckman Alison Downie (28) at the Blues’ AFLW Best and Fairest, an evening proudly presented by Anaconda.
Across six games this season, the star defender averaged 19 disposals, nine handballs and 10 kicks. The 21-year-old is one of only a handful of female footballers that have played another sport at the highest level. Hailing from a soccer background, Davey joined the Matildas national squad as a goalkeeper, before signing with the Blues as a marquee player in 2016.
Senior coach Damien Keeping lauded the on-and-off field achievements of the versatile star.
“Brianna has truly exceeded our expectations both on and off the field this season,” Keeping said.
“Her dedication and commitment to the team is evident in everything she does and she is a very deserving winner of this inaugural award. We have high hopes for Brianna that she will continue to develop at the Club and continue to be a positive role model for those who come through the ranks - we know she will have a long career at the Carlton Football Club.”
Runner-up Hardiman trailed by 22 votes at the final count. The gun defender returned from an injury that interrupted the second half of her 2016 VFL campaign, to be taken by Carlton at pick 35 in the NAB AFLW National Draft. In 2017, the 22-year-old averaged 11 disposals, two marks and nine kicks.
Downie placed third overall in the count with 28 votes. Her elite tap work throughout the 2017 season earned the ruckman a well-deserved inclusion in the 40-player squad for the inaugural AFLW All-Australian team. The 32-year-old averaged 13 hit-outs and seven disposals across the seven games throughout the season.
Rounding out the top 10 in the vote count was Katie Loynes (25) in fourth place, followed by Sarah Hosking (24), Kate Gillespie-Jones (20) in sixth, Tilly Lucas-Rodd (19), Breann Moody (18) and Lauren Arnell and Darcy Vescio tying for ninth (17).
Held at Luminare, South Melbourne on Monday evening, Chris Lude, General Manager of Anaconda, congratulated the Blues’ inaugural AFLW team.
“Anaconda is thrilled to be partnering with the Carlton Football Club to help celebrate the inaugural AFLW Best and Fairest awards night,” Lude said.
“Tonight is a celebration, not just of some of the best female athletes in the country, but of their passion, determination and dedication to their sport.
“We extend our congratulations to all Carlton AFLW players on their groundbreaking achievements this season.”
In addition to taking home the AFLW Leading Goalkicker award at the W Awards, fan-favourite Darcy Vescio capped off her stellar season tonight after she was named the Club’s leading goalkicker. The forward managed 14 goals over the seven-week season, with four goals being collected in the season-opening victory against Collingwood at Ikon Park.
Twenty-year-old Breann Moody was named Carlton’s Most Improved Player, after being taken at pick 67 in the NAB AFLW National Draft. Standing at 180cm and proving to be a player on the rise, Moody bolstered the Blues’ ruck stocks with an average of 12 hit-outs over her 2017 campaign.
Co-vice-captain Madeline Keryk’s contributions both on and off the field were also recognised tonight as she took home the 'Blue Bloods’ award. Presented to the player that has made a significant contribution to the Carlton Football Club, Keryk was acknowledged for her dedication and living to the Club’s values consistently throughout the season.
CARLTON AFLW BEST AND FAIREST VOTING PROCEDURE
Four coaches (senior coach and three line coaches) have the opportunity to vote for as many players as they feel warrant a vote for each game on the following scale:
- 4 votes – outstanding performance
- 3 votes – excellent performance
- 2 votes – above expectation performance
- 1 vote – expected performance (trademark game)
A player therefore can receive a maximum of four votes from four coaches giving a maximum of 16 possible votes each round.
ROUND-BY-ROUND VOTES
Round 1: Carlton (46) def. Collingwood (11)
14 - Bri Davey
8 - Darcy Vescio, Danielle Hardiman
6 - Bianca Jakobsson
5 - Lauren Arnell, Laura Attard, Lauren Brazzale
4 - Katie Loynes, Kate Gillespie-Jones, Sarah Last, Nat Exon
3 - Maddie Keryk, Gab Pound, Shae Audley, Alison Downie
2 - Breann Moody, Tilly Lucas-Rodd
1 - Sarah Hosking
Round 2: Carlton (47) def. GWS (34)
10 - Bri Davey
8 - Danielle Hardiman
6 - Shae Audley, Katie Loynes
5 - Gab Pound
3 - Alison Downie, Bianca Jakobsson, Breann Moody, Lauren Brazzale
2 - Darcy Vescio, Rebecca Privitelli, Lauren Arnell, Nat Exon, Tilly Lucas-Rodd, Kate Shierlaw
1 - Kate Gillespie-Jones, Sarah Last, Sarah Hosking
Round 3: Adelaide (17) def. Carlton (14)
9 - Bri Davey
7 - Danielle Hardiman
4 - Maddie Keryk, Alison Downie
3 - Laura Attard, Breann Moody
2 - Katie Loynes
1 - Gab Pound, Lauren Arnell, Tilly Lucas-Rodd, Kate Shierlaw, Bianca Jakobsson
Round 4: Melbourne (42) def. Carlton (36)
8 - Sarah Hosking
5 - Tahni Nestor, Alison Downie
4 - Katie Loynes
3 - Maddie Keryk, Nat Exon, Breann Moody, Kate Shierlaw
2 - Danielle Hardiman, Bella Ayre
1 - Darcy Vescio, Rebecca Privitelli, Bianca Jakobsson
Round 5: Carlton (54) def. Western Bulldogs (48)
9 - Bri Davey
8 - Tilly Lucas-Rodd
7 - Sarah Hosking
6 - Kate Gillespie-Jones
5 - Alison Downie
4 - Breann Moody, Danielle Hardiman
3 - Katie Loynes, Darcy Vescio, Tahni Nestor, Bella Ayre
2 - Maddie Keryk, Lauren Brazzale, Laura Attard, Kate Shierlaw, Alison Brown, Lauren Arnell, Bianca Jakobsson
Round 6: Fremantle (43) def. Carlton (27)
5 - Bri Davey, Tilly Lucas-Rodd
4 - Lauren Arnell
3 - Alison Downie, Sarah Hosking
2 - Darcy Vescio, Katie Loynes, Breann Moody, Tahni Nestor, Danielle Hardiman
1 - Laura Attard, Shae Audley, Jordan Ivey
Round 7: Carlton (37) drew Brisbane (37)
9 - Kate Gillespie-Jones
6 - Bri Davey
5 - Jordan Ivey, Alison Downie
4 - Katie Loynes, Rebecca Privitelli, Sarah Hosking, Lauren Arnell
2 - Shae Audley
1 - Darcy Vescio, Maddie Keryk, Gab Pound, Breann Moody, Tilly Lucas-Rodd, Bianca Jakobsson
The Carlton Football Club wishes to congratulate its following AFLW award winners:
