Fremantle’s nominees for the 2022 AFLW Most Valuable Player Awards have been revealed.
The nominations come as deserved recognition for the stellar seasons put together by players across the NAB AFL Women’s competition, with each Club’s nominees voted upon by their teammates.
Hayley Miller, Ebony Antonio and Kiara Bowers have been voted in as Fremantle’s nominees for the Most Valuable Player award, capping off impressive 2022 campaigns.
MVP NOMS 🎖
— Fremantle Dockers AFLW (@freodockersAFLW) April 4, 2022
Recognition for Ebony, Hayley and Kiara - voted by their teammates as our @AFLPlayers MVP Award nominees for season ‘22 👏 #foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/9UtJEPC2CP
Miller finished in the top ten of the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award and led the league in metres gained and finished in the top ten across the competition for most disposals, contested possessions, clearances, marks and inside 50s.
Despite only playing six out of 10 games in the regular season, reigning fairest and best winner Bowers also claimed a nomination, finishing second in tackles and top five in clearances across the league.
Antonio played all bar one game this season, and stood up for Fremantle in the big moments, particularly in front of the scoreboard.
The versatile winger has also been nominated for both Goal and Mark of the Year this season – a first in AFLW history.
Dana East has also been nominated as Fremantle’s Best First-Year Player, after an outstanding debut season in the Freo midfield, which also saw her earn a NAB AFLW Rising Star nomination in round nine against Melbourne.
Defender Ange Stannett has also been recognised, nominated as the Most Courageous player for Fremantle in 2022.
Stannett played every game this season, highlighted by a 21-disposal, 11 intercept and five-mark performance in Freo’s win over Gold Coast in round 10.
Miller has also been nominated for Best Captain to round out the MVP nominations.
Voting for the AFLW MVP, Most Courageous, Best First-Year Player and Best Captain awards is a two-stage process, with players nominating their teammates in stage one before selecting from a competition-wide field in stage two.
Players cannot vote for a player from their own club during stage two of the voting process.
The AFL Players’ Association will recognise the achievements of the award winners with a special collaboration with Channel 7 program Front Bar on Wednesday 6 April.