Friday night’s AFLW Fairest and Best will celebrate the individual and collective achievements of Freo’s second season in the NAB AFL Women’s competition.
The awarding of Fremantle’s AFLW club champion highlights the evening, with the Players’ and Best Clubwoman Awards rounding out the night at Crown Ballroom.
Voting for the Fairest and Best Award takes place throughout the season, with four coaches allocating between zero and five votes for each player.
Below are some of the contenders to look out for.
Ebony Antonio
Antonio was the rock of Fremantle’s backline, putting up impressive stats and performances on the field while playing difficult roles on key opposition players and often sacrificing her own game for the sake of the team. Despite her role as a defender, Antonio was able to move forward and impact the scoreboard with three goals from her seven games. At the W Awards, Antonio was acknowledged for her outstanding 2018 season with her selection in the 2018 All Australian side.
Kara Donnellan
The Fremantle captain again goes in as one of the favourites with consistent performances in 2018. Donnellan played six of seven games in 2017 and finished runner-up, just one point behind Hooker, but has a full season working in her favour in 2018 after playing all seven games. Donnellan’s round three performance in Freo’s win against Melbourne will likely earn high votes from the coaches after the midfielder went head-to-head with star Demon Daisy Pearce and willed Freo over the line in a thriller.
Dana Hooker
The Fremantle midfielder is looking to go back-to-back after winning Fremantle’s inaugural AFLW club champion award in 2017. Hooker’s season in 2018 was arguably better, leading Freo for disposals while also impacting the scoreboard with the second-most goals for the club.
Hooker caught the attention of the umpires this season – in a good way – finishing joint-runner-up in the W Awards with nine votes from seven rounds, while she was also named in the 2018 All Australian side.
Hayley Miller
Hayley Miller starred in Freo’s round seven defeat of Carlton, despite coming back on the ground with what turned out to be a punctured lung after sustaining a heavy hit in the third term. The midfielder was one of Fremantle’s most consistent performers, which showed in the W Awards where she collected the second-most votes of any Freo player.
