If Lara Filocamo had pulled off a surprise best and fairest win at the inaugural W Awards, she would have been one of the last people in Australia to find out.
But it was still a shock for the registered nurse to wake up ahead of her night shift at Fiona Stanley Hospital to see a flood of text messages saying she’d placed fourth.
At one point, Filocamo was just one point behind eventual winner Erin Phillips after Filocamo polled in four straight games - including two best on ground performances against GWS and Collingwood.
In the end, Filocamo finished with nine votes from seven rounds – five back from winner Phillips and just one behind joint runner-ups Ellie Blackburn (Bulldogs) and Karen Paxman (Demons).
The midfielder was delighted to be recognised as one of the standouts in the inaugural season, but said she felt there was still room to improve.
“To wake up to all of these messages telling me I’d finished fourth…I was blown away!” Filocamo said.
“I guess it’s a good achievement for my first season, but I still don’t think I’m 100 per cent there yet, so to come fourth is a pretty good feeling.”
The recognition is both good news for Filocamo and Fremantle, with Filocamo feeling inspired to push for even more in season 2018.
“It gives me a lot of motivation actually,” Filocamo said.
“To be acknowledged that I’m up there with the big guns, I want to keep going and keep getting better, and hopefully give even more to my football.”
Filocamo will spend the off-season playing in the WAWFL for her local side the Coastal Titans, but admitted she was missing life in the AFL already.
“My highlight was just being around the team,” FIlocamo said.
“I love the team environment and I miss just going training at the moment.
“I miss the football club and just being around the team, that’s the biggest thing for me.”
