Toast Congratulations Emily Bates - AFLW B&F!

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Emily Bates has taken out the AFLW best and fairest award, beating Anne Hatchard by a single vote.

Brisbane Lions vice-captain Bates, who was also named AFLCA champion player of the year, was tied with Hatchard with one round of votes to count.

However, Bates earned a maximum three votes from her final round while Hatchard had to settle for second place after earning two votes.

It was Hatchard's fellow Crow Ebony Marinoff who earned the three votes in Adelaide's final game to pip Hayley Miller to third spot.

"I'm just in shock really," Bates said.

"I know my name was being thrown around a little bit but that was a shock to me and this is obviously the greatest honour you could ever achieve."

Brisbane's Emily Bates wins nail-biting AFLW best and fairest by a single vote

Brisbane Lions' Emily Bates won a nailbiting best and fairest count by a single vote from Adelaide's Anne Hatchard.

www.abc.net.au

Great footage of the moment of her win embedded here:

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Latest breaking AFLW news from the official website of the Australian Football League.

www.womens.afl

 

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AFLW Latest Videos - AFL.com.au/aflw

Latest AFLW videos from the official website of the Australian Football League.

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[The Flying Belgian]

This probably won't get enough love, but a stellar achievement in a league where skills are improving every year. There's been a few stars of the inaugural season who haven't been able to grow their game, but for her to play 50 games and improve says a lot about her character and the club as a whole.

Photos: AFL Queensland

 

[Dalions]

Fantastic achievement and so deserving.
Well done Emily!

 

[Nuggo]

Awesome stuff. Lets celebrate with a shoey

 

[MSB ROYS]

What a great achievement!

 

[mpal6]

So Proud !!
Finally !!

 

[AFLQLD]

Such an impressive player.

She is an example of how far the womens game has come in a short time. To get to the very top now, you have to not just be a great athlete with some degree of football ability. Now you have to be a top quality football brain with all the natural, intuitive understanding of the game that is the equal of the men.

Her positioning at contests is first class and her awareness of time and space is excellent. She understands nuances of the game at a level of the best male players. Well deserved.

 

[LongLion]

Was not surprised she won it. Would have been disappointed if she missed out. Such sure hands. Family heartache to Brisbane floods: How Emily Bates became the AFLW's best

 

[FLVanLandingham]

Absolutely right, she is probably our smartest footy- brain. Close behind would be Bodey and Lutkins?

 

[Ceebee]

Wonderful achievement by a truly good footballer

 

[LionsMaw]

I'm very late to the party I know but CONGRATS BATESY!!!! Champion player at a great club. Our players should be getting more accolades than they do, we fly too successfully under the radar.

 

[LionsMaw]

Awesome stuff. Lets celebrate with a shoey

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