Star Richmond midfielder Monique Conti has been crowned Richmond’s best and fairest player for a second consecutive season.
Conti polled 16 votes to hold off a fast-finishing Katie Brennan (15) and ultra-consistent Ellie McKenzie (15) at tonight’s Richmond AFLW Best and Fairest presentation.
The top-accolade is the 21-year-old's third consecutive AFLW club best and fairest award. The Tigers' No. 4 also won a premiership and best-on-ground medal in her debut season at the Western Bulldogs, marking a decorated four years in the league.
Conti averaged an impressive 22.3 disposals this year, receiving maximum votes from the coaching staff in four of her eight games.
Key defenders Harriet Cordner (14 votes) and Bec Miller (13) rounded out the top five after career-best seasons.
In other awards, captain Katie Brennan was noted for her outstanding season by receiving the Players’ Player and leading goalkicker awards.
Brennan played every game for the Tigers in 2021, booting 14 goals (third in the competition) while averaging 13 disposals and 1.5 contested marks (third in the AFLW) per game.
Star draftee Ellie McKenzie backed up her recent AFLPA honour by being named Richmond’s best first-year player.
Gabby Seymour (sixth) capped off another strong season with a second consecutive high placing in the best and fairest, while off-season recruits Sarah Hosking and Sarah D’Arcy were equal 7th.
Maddy Brancatisano who doubled her output this year in nearly every statistic, finished ninth in the count, closely followed by Courtney Wakefield, Tayla Stahl and Iilish Ross who tied for 10th.
All the Winners:
1st Best and Fairest: Monique Conti
Equal 2nd Best and Fairest: Ellie McKenzie
Equal 2nd Best and Fairest: Katie Brennan
Players’ Player Award: Katie Brennan
Leading Goalkicker Award: Katie Brennan
Best First Year Player Award: Ellie McKenzie
Richmond AFLW 2021 Best and Fairest Top 10:
1st: Monique Conti (16)
Eq 2nd: Katie Brennan (15)
Eq 2nd: Ellie McKenzie (15)
4th: Hariet Cordner (14)
5th: Rebecca Miller (13)
6th: Gabby Seymour (12)
Eq 7th: Sarah Hosking (10)
Eq 7th: Sarah D’Arcy (10)
9th: Maddy Brancatisano (7)
10th: Courtney Wakefield, Tayla Stahl, Iilish Ross (6)
All players are given votes by the match committee following each game; one vote for playing their role and winning their position, two votes for winning their position and impacting the game and three votes for an outstanding game.
