AFTER winning the AFLW Rising Star award for Season 7, it was hard to wipe the smile off Port Adelaide star Hannah Ewings‘ face.

Describing the feat as “surreal” moments afterwards, the first year midfielder said she was “extremely proud” of what she was able to achieve.

By winning the award, she also created a little bit of history with Abbey Dowrick, becoming the first pair of teammates to finish first and second in the award in the same year.

“That was unbelievable,” Ewings said. “Abbey’s a really great player, even better person so to play alongside her and for us two to be up there together was great.”

This is not the first time Ewings has won a Rising Star award, having won the SANFLW equivalent back in 2020.

She said that it was “an amazing feeling” to convert her state league nod to one at the elite level.

“There’s a lot of great women out there that really do deserve it and to be up there receiving that award, so to be recognised by my peers and everyone else, it’s just unbelievable,” she said.

“[My] body’s finally recovering from what a hard year I’ve actually put into. Not many people see how much work you do behind the scenes so to have my hard work be recognised is such a nice feeling.”

Ewings saw two SANFLW premiership teammates from North Adelaide in Amelie Borg and Jade De Melo alongside her on Port’s inaugural list, adding a sense of familiarity. Though, that didn’t stop the feeling of being starstruck when meeting other Power players.

“It was great to have [Borg and De Melo] come alongside me and we all transitioned together well, so to have them supporting me as well was just great,” Ewings said.

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet that [Erin Phillips] is our captain and she’s my mentor as well. To have her grab me and support me through the journey that we’ve had this season, she’s been a great leader to all us girls out there and her knowledge and experience has really paid off and shown.”