CLAREMONT prolific midfielder Jayme Harken edged out top-age star Zippy Fish in a memorable Dhara Kerr Medal count last night to win back-to-back honours. The 28-year-old ball-winning inside midfielder was one of the favourites coming into the night alongside Fish, and the pair went head-to-head before the former just secured the win by a vote.

Harken polled 27 votes to Fish’s 26, and was one of only three non-teenagers in the Dhara Medal Top 10, with the future of West Australian football in great hands. Swan Districts’ Lily Paterson finished a distant third on 17 votes, having shared the votes with fellow State Academy member Carys D’Addario (12 votes).

After 12 rounds, Harken held a five-vote lead over Fish. In East Fremantle’s win over Claremont in Round 13, Fish polled the three votes with Harken polling two. A round later and Fish was best on ground in the win over Swan Districts – with Paterson polling two – while Harken failed to poll in the Tigers’ tight win over Peel Thunder.

Fish missed the Round 15 match against East Perth due to AFLW Academy duties, and in doing so was unable to poll, allowing Harken to secure the medal with a best on ground performance against Subiaco. Fish would go on to poll a best on ground in the last game against South Fremantle to finish one vote shy of the win in a memorable count.

Harken said she was “super shocked” to win the medal.

“I think this year was the year of the kids and I think it’s going to get more and more,” she said. “There’s so many great players in this competition and well done to everyone.”

When asked about which of the years she felt she played better, the Claremont midfielder said it was all about improving and hoped to continue that in the weekend’s grand final.

“Year-to-year I have things I want to work on and think I ticked off some things and have other things i need to focus on,” Harken said. “Really enjoyed the year with the girls and hoping this weekend goes to plan as well.”

Molly O’Hehir (South Fremantle) and Mia Russo (West Perth) both polled 15 votes, with their teammates Noa McNaughton and Imahra Cameron respectively recording 11 votes apiece. East Fremantle skipper Ashleigh Gomes – the other non-teenager in the top 10 – and Subiaco tall Olivia Wolmarans also caught the eye of the umpires this year, polling 11 votes.

In other results, Swan Districts forward Courtney Zappara won the Joanne Huggins Leading Goalkicker Award with D’Addario earning the Cath Boyce Rising Star for her performances throughout the WAFLW season.

East Fremantle coach Matt Templeton deservedly earned the Coach of the Year for guiding his Sharks into the WAFLW Grand Final with only one loss for the season. At Rogers Cup level, West Perth’s Hayley Bidefeld made it three consecutive Falcons winners – after Russo’s back-to-back honours – with Nicole Taylor-Thorpe winning another Leading Goalkicker Award but this time sharing it with Perth’s Shante Anderson.