WITH the AFL Women’s season coming to a close, clubs are starting to award their club champions, recognising the stars of the season.

In this new series from Rookie Me Central, we take a look at the seasons of each best and fairest winner and what led them to have such stellar seasons. 

In the next edition of our series, we look at a new Don, Maddison Gay who has impressed in her first year in red and black, taking home Essendon’s AFLW Best and Fairest award.

She claimed the award with 151 votes, with Georgia Nanscawen and Georgia Clarke finishing second and third respectively. Young guns Maddy Prespakis and Steph Wales rounded out the top five, both finishing equal fourth.

The 28-year-old took home the top honour at the Dons’ night of nights after a stellar debut season at Windy Hill. Named in the leadership group upon her arrival, the defender has been dominant this season, capping off the year with an All-Australian blazer.

Her first ever AFLW club best and fairest after her five seasons with Melbourne and one with Carlton, Gay is rewarded for an injury-free season, the first she’s had in her career.

She admitted upon receiving the award, that her fresh start at the Bombers was key to her form, being able to capitalise on finding more passion for the game after it waned over the past few seasons. Being fit and being able to contribute to the team had a big impact on Gay, which saw her teammates benefit.

From her 11 games played, Gay notched up a career high average in disposals (20), marks (five) and metres gained (453).

With this award Gay joins teammates Prespakis and skipper Bonnie Toogood in receiving the award in the last few seasons.

Essendon have quietly started to add some youth to their list, with Gay, Nanscawen, Toogood, Prespakis, Steph Cain and Bess Keaney proving key to their ability to blood the young players but also provide leadership across the park.