A CONSISTENT Shark and an tough Cat earned league best and fairest honours in the QAFL men’s and women’s competitions. Southport utility Steph O’Brien claimed the Emma Zielke Medal fo the QAFL Women’s, as Broadbeach ball-winner Kwaby Boakye won the J.A Grogan Medal for his sensational 2023 year in the QAFL.

Queensland’s awards evening was held at the Gabba last night, with the night also featuring an array of awards including the Rising Star, Leading Goalkicker, Coaches Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Team of the Year across both competitions.

O’Brien broke away from the pack in the Emma Zielke Medal, polling 25 votes – seven more than her nearest rival – in an outstanding nine of her 14 matches. It followed on from a sensational year where O’Brien captained the state side against Tasmania, winning best on ground in that competition. She was also named captain in the QAFL Women’s Team of the Year, and scooped up the Coaches MVP to fill her trophy cabinet to the brim.

The J.A. Grogan count was much closer with Boakye polling 21 votes across the season to shoot up the leaderboard from fourth at the conclusion of Round 16, to the top by season’s end. In the end the Broadbeach half-back racked up two more votes than his nearest competitor. Like O’Brien, Boayke was named in the Team of the Year.

Wilston Grange and former Richmond player Will Martyn was voted the Coaches MVP, receiving the Syd Guildford Trophy, while young guns Taine Dawson (Broadbeach) and Ava Usher (Bond University) earned Rising Star awards.

In front of goal, Matt Hammelmann put through a massive 91 goals to earn the Ray Hughson Medal for the leading goalkicker, while Aspley’s Jessica Stallard and Southport’s Maggie O’Connell shared the QAFL Women’s leading goalkicker.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS
 
Emma Zielke Medal
Steph O’Brien (Southport), 25 votes
 
78^th J.A. Grogan Medal
Kwaby Boakye (Broadbeach) 21 votes
 
Syd Guildford Trophy, QAFL Coaches Most Valuable Player
Will Martyn (Wilson Grange)
 
Bond University QAFLW Coaches Most Valuable Player
Steph O’Brien (Southport)
 
QAFL Rising Star
Taine Dawson (Broadbeach)
 
Bond University QAFLW Rising Star
Ava Usher (Bond University)
 
Bond University QAFLW Leading Goal Kicker
Jessica Stallard (Aspley), 26 goals
Maggie O’Connell (Southport), 26 goals
 
Ray Hughson Medal, QAFL Leading Goal Kicker
Matt Hammelmann (Redland Victoria Point), 91 goals
 
Bond University QAFLW Goal of the Year
Mia Geere (Wilston Grange)
 
QAFL Goal of the Year
Ben Thomas (Maroochydore)

Bond University QAFLW Mark of the Year
Kadie Fletcher (University of Queensland)
 
QAFL Mark of the Year
Brody Haberfield (Surfers Paradise)
 
AFL Merit Award 2022
Anne Cornish (Palm Beach Currumbin)
 
AFL Merit Award 2022
Chris Guice
 
AFL Merit Award 2023
David Diamond (Morningside)
 
Queensland Community Award – Queensland Female Coach of the Year
Emily Otto (Bond University)
 
Queensland Community Award – Queensland Volunteer of the Year
Julian Pitts (Noosa)
 
Bond University QAFLW Team of the Year
FB: Paris Lightfoot (Bond University), Sarah-Jane O’Grady (Maroochydore)
HB: Laura Blue (Coorparoo), Chloe Litherland (Wilston Grange), Taya Oliver (Coorparoo)
C: Courtney Daniec (Aspley), Steph O’Brien (Southport), Lucy Schneider (Coorparoo)
HF: Mikayla Martin (Aspley), Jessica Stallard (Aspley), Ava Usher (Bond University)
FF: Louise Tyson (Aspley), Maggie O’Connell (Southport)
Foll: Lilly Pearce (Southport), Ava Seton (University of Queensland), Georgia Breward (Southport)
Int: Carly Remmos (Southport), Madeleine Watt (Southport), Mackenzie Findlay (Wilston Grange), Madison Goodwin (Yeronga South Brisbane), Courtney Sexton (Bond University)

Captain: Steph O’Brien (Southport)
Coach: Luke Glacken (Aspley)

QAFL Team of the Year
FB: Adrian Williams (Redland Victoria Point), Liam Dawson (Aspley), Matt Cecchin (Labrador)
HB: Josh Wagner (Maroochydore), Kwaby Boakye (Broadbeach), Kasey Nicholas (Broadbeach)

C: Blake Erickson (Broadbeach), Caleb Franks (Redland Victoria Point), Joel Leahy (Mt Gravatt)
HF: Ben Thomas (Maroochydore), Connor Stackelberg (Aspley), Sam McLachlan (Maroochydore)
FF: Hugh Fidler (Wilston Grange), Matt Hammelmann (Redland Victoria Point), Will O’Dwyer (Noosa)
Foll: Will Wolbers (Aspley), Brock Aston (Redland Victoria Point), Will Martyn (Wilston Grange)
Int: Thomas Thynne (Palm Beach Currumbin), Will Fletcher (Sherwood), Tom Simpson (Labrador), Riley Bowman (Broadbeach)
Captain: Liam Dawson (Aspley)
Coach: Matt Lappin (Surfers Paradise)
 
Clem Ryan and Keith Wallis Medal, QAFL Colts Best and Fairest
Harry Taylor (Morningside), 26 votes
 
Bill Clerke Medal, QAFL Reserves Best and Fairest
Kuot Thok (Aspley), 13 votes
 
Bond University QAFLW Reserves Best and Fairest
Tilli Baker (Maroochydore), 18 votes
 
QAFL Colts Leading Goal Kicker
Jack Jovanovic (Broadbeach), 39 goals
 
QAFL Reserves Leading Goal Kicker
Cameron Poharama (Palm Beach Currumbin), 37 goals
 
Bond University QAFLW Reserves Leading Goal Kicker
Isabelle Lowe (Bond University), 25 goals
Amy Dwyer (Coorparoo), 25 goals