AS THE AFL Women’s season starts to wind down, clubs are starting to award their club best and fairests, recognising the stars of the season.

In this new series from Rookie Me Central, we take a look at the seasons of these club champions and what led them to have such stellar seasons.  

Next up in the series, we take a look at the season of an inaugural Pie, Ruby Schleicher.

The Collingwood vice-captain has taken home her maiden Best and Fairest award in her ninth season at the club off the back of a challenging injury-interrupted season in 2023. A foundation member of this squad and the youngest draftee in 2016, Schleicher’s award cements her as one of Collingwood’s best players of the first nine seasons.

Playing all 11 games in 2024 after managing just two last season, Schleicher polled 110 votes to finish ahead of stand-out first year defender Lucy Cronin and midfield star Brittany Bonnici. Irish winger Sarah Rowe and midfielder Mikala Cann rounded out the top five in the count.

Schleicher’s return to form after a niggling foot injury has been welcomed by her team and their supporters, who had a challenging 2024 from a results perspective. She averaged 16.5 disposals, while also amassing 60 intercept possessions and 48 tackles across the year.

Off-the-field she is also influential, taking a leadership role in 2019 as a vice-captain, while quietly continuing to notch up appearances for the club, with 64 currently in the bank for her.

Her resilience and growth as well as her ability to drive high-standards and put in hard work were noted at the awards night by Collingwood’s Head of Football, Jess Burger.

With Collingwood’s desire to shoot back up the ladder in 2025, Schleicher’s form and her ability to continue to contribute will be key for the group.