{"id":162113,"date":"2024-06-24T23:12:42","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T13:12:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=162113"},"modified":"2025-02-12T14:55:36","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T04:55:36","slug":"nield-claims-record-breaking-sanflw-best-and-fairest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2024\/06\/24\/nield-claims-record-breaking-sanflw-best-and-fairest\/","title":{"rendered":"Nield claims record-breaking SANFLW best and fairest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A SURPRISED Nikki Nield<\/a> was crowned the SANFL Women’s League Best and Fairest tonight, reigning supreme after polling a record 27 votes to pip Jess Bates<\/a> in the last two rounds as the star midfielders dominated the count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon being awarded the medal, Nield apologised for not preparing a speech as she had expected Bates to win, but thanked her partner, family and teammates for supporting her not just this season but over the journey. The two-time South Adelaide<\/a> premiership player made a return to Noarlunga this season after an AFLW career with Adelaide and Fremantle, and played all 14 games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A deserving winner, Nield was six votes behind Bates after eight rounds, but polled 10 of a possible 12 votes between Rounds 9 to 12 which ultimately was the difference. In that time, Bates polled six votes, giving the Glenelg<\/a> onballer a narrow two-vote lead, and at that stage, the crowd realised what was about to happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nield polled a further five votes in the final two rounds – including a best on ground performance in South’s Round 13 match over Glenelg – to finish on 27 for the year, three clear of Bates who had a strong 24 from the 12 games. Sturt<\/a> young gun India Rasheed<\/a> also polled incredibly well, keeping with the pair at the midway point of the season, and finishing on 19 votes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Central District<\/a> skipper Shelby Smith<\/a> polled 17 to finish fourth after back-to-back years of runner-up efforts, while West Adelaide<\/a>‘s Zoe Venning<\/a> rounded out the top five with 14 votes. Nield’s South Adelaide teammate Jordann Hickey<\/a>, Bates’ Glenelg teammate Jo Miller<\/a> and Woodville-West Torrens<\/a> onballer Poppy Waterford<\/a> were next best with 12 votes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith was also named captain of the SANFL Women’s Team of the Year, with all of the above players featuring in the 21-player squad. South Adelaide coach Rick Watts<\/em><\/strong> was named as coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other awards, Bates on the Coaches Award as Rasheed took out the Breakthrough Player of the Year Award, recognising her sensational top-age season, while sharpshooters Katelyn Rosenzweig<\/a> and Emily Brockhurst<\/a> shared the Leading Goalkicker, the third time the former has taken out the medal. The 2024 Leadership Award went to Woodville-West Torrens skipper Annie Falkenberg<\/a>, for her work not just on-field, but also off the field in corrections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2024 SANFL Women’s League Best and Fairest Leaderboard:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1st. Nikki Nield (South Adelaide) – 27 votes<\/strong>
2nd. Jess Bates (Glenelg) – 24 votes
3rd. India Rasheed (Sturt) – 19 votes
4th. Shelby Smith (Central District) – 17 votes
5th. Zoe Venning (West Adelaide) – 14 votes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2024 SANFLW Awards:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Breakthrough Player of the Year:<\/strong> India Rasheed (Sturt)
Leading Goalkickers:<\/strong> Katelyn Rosenzweig (Central District) & Emily Brockhurst (South Adelaide)
Leadership Award: <\/strong>Annie Falkenberg (WWT Eagles)
Coaches Award: <\/strong>Jess Bates (Glenelg)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SANFLW Team of the Year:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

B: <\/strong>Annie Falkenberg (WWT Eagles) (vc) – Esther Schirmer (South Adelaide)
HB:<\/strong> Tahlita Buethke (Norwood) – Charlotte Riggs (Central District) – Laela Ebert (North Adelaide)
C: <\/strong>Poppy Waterford (WWT Eagles) – Jess Bates (Glenelg) – Monique Bessen (Sturt)
HF: <\/strong>India Rasheed (Sturt) – Jade Halfpenny (Norwood) – Zoe Venning (West Adelaide)
F:<\/strong> Emily Brockhurst (South Adelaide) – Katelyn Rosenzweig (Central District)
R: <\/strong>Soriah Moon (South Adelaide) – Nikki Nield (South Adelaide) – Shelby Smith (Central District) (c)
INT: <\/strong>Jasmine Evans (Central District) – Jordann Hickey (South Adelaide) – Grace Martin (WWT Eagles) – Jo Miller (Glenelg) – Violet Patterson (Glenelg)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coach: <\/strong>Rick Watts (South Adelaide)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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