Emily Bates has been crowned the Brisbane Lions Best and Fairest for a record fourth time, taking out the award after a brilliant 2022 NAB AFLW Season Seven.
The star midfielder stormed home in the Lions finals campaign to poll a total of 190 votes to win ahead of teammate and this season’s AFLW League Best and Fairest Ally Anderson (187 votes).
Despite Anderson leading the count by three at the end of the home and away season, Bates put together a brilliant finals series where she polled six votes more than her fellow midfielder and take the win.
Bates continues to be the most decorated AFLW player in the Club’s history with back-to-back honours enhancing her already impressive playing resume.
Starting Season Seven as the reigning league medal winner, Bates was again out of the blocks early from Round 1 and looked on track to replicate a similar campaign.
In the season opener Bates finished with 19 disposals, six clearances and seven tackles to remind the competition what she was capable of.
That continued the following week, where in Round 2 Bates blitzed the opposition - racking up 20 disposals, six tackles four clearances and two goals in a big day out.
The 27-year-old went on to deliver a super consistent season averaging 18.2 disposals, 4.5 clearances and 6.5 tackles.
It was once again her work ethic and determined nature that saw Bates lead from the front in the Lions’ engine room to help her side finish as Minor Premiers.
Bates continued her impressive form into the final’s series for the Lions, kickstarted by 21 disposals and eight tackles in the Qualifying win against Richmond.
Though it was the Preliminary Final where the reigning league medallist dominated with 22 possessions to help the Lions book a Grand Final berth and take the lead in the vote count.
Holding her head high in a losing Grand Final, Bates added 15 touches and seven tackles to secure her fourth Club Best and Fairest.
Capping of a season to remember saw fellow midfielder Ally Anderson finish runner-up to Bates after playing some of the best football of her career.
The proud Ghangalu woman was a prolific ball winner, who was voted the competition’s best player, gathered an average 21.8 disposals and 5.1 clearances.
Anderson also proved equally as dangerous without the ball, with this highlighted by her averaging 5.1 tackles per game with a season-best of eight in the Grand Final.
The former Zillmere Eagle turned heads in the Round 9 win against Hawthorn, with her stats sheet featuring a career-high 31 disposals (16 contested) and 10 clearances.
On top of that the 2019 All-Australian recorded five score involvements and registered a standout 393 metres gained.
