Ally Anderson has capped off her stellar 2023 season by being crowned the Brisbane Lions Best and Fairest following a brilliant year in which the Club won the NAB AFLW Premiership.
The star midfielder took the lead at the end of round four and never looked back, polling an impressive 205 votes to finish 10 votes ahead of fellow midfielder Belle Dawes (195 votes).
Anderson now adds to her impressive resume as a three-time Lions Best and Fairest winner, along with being named in the 2023 All-Australian team and the AFLW Best and Fairest award in 2022.
“I am extremely honoured and grateful to receive this award, especially for a third time, and humbled to be listed alongside so many great Lions players,” Anderson said.
“A lot of the credit needs to go to my teammates, because I am very fortunate to be part of such an incredible team who make me a better player.
“If it wasn’t for the players I have around me and our amazing coaches and support staff then I wouldn’t be in this position, so a big thank you to every one of them.
“As much this award means a lot to me, what is even more special is that I got to win a premiership with my best friends for this great club last week and I couldn’t be happier.”
Anderson averaged 24.3 disposals a game along with 6.5 tackles and 4.5 clearances, Anderson stood tall in a Lions midfield which looked vastly different to years gone by.
The 29-year-old produced an impressive finals series, having an impact without the ball by laying an average of 9.3 tackles in the three finals including a career-best 12 in the Grand Final win.
Season 2023 was an also an impressive year for Dawes who took a big step with increased midfield minutes and her addition to the leadership group.
Averaging 17.5 disposals, Dawes further built on her reputation as being known as the energiser bunny within the Club and out on the field.
Another Lion who drove the mantra of manic pressure, Dawes registered an average of 7.7 tackles during the home and away season but went to another level in finals with a whopping 34 tackles in three games.
A member of the AFL Players Associations 22under22 team this year, Dawes’ runner up finish in the Lions Best and Fairest caps off a career year for the 22-year-old.
Best and Fairest – Top 10
- Ally Anderson – 205
- Isabel Dawes – 195
- Orla O’Dwyer – 169
- Nat Grider – 166
- Dakota Davidson – 164
- Breanna Koenen – 163
- Courtney Hodder – 160
- Sophie Conway – 158
- Jade Ellenger – 155
- Cathy Svarc – 154
