Ally Anderson, Sophie Conway, Belle Dawes and Taylor Smith have been rewarded for their outstanding seasons, named in the 2024 AFLW All-Australian side at Monday night’s W Awards.
The four Lions accepted their All-Australian honours at AFLW’s night of nights from a satellite event in Brisbane ahead of Saturday’s AFLW Grand Final.
Key forward Taylor Smith and energetic midfielder Belle Dawes broke through for their first All-Australian selections off the back of outstanding seasons.
Named in the All-Australian squad for the first time, Smith’s selection highlights the leap she has taken this season, forming a lethal partnership with 2023 All-Australian, Dakota Davidson in the Lions forward line.
Smith has booted 22 goals in 2024, her best return in her career to date.
Dawes, who has enjoyed a career year playing in a strong Lions midfield brings energy and speed to the contest, along with clean hands around stoppage.
Averaging 18.8 disposals, 4.3 clearances and 6.8 tackles, Dawes has been among the Lions best week in and week out.
Anderson and Conway followed up their strong 2023 seasons this year, being rewarded with back-to-back selections.
Reigning Club Best and Fairest winner Anderson has averaged 26.2 disposals and is very capable of winning her own footy with 13.8 contested possessions per game.
For Lions winger Conway she secured her second All-Australian team selection after being named in squad in 2020 and 2021.
Her selection follows a career-best season with the hard running winger, averaging 17.4 disposals, 5.1 tackles and 3.2 marks this year.
The Lions provided the equal most members of this year’s All-Australian team with Adelaide also having four players named.
The 2024 AFLW All-Australian panel consisted of Andrew Dillon (Chair), Gemma Bastiani (AFL Media and ABC), Jason Bennett (Channel Seven), Sarah Black (AFL Media), Laura Kane (AFL Executive General Manager Football), Katie Loynes (Former player GWS and Carlton), Josh Mahoney (AFL General Manager Football Operations), Emma Moore (AFL General Manager AFLW), Erin Phillips (Former Adel/PA player and AFL Performance Lead), Eliza Reilly (CODE media), Narelle Smith (Former Adel. Assistant coach), Kelli Underwood (Fox Footy and ABC) and Megan Waters (Fox Footy).
