A five-vote performance in the final round of the AFLW season was enough for Fremantle star Kiara Bowers to secure the AFL Coaches Association player of the year award.
The midfield, who is also favourite to taker out the AFLW best and fairest award, had to overturn a suspension at the tribunal just to play in the final game against North Melbourne.
Bowers would have finished second to GWS gun Alyce Parker if she didn’t play, with the Giants midfielder grabbing eight final round votes to loss by three.
She also would have been ineligible for the league best and fairest.
It’s been a stunning 2021 season from Bowers who finished with 62 votes for the season, polling coaches votes in eight of the nine rounds, including four perfect tens.
Fremantle coach Trent Cooper said Bowers was “every coach’s dream”.
“I know all the coaches put a lot of time and thought into who they vote for each week and it was great that opposition coaches recognised the great impact she had on games right across the season,” he said.
“From a coach’s point of view, she’s every coach’s dream. Not only is she super talented but she works extremely hard and sets a great example for her teammates and then also delivers on whatever the coaches are asking that is best for the team.
“It’s a rare person that can combine all of those aspects and we’re very lucky to have her at Fremantle.”
Fremantle will play Melbourne in the first qualifying final this Saturday in a bid to keep alive their hopes of a maiden AFLW premiership.
TOP 10 – FINAL LEADERBOARD
1st – 62 votes – Kiara Bowers FRE
2nd – 59 votes – Alyce Parker GWS
3rd – 57 votes – Jasmine Garner NMFC
4th – 55 votes – Brittany Bonnici COLL
5th – 53 votes – Brianna Davey COLL
6th – 49 votes – Anne Hatchard ADEL
7th – 48 votes – Ellie Blackburn WB
8th – 47 votes – Monique Conti RICH
9th – 45 votes – Ebony Marinoff ADEL
10th – 44 votes – Georgia Patrikios STK