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AFLW players and fans were left stunned on Tuesday night after North Melbourne star Jasmine Garner again finished lower on the competition’s best and fairest leaderboard than anticipated.
Garner, this season’s AFL Coaches’ Association’s Most Valuable Player, went into the vote count as one of the hot favourites to take out the best and fairest award.
But Brisbane on-baller Ally Anderson was the surprise winner of the medal, polling 21 votes to claim the award from second-placed Conti (19 votes).
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Meanwhile, Garner didn’t even feature in the top 10.
In a home and away season where the Kangaroos lost just three games, Garner finished with 12 votes.
The 28-year-old produced four best-on-ground performances in four North Melbourne wins during a five-round period in the middle of the season.
But as footy statistician Oliver Gigacz highlighted on Tuesday night, Garner was overlooked across the first four games of the season where she performed strongly.
Garner was awarded the full 10 AFL Coaches’ Association votes in both of North’s first two games of the season, yet didn’t have any competition best and fairest votes by the end of Round 2. Against the Suns in Round 1, Garner kicked a goal and had a game-high 27 disposals, but didn’t poll.
It reminded on-lookers of the 2020 count where Garner finished with just four votes from six games, despite kicking eight goals and averaging 21.6 disposals from five North Melbourne victories.
Despite the lower-than-expected result, it was still a terrific night for Garner, who made the All-Australian team for a fifth consecutive season and was named captain of the side.
“To be honest, I’m feeling quite lucky and pretty grateful,” she said.
“The talent that’s on that stage is quite amazing, so to be captain of the team is quite special.
“I’d like to thank my teammates for allowing me to play the footy that I do. I just enjoy it so much and love playing alongside all of them.”
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