The Best and Fairest player is determined by the umpires in charge at the conclusion of each match on a 3 (best) - 2 - 1 basis. Any palayer who is deemed to be ineligible by a tribunal due to a conviction that is sustained at a hearing is ineligible to win but still can receive votes from the umpires.
Going into tonight's award I thought there were many worthy contestants who could win. Could it be the exciting midfielder who gets her hands on the ball many times. Maybe the bullock full-forward or center half-forward who pulls the contested marks and lifts a team when they kick the subsequent goal. Or it may have been the tireless fullback who had her hands full all day with her direct opponent and kept her opposition player quiet all day.
In previous history there have been two routes to winning. Being part of a dominant team or being the standout player in a team that wasn't doing so well.
This year's winner was: Natasha Devlin (Newtown Breakaways) 19 votes.
Natasha is an exciting midfielder/half-forward who has an ability to know where the ball is and more importantly win it. Peviously playing for the Dockers, she transferred to Newtown this year and was rewarded with a premiership although she suffered an ACL whilst playing in the Grand Final. Enjoy your recovery on the sideline Tash!
Natasha in accepting the award was surprised on winning the award as previously she had been a bridesmaid and that she always started well but would fade away towards the later half of the season.
Natasha polled 8 games out of 12 that Newtown played, receiving 5 best on ground votes, 2 votes once and 1 vote twice.
2nd place missing out by one vote (18 votes) was new ruck sensation Georgia Woodyard (Western Wolves) who in her first year of football, was second in the rookie of the year as well as missing out by the narrowest of margins for Best and Fairest. Georgia was consistent in polling in 8 out of the 12 games polling 3 Best on Grounds and 2 votes 4 times.
3rd place missing out by two votes was (17 votes) Talei Owen (Western Wolves), a former All-Australian who has played one of her best season with her new club the Western Wolves as demonstrated by her best on ground performance in the Grand Final. Talei had ahot streak between rounds 5-9 where Talei was awarded 5 consecutive Best on Grounds.
4th place was Karla Spilarewicz (Balmain) on 14 votes, 5th - Natalie Redford (Newtown) on 13 votes and 6th - Emma Yuen (10 votes)
Attached is an Excel 2009 Version of the Best and Fairest Votes.
Photo: Natasha Devlin (center) is awarded by SWAFL former secretary and co-founder of the league Yvette Andrews (left) and SWAFL former President Lucy Burgmann (right)
Last Modified on 15/09/2009 10:16