It's that time again to announce my top 50 AFLW players of 2019. In what will be the third instalment of my AFLW top 50, this one was a lot tougher to put together, considering that two new teams came into the league this year. I'll wager that it won't get any easier next year when the league moves up from 10 to 14.
Both expansion teams North Melbourne and Geelong were represented well this year, with North having seven players that made the list and Geelong with four. You wouldn't have thought that the latter of the two made finals if you had a look at this list. North deserved a finals spot for sure, but that's unfortunately how the conference system can roll sometimes, and the Kangaroos got the short end of it this season.
But let's talk about their players – four of them sit inside the top 20, two in the top 10. Jess Duffin (3) headlines the group of Roos after a stunning year in defence that saw her lead the league in marks. Emma Kearney was the number one player last year, this year she just makes the top 10 after another strong year, but I wouldn't say it had the same impact as it did last year. Jenna Bruton (17) won North's inaugural best and fairest and is firmly entrenched as a top 20 player in the competition, whilst Emma King's ability to excel both as a forward and a ruck has her in at 15.
The Cats best player was Meg McDonald, who comes in at 12. Not only was she Geelong's best player, but she's been one of the finds of the year, considering she was delisted by the Western Bulldogs at the end of the inaugural season in 2017. This year she turned herself into one of the best key defenders of the competition, leading the league in intercept possessions. Rising Star Olivia Purcell (39) had a great debut year and I can only sense that she'll be in for a great career. Maddy McMahon (46) and Richelle Cranston (49) just sneak in after having solid seasons in their own right.
Last year's premiers the Western Bulldogs had eight players that made the top 50 last year. This year it's been whittled down to half of that after a poor year which saw them finish last in conference A. Monique Conti made the top 10 last year, but was squeezed down to 11 this year, despite having a career year in the middle. Ellie Blackburn (20) had a down year in comparison to her first two seasons, but she was still good enough to make it in the top 20. Lauren Spark (37) had a solid year down in defence, whilst Kirsty Lamb (42) also made the list after another strong season.
Last year, we had two players crack the top 10 that were playing their first season in the AFLW – Conti and Chloe Molloy. This year's top 10 had another two players who played in their first year. One of them is teenager Maddy Prespakis (6) who as an 18-year old took home the Rising Star award, was one of two best and fairest winners at Carlton and an All-Australian – purely a stunning season. She's the highest ranked Blue, ahead of Brianna Davey (21) and Kerryn Harrington (24).
The other is a player in the prime of her career in Kiara Bowers, who I have in the top five. Having missed the first two seasons due to a knee injury, Bowers came into the Fremantle side in round one and played like she had been a part of the team for years. She was arguably one of the game's best contested players and was the highest ranked of six Dockers named in the 50 this year. Dana Hooker (12) just missed out, whilst Ashley Sharp (44) Sabreena Duffy (29) and Gemma Houghton (23) are all first-timers on the top 50.
Collingwood and GWS had poor years, but had three representatives each. Ash Brazill (16) established herself as one of the game's best defenders and finds herself inside the top 20, ahead of Jaimee Lambert (25) and Brittany Bonnici (47). Alicia Eva was a top 10 player last year, but this year finds herself down at 33, ahead of best and fairest winner Rebecca Beeson and young gun Alyce Parker at 35 and 36 respectively. Brisbane have four players named – down from 10 last year – with Ally Anderson ranked at four. Melbourne have three players named – leading the way is Karen Paxman at seven.
So let's talk about the Crows, who were arguably the best side all season. No team had any more than 10 players make the top 50 in past years. Adelaide had 11 this season. Headlined of course by Erin Phillips, who has been named at number one for the second time in three years. It shouldn't come as a huge shock, she had an outstanding year, returning to the form that won her the first-ever league best and fairest award in 2017. She pretty much took home every accolade this year as well.
Four of the 11 made the top ten, which should tell you about how stacked the Adelaide Crows team has become since they won the first premiership a couple of years ago – if it doesn't, then there are a further two players from 11-20. Ebony Marinoff comes in at number two after a career-best year. Not only is she finding more of the footy, but she's still just as damaging in the contested spaces as she was two years ago. Chelsea Randall (7) had another great year in defence, whilst Stevie-Lee Thompson (9) showed everyone how dangerous she can be up forward, taking home the league's goal kicking award.
Anne Hatchard (14) is amongst the league's most improved players this season. Jess Foley (18) proved to be the ultimate revelation in 2019, stepping in for the injured Rhiannon Metcalfe in the ruck. Danielle Ponter (34) was another stellar find up forward, kicking 13 goals for the year – second only to Stevie-Lee. All three of them being first-timers in the Top 50, likewise Eloise Jones (30), Chloe Scheer (48) and Marijana Rajcic (50). Sarah Allen (31) enjoyed another big year in defence.
The Full Top 50 AFLW Players List
50. Marijana Rajcic (Adelaide) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 9 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 10.8
49. Richelle Cranston (Geelong) Last Year's Ranking: 42 2019 Games: 6 2019 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 15.7
48. Chloe Scheer (Adelaide) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 8 2019 Goals: 8 Average Disposals: 10.7
47. Brittany Bonnici (Collingwood) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 12.6
46. Maddy McMahon (Geelong) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 11.9
45. Emily Bates (Brisbane) Last Year's Ranking: 22 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 16.6
44. Ashley Sharp (Fremantle)
Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 8
2019 Goals: 8
Average Disposals: 7
43. Ebony Antonio (Fremantle) Last Year's Ranking: 33 2019 Games: 8 2019 Goals: 5 Average Disposals: 10.3
42. Kirsty Lamb (Western Bulldogs) Last Year's Ranking: 38 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 14
41. Kate Gillespie-Jones (North Melbourne) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 11.7 Average Hitouts: 7.9
40. Jess Wuetschner (Brisbane) Last Year's Ranking: 6 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 8 Average Disposals: 10.9
39. Olivia Purcell (Geelong) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 8 2019 Goals: 2 Average Disposals: 15.5
38. Jamie Stanton (North Melbourne) Last Year's Ranking: 36 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 17.1
37. Lauren Spark (Western Bulldogs) Last Year's Ranking: 37 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 10
36. Alyce Parker (GWS) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 16.3
35. Rebecca Beeson (GWS) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 16.3
34. Danielle Ponter (Adelaide) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 8 2019 Goals: 13 Average Disposals: 6.4
33. Alicia Eva (GWS) Last Year's Ranking: 8 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 2 Average Disposals: 17
32. Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne) Last Year's Ranking: 21 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 5 Average Disposals: 13.1
31. Sarah Allen (Adelaide) Last Year's Ranking: 26 2019 Games: 9 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 8.5
30. Eloise Jones (Adelaide) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 9 2019 Goals: 9 Average Disposals: 6.4
29. Sabreena Duffy (Fremantle) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 8 2019 Goals: 8 Average Disposals: 8.5
28. Kerryn Harrington (Carlton) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 9 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals 13.3
27. Nat Exon (Brisbane) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 4 Average Disposals: 15.4
26. Kate Lutkins (Brisbane) Last Year's Ranking: 2 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 13.4
25. Jaimee Lambert (Collingwood) Last Year's Ranking: 46 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 3 Average Disposals: 15.6
24. Lauren Pearce (Melbourne)
Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 2 Average Disposals: 12.7 Average Hitouts: 19.9
23. Gemma Houghton (Fremantle) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 8 2019 Goals: 9 Average Disposals: 9.1
22. Tegan Cunningham (Melbourne) Last Year's Ranking: 19 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 8 Average Disposals: 8.9
21. Brianna Davey (Carlton) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 9 2019 Goals: 2 Average Disposals: 15.6
20. Ellie Blackburn (Western Bulldogs) Last Year's Ranking: 5 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 2 Average Disposals: 17.3
19. Elise O'Dea (Melbourne) Last Year's Ranking: 13 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 18.4
18. Jess Foley (Adelaide)
Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 9 2019 Goals: 4 Average Disposals: 14.6 Average Hitouts: 19.1
17. Jenna Bruton (North Melbourne) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 18.1
16. Ash Brazill (Collingwood) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 6 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 17.8
15. Emma King (North Melbourne) Last Year's Ranking: 49 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 8 Average Disposals: 6.9 Average Hitouts: 17.9
14. Anne Hatchard (Adelaide) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 9 2019 Goals: 2 Average Disposals: 18.4
13. Meg McDonald (Geelong) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 8 2019 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 15.8
12. Dana Hooker (Fremantle) Last Year's Ranking: 17 2019 Games: 8 2019 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 16.6
11. Monique Conti (Western Bulldogs) Last Year's Ranking: 10 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 18
10. Emma Kearney (North Melbourne) Last Year's Ranking: 1 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 20.1
9. Stevie-Lee Thompson (Adelaide) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 9 2019 Goals: 14 Average Disposals: 8.9
8. Karen Paxman (Melbourne) Last Year's Ranking: 7 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 3 Average Disposals: 20.9
7. Chelsea Randall (Adelaide) Last Year's Ranking: 4 2019 Games: 8 2019 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 15.4
6. Maddy Prespakis (Carlton) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 9 2019 Goals: 6 Average Disposals: 19.9
5. Kiara Bowers (Fremantle) Last Year's Ranking: N/A 2019 Games: 8 2019 Goals: 3 Average Disposals: 17.1
4. Ally Anderson (Brisbane) Last Year's Ranking: 12 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 21
3. Jess Duffin (North Melbourne) Last Year's Ranking: 40 2019 Games: 7 2019 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 17.6
2. Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide) Last Year's Ranking: 14 2019 Games: 9 2019 Goals: 3 Average Disposals: 23.3
1. Erin Phillips (Adelaide) Last Year's Ranking: 25 2019 Games: 9 2019 Goals: 9 Average Disposals: 21.9