Crows co-captains Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall are among six Crows nominated for several awards at this year’s AFLW Players’ Association Most Valuable Player Awards.
The inaugural AFLW MVP, Phillips headlines a list of five Crows in the running for the MVP award, while Randall could take home her third-consecutive Most Courageous Player award.
After injury interrupted her 2018 campaign, Phillips returned to her dominant form of 2017 this season, averaging 21.9 disposals, 5.5 clearances and kicking nine goals to finish second in the AFLW leading goalkicker tally.
Once again, Randall led the way in Adelaide’s back half to average 15.4 disposals at 69.4 per cent efficiency and 3.4 marks.
Joining Phillips in the race for MVP is Anne Hatchard, Ebony Marinoff, Stevie-Lee Thompson and first-year Crow Jessica Foley.
In her debut season, Foley thrived on a last-minute move into the ruck, where she has been an integral part of Adelaide’s strength through the middle.
On the back of a breakout season, the 35-year-old was also nominated for the Best First-Year award.
It’s Marinoff’s third-consecutive nomination after she missed out on the final accolade to her skipper Phillips in 2017 and Greater Western Sydney’s Courtney Gum in 2018.
Marinoff took her game to another level this season, averaging 23.3 disposals, 8.5 tackles, 4.3 inside 50s and kicking her first AFLW goal in Round Seven.
This year marks the first time Hatchard and Thompson have received nominations after both players enjoyed breakout years on the back of positional shifts.
A defender-turned-midfielder, Hatchard has shined in Adelaide’s engine room in 2019, delivering a career-high average of 18.4 disposals, compared 7.5 in 2018.
Thompson, also a former defender, has flourished in a move to the forward lines, taking out the AFLW leading goalkicker award with 13 in her first season up forward.
The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Monday morning, April 1.
Adelaide’s 2019 nominees:
MVP: Anne Hatchard, Erin Phillips, Jessica Foley, Ebony Marinoff, Stevie-Lee Thompson
Most Courageous: Chelsea Randall
Best First-Year: Jessica Foley
Captain: Chelsea Randall, Erin Phillips
