The Gold Coast Bulletin

AHRENS MAKES HER MARK

-

LAUREN Ahrens has been crowned the Suns’ 2021 AFLW Club Champion after a stellar season in defence.

Ahrens led the vote count from Round 2 onwards and didn’t relinquish the lead to finish on 238 votes.

The 29-year-old was one of the club’s most consistent players this season and finished ranked third in the league in marks and equalthird in intercept possession­s.

Alison Drennan, a Suns recruit in 2021, finished five votes shy of Ahrens in second place and challenged the defender for the title, with the two unable to be split after Round 4.

Young defender Daisy

D’Arcy capped off a stunning debut season to finish in third place on 201 votes.

D’Arcy’s honours didn’t end there, with the 18-yearold also taking out the Players’ Player award which is voted on after each game by

the playing group then allocated on a 3, 2, 1 basis.

Inspiring defender Emma Pittman won the Coach’s Award after making her comeback from an ACL injury to play the final two matches of the season.

Coming in for her debut season at the age of 29, Bess Keaney was awarded Most Profession­al which was decided based on the way a player approached all aspects of the program and voted on by club staff.

Also finishing in the top 10 for the Club Champion were first-year breakout players Lucy Single (fourth) and Maddison Levi (10th).

They were joined by an exciting young core of players who will continue to drive the

club forward including Serene Watson (sixth), Kalinda Howarth (eighth) and Lauren Bella (ninth), with experience­d players Kate Surman (fifth) and Bess Keaney (seventh) rounding out the top 10.

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? Suns defender Lauren Ahrens with her Club Champion trophy and (top left) in action in the AFLW. Main picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/Getty Images
Suns defender Lauren Ahrens with her Club Champion trophy and (top left) in action in the AFLW. Main picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/Getty Images

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia