Veteran pair honoured with fifth All-australian nod

TWO veterans of the AFLW competition have been given an incredible fifth consecutive All-australian nod, while six new faces appear in the 2021 AFL Women’s All-australian team, unveiled at the WAwards on Tuesday night.

After last year’s W-awards were held in isolation, this year they were held at locations across the country, including Melbourne’s Crown Palladium, Perth’s Optus Stadium and Adelaide Oval.

The premiership-winning Brisbane Lions – still celebrating their 18-point defeat of the Crows in Saturday’s decider – gathered at the Gabba and saw their near-impenetrable defender Kate Lutkins awarded her third All-australian.

North Melbourne captain Emma Kearney and Melbourne’s dogged midfielder

Karen Paxman were both named in this year’s side, which makes them the only players to have been given AllAustralian honours in every year since the league’s inaugural 2017 season.

Preliminary finalists Collingwood led the way with four players, including Brittany Bonnici and Ruby Schleicher, who both received their first All-australian nod.

The four other new faces were St Kilda’s Georgia Patrikios, Carlton’s Breann Moody, Richmond’s Katie Brennan and Fremantle’s Janelle Cuthbertson.

Crow Erin Phillips was honoured with her third AllAustralian nod.

The only two teams to not feature any players were West Coast and Gold Coast. Collingwood’s co-captain Brianna Davey, who was given her second All-australian nod after a career-best 23.8 disposal season, was named skipper of the side. Fremantle’s prolific midfielder Kiara Bowers was named vice-captain.

Seven players retained their spots from last year – Sarah Allan (Adelaide Crows), Lutkins (Brisbane Lions), Kearney (North Melbourne), Bowers (Fremantle), Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne), Paxman (Melbourne), Alyce Parker (Greater Western Sydney).