The West Coast Eagles will stage their AFLW Club Champion awards at Crown Perth’s Grand Ballroom on Wednesday evening.
The club will have four awards to present alongside Club Champion, including the Club Champion Runner Up, Best Club Person, Best First Year Player and Best Trademark player, voted by the playing group.
The Club Champion is voted by the West Coast Eagles coaching panel with each player given a score after each round to determine the winner.
Below westcoasteagles.com.au has highlighted some of the top Eagles performers in season seven of AFLW in the running for the awards.
Sarah Lakay
The 19-year-old had big shoes to fill replacing the retired Parris Laurie in the starting ruck position entering her second season in the competition. Winning a Rising Star nomination in round five, the basketball convert certainly proved she’s right for the job. One clear stat the Eagles were strong in this season was hit-outs, with Lakay placed second in the league with 248 hit outs across 10 games. Her best performance of the year came against Fremantle when she had a total of 42 hit-outs and won eight contested possessions in a performance that was crucial in the Eagles finishing just short in the closest margin in Derby history. If she wasn’t behind Laurie last year many could argue that she may have a Best First Year player award under her belt, but it’s not a stretch to think Lakay could be in the Club Champion award mix in only her second season of AFLW.
Bella Lewis
Bella proved this year that she is a key piece of the puzzle for the Eagles future and has the potential to be an elite player. Her leadership shown at such a young age has been invaluable for the side’s growth and the 19-year-old is on a trajectory towards being one of the leading midfielders in the competition. The Claremont product is solidly in the conversation for Club Champion but her leadership and ability to step up for what she believes in makes her a perfect candidate for the side’s Best Club Person award as well. Lewis led the march during the club’s unveiling of their first ever Pride Round guernsey and was a key figure for the Eagles during the competition’s celebration of Pride round. Her work off the field has certainly matched her spectacular performance on it, putting her in contention for multiple awards on Wednesday evening.
Aisling McCarthy
After having a few disrupted seasons with injury, gun midfielder Aish McCarthy had a standout year playing in all 10 games this season. She started off with a bang in round one, netting a Goal of the Week award in what was an inspiring fourth quarter push to get her side over the line against Port Adelaide in their first game of the season. From there she has had consistent contributions throughout, averaging 14.9 disposals and 5.3 tackles a game. Expect Aisling to be right up there in the conversation for the Club Champion award come Wednesday.
Sophie McDonald
If you are talking individual impact on a game, key defender Sophie McDonald rates up their as one of the Eagles’ best, shutting down some of the competition’s superstars on a weekly basis. From the outset McDonald was tasked with some of the hardest matchups in the League, including Port Adelaide’s Gemma Houghton in round one followed by Bomber’s Bonnie Toogood and Giant’s Cora Stauton in round three and four. While her stats don’t jump off the sheet, her contributions for the Eagles were invaluable this year and will certainly put her in the running to be a top placegetter in the Club Champion.
Ella Roberts
There was a lot of expectation for the Eagles’ coveted first selection in the draft and the Peel Thunder product certainly impressed in her maiden season of AFLW. Averaging 13.4 disposals a game, Roberts also showcased her aerial ability by taking a high-flying grab almost every time she played. Alongside her Mark of the Year nomination in round nine, the 17-year-old was nominated for the AFLW Rising Star award in round six and remains one of the favourites to take out the honour. It’s rare that a player could take out a Best First Year Player and Club Champion on the same night - but has been achieved before by Bella Lewis in 2021 – and the Margaret River local is expected to poll well after a fine debut campaign.
Belinda Smith
Capping off her season with her 50th game, defender Belinda Smith brought way more than just experience to her side this year. Smith’s ability to lift her teammates with energy and passion was crucial in keeping spirits high during what was the second season in one year for the club. Not only is Smith a leader for the club but her contribution to slowing down some quality opposing sides was also outstanding. Smith was adept at doing her homework and studying how other teams play. A self-confessed ‘footy nerd’, Smith knew the inside and outs of every team she played this year. Her season-high came in round nine against the Western Bulldogs where she tallied a career-best 23 disposals and nine intercepts. Not only is she in the running for Club Champion top five but she could also be a good candidate for Trademark Player for her work galvanising the team.
Emma Swanson
As consistent as ever, the skipper’s performance this year was outstanding and arguably deserves election in the AFLW All-Australian team. Swanson was one of the top players in the AFLW’s battle for midfield supremacy and led the Eagles by example with her contributions on the field. Averaging 21.5 disposals and 325.9 metres gained this season, Swanson had her season high against Hawthorn during round six where she amassed 28 disposals and a whopping 470 metres gained, showcasing her impressive work rate across the ground. It’s clear Swanson will be a favourite for the Club Champion award this year, however her leadership also puts her in the running for Best Club Person and Trademark Player award as well as she continuous to spearhead her young team’s development.
Charlie Thomas
Entering her second season of AFLW, Charlie Thomas improved out of sight this season, solidifying her position as a mainstay at the halfback position for the Eagles. After being thrown around the field positionally last season, Thomas found her calling in Rohan McHugh’s backline and played a pivotal role limiting opposition inside 50s. The ball found its way to Thomas’s area frequently this season, resulting in Thomas shouldering a lot of the load of her side, nevertheless she handled the pressure well, placing fourth in the league in rebound 50s with a total of 54 for the season. After winning season six’s Best First Year Player award, Thomas has now put herself firmly in the running for a Club Champion podium finish.
Mikayla Western
Coming off a stellar year for Claremont in the WAFLW competition a lot was known about Mikayla Western’s ability but the question was how she would fare at the elite level. From the outset Western became a standout rookie for the Eagles, bringing a new level of defensive pressure through the midfield. Her speed gave her the ability to track down defenders and lay some incredible chase down tackles. Her season was devastatingly cut short after breaking her arm in a tackle against Geelong in round eight, ruling her out for the remainder of the season. Despite missing the final two games, Western’s contributions throughout makes her a clear contender for Best First Year Player, particularly for her work in the early part of the season where she had a career high in disposals (12) during her debut game against Port Adelaide in round one.