It was a an almost shocked Ebony Antonio that accepted Fremantle’s Fairest and Best award on Friday night at Crown Ballroom, with the 25-year-old defender coming to grips with earning the highest individual honour at her football club.
Antonio brought home two of the three major awards on the night, also voted in by her teammates for the Players’ Award.
The defender finished on 89 votes, four ahead of runner-up and 2017 club champion Dana Hooker, while her partner and Fremantle captain Kara Donnellan was third with 79 votes.
Despite playing a primarily defensive role, Antonio was one of Fremantle’s major ball winners in 2018, sitting behind only Hooker and Donnellan in disposals for the season while also impacting the scoreboard with three goals.
“I’m still wrapping my head around it to be honest,” Antonio said.
“To be up there with Dana Hooker and the likes of Matthew Pavlich and Nat Fyfe as club champions at Fremantle – it’s very rewarding.”
An impressive basketballer in her youth and early 20’s, Antonio only turned her attention to football in 2016 when she joined Swan Districts.
Antonio quickly took to the sport and was drafted into Fremantle’s inaugural AFLW team in 2017, where she finished an impressive fourth despite missing one game through suspension.
Some off-season guidance from senior coach Michelle Cowan, helped drive Antonio become a more consistent footballer as she grew more accustomed to her new sporting passion.
She was rewarded for impressive season with a selection in the 2018 All Australian team in defence.
“I had a few conversations with Michelle after last year’s season,” Antonio said.
“It was about myself getting a few more kilometres in the legs. I’m from a basketball background so it was about getting a lot more consistent on the field.
“It was also just playing good footy for four quarters and I was able to do that over the winter with Swan Districts and I was able to being that into this season.”
Antonio paid tribute to Donnellan, who she said was her ‘role model’.
Donnellan has long been described as one of the elites and pioneers of women’s football in Australia and Antonio joked about coming to terms with being recognised alongside Donnellan as one of the game’s best.
“I’m a bit speechless, I’m used to sitting down there and watching Kara get all the awards to be honest!” Antonio said.
“(She’s my) my superstar partner, soulmate and, hopefully, future wife one day.
“Coming across from a basketball and watching Kara play and the way she goes about it, it was very inspiring to me. I tried to take that on board as much as I can, as she’s one of the elites in the game.
“No doubt next year and in the years to come, she’ll be up here making a speech like this.”
Kara Donnellan and Ebony Antonio on the purple carpet
Antonio added that she wouldn’t have made it this far in her sporting career without the support of her family.
“I want to thank mum and dad, they’ve been by my side throughout my whole sporting career,” Antonio said.
“You’ve given up a lot of time and a lot of money when I win the lotto one day I’ll definitely pay you guys back but it definitely doesn’t go unrecognised.”
