Fremantle midfielder Kiara Bowers is doing her best to stake future naming rights to the AFLW RAC Derby best on ground award, collecting her third consecutive medal at Optus Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Bowers is the only winner of the accolade, judged best afield in all three meetings with West Coast in the women’s competition.
Finishing with 24 disposals, five tackles and 92 AFL Fantasy points, Bowers edged out Gemma Houghton (five goals, 15 disposals) and Ebony Antonio (23 disposals, nine marks) to finish atop with seven votes.
Senior coach Trent Cooper said the inclusion of midfielder Katie-Jayne Grieve allowed Bowers to get more of the ball on the outside of the contest.
“She is really just showing what we knew,” Cooper said.
“She is an elite ball user and one of those kicks to (Gemma) Houghton lace out… her getting to the outside is really important for us because she is such a good ball user.
“Today having Katie-Jayne Grieve back in the side to do a lot more of the inside grunt work allowed Kiara get to the outside a bit more.
“It was a big part of why we did move the ball so well.”
The following votes were awarded by the judges of the AFLW RAC Derby Medal.
Eliza Reilly (The West Australian)
3 votes - K. Bowers (Freo)
2 votes - G. Houghton (Freo)
1 vote - E. Antonio (Freo)
Justin Chadwick (AAP)
3 votes - K. Bowers (Freo)
2 votes - G. Houghton (Freo)
1 vote - E. Antonio (Freo)
Beau McDonald (ABC Radio)
3 votes - E. Antonio (Freo)
2 votes - G. Houghton (Freo)
1 vote - K. Bowers (Freo)
Total votes
7 votes - K. Bowers (Freo)
6 votes - G. Houghton (Freo)
5 vote - E. Antonio (Freo)
Winner: Kiara Bowers (Fremantle)
