Maddie Di Cosmo has claimed North Melbourne's VFLW best and fairest award in the club's premiership-winning season.
Playing all 17 games, the tough midfielder who came across from Carlton prior to the season added a new dynamic to the side's onball brigade. She averaged 18.5 disposals and eight tackles per game.
Di Cosmo kicked the Roos' first ever VFLW finals series goal against Essendon in the elimination final, and slotted a long-bomb in the Grand Final against Western Bulldogs.
Maddie Di Cosmo FROM 50M OUT 🤯
— VFL / VFLW (@VFL) July 21, 2024
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Her performance in the knockout clash with the Bombers was arguably her best as she notched 29 disposals, 11 clearances and eight tackles.
Di Cosmo topped the best-and-fairest voting with 196 votes, four votes ahead of Alana Barba, who also won the Shinboner of the Year award.
Barba, who proved to be another fruitful off-season recruit for the club, averaged just under 18 touches per outing in her first campaign in royal blue and white.
Particularly dominant in the second half of the year, she was the difference-maker in North Melbourne's 11-point Round 12 win over Port Melbourne, booting three majors from 22 possessions to help get her team over the line. Her four-bounce run and goal against Williamstown in the semi-final was another moment to remember.
Rounding out the top three was 2023 best and fairest winner Audrey Rhodes, who received 182 votes.
Rhodes again starred in midfield, averaging 16.8 touches. She finished top of the League for total tackles with 175, 25 of which came in a single game against Casey in Round 3, and was prolific on Grand Final day, collecting a game-high 27 touches.
The Best Clubwoman award - for the player who epitomises everything about unselfishness, has a team-first attitude and goes beyond the call of duty, not just on the field for the 21 players selected each week, but for the whole playing list and club - was won by Charlotte van der Vlies, while Nyakoat Dojiok claimed the Most Improved award.
Dojiok kicked 32 majors in 2024, doubling her 2023 season tally of 16 for Collingwood, and slotted four goals from 14 touches to take out the Lisa Hardeman Medallist for best on ground in the Grand Final.
As announced in the final stages of the season, co-captain Jess Jones has hung up the boots. She played 42 games as a Kangaroo over three campaigns and bows out as a premiership skipper.
Best and Fairest top 10
1. Maddie Di Cosmo – 196
2. Alana Barba – 192
3. Audrey Rhodes – 182
4. Renee Tierney – 178
5. Nyakoat Dojiok – 171
6. Mara McSweeney – 137
7. Nicole Hales – 134
=7. Elisabeth Jackson – 134
=7. Tahlia Meier – 134
10. Matilda Zander – 118
Award winners
Best and Fairest Winner: Maddie Di Cosmo
Best and Fairest Runner-up: Alana Barba
Best and Fairest Third Place: Audrey Rhodes
Most Improved: Nyakoat Dojiok
Shinboner of the Year: Alana Barba
Best Clubwoman: Charlotte van der Vlies
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