TONIGHT, Melbourne is celebrating its night of nights, honouring the season that was.
Follow along as the Dees crown all award recipients for 2023 including the top honour of the newly named Daisy Pearce Trophy...
Demon Spirit Award – Lily Mithen
First introduced last season, the Demon Spirit Award looks to honour the player that embodies the values of the club and football program, with Lily Mithen displaying Demon Spirit week-in, week-out in 2023.
Mithen has been an integral member of the club and its women’s program since the AFLW’s creation in 2017, helping build the Melbourne program to where it is today.
This season saw the 25-year-old continue to be a pillar of strength in the Demon line-up, driving standards through her high energy and determination both on and off the field.
The utility was impressive throughout the year, her versatility an incredibly significant quality for the team during important games throughout the season. This ability to step up when the team needed her has made Mithen a worthy recipient of this year’s Demon Spirit Award.
Third Place – Lauren Pearce – 54 votes
A much-loved member of the Demon line-up and a star in the ruck, Lauren Pearce’s 2023 has seen her talent shine once again and has earned her third place in the club’s best and fairest count, polling 54 votes from 11 games.
Pearce has been leading the way with her ruck craft since the beginning of the league in 2017, known for her ability to impact in the contest both aerially and at ground level. This year, Pearce averaged 18.5 hitouts and 3.2 clearances a game, often seen changing the momentum of a game with a single tap, a strong mark or a clean clearance.
Her most impactful display came during Round 10 where, despite the team’s loss, she was able to rally and register 27 hitouts, 17 disposals and six clearances.
First Place – Tyla Hanks – 64 votes
After a career-best year, star Demon Tyla Hanks has finished in equal top spot alongside Kate Hore, polling 64 votes from 12 games.
This is the second time that Hanks has taken out the top honour alongside her teammate, having been crowned the best with Paxy Paxman during the 2021 season.
As vice-captain, Hanks solidified her name as one of the competition’s best midfielders, who, with ball-in-hand, can make a real impact on the game.
In her sixth season for the Dees, the 23-year-old used her high footy IQ, composure and elite skills to provide plenty for her teammates, averaging a career-high 21.7 disposals, 5.6 clearances, 4.4 score involvements and 3.7 inside 50s.
Her best performance for the season came in Round 8 where she led the Dees to a powerful win over the Roos with 26 disposals, eight tackles, seven clearances and a goal.
First Place – Kate Hore – 64 votes
For the second year in a row, Kate Hore has been recognised as the best and fairest for Melbourne, sharing the honour with dual-recipient Tyla Hanks. She polled a total of 64 votes from 12 games.
As the club’s newly appointed captain, Hore has embraced every opportunity with an impressive level of respect and purpose. This allowed her to not only step up on an individual level but inspire her teammates with each new week.
Leading the team to their fifth consecutive finals appearance, the star Demon played the role of a dynamic forward, clunking marks, getting involved in the contest and snapping goals whenever she could.
She became the second player in league history to kick 20 goals in a home-and-away season, earning her the title of leading goal-kicker alongside Eden Zanker. She also led the league for average score involvements with 6.5 a game.
Her strongest performance in 2023 came during Round 2 where she became just the second Demon to kick five goals in a game. The powerful display was rounded out with 23 disposals, eight marks and six tackles.
Tonight’s honour completes an outstanding individual campaign from Hore, named the league’s leading goalkicker, the All-Australian captain and the AFLPA’s best captain.
