JUST 24 hours after being named the All Australian captain for the 2020 season, Karen Paxman has placed sixth in the AFL Women’s Best and Fairest Award.
The W Awards, which were broadcasted on Tuesday night, saw Carlton’s Maddy Prespakis take home the top prize, finishing three votes clear of Kiara Bowers from the Dockers.
But Paxman’s stellar 2020 campaign was recognised by the umpires, polling nine votes from six games to finish on the leaderboard for the third time in four seasons.
The 31-year-old has shown incredible consistency since the competition’s conception, polling 10 votes in both 2017 and 2019 to prove why she is one of the best midfielders in the game.
Averaging 21 disposals per outing this season, Paxman led the league in clearances and became one of just two players to be named in the All Australian team for a fourth consecutive year.
Melbourne’s vice-captain, who is expected to feature heavily in the club’s Best and Fairest count on Friday night, wasn’t the only Demon to poll votes from the umpires in a shortened fixture.
AFLW BEST AND FAIREST CONTENDERS
Kate Hore, a fellow All Australian member, was rewarded for a career-best season with four votes, as well as receiving the Coates Hire Goal of the Year.
Elise O’Dea, Shelley Scott and Eden Zanker all had best on ground performances, while Daisy Pearce and Niamh McEvoy rounded out the Dees’ tally with two votes apiece.