After a Lions triumph that ended North’s fairytale season 8 storyline, it’s time to sit back and reflect on another impressive season of footy stats.
Brisbane celebrate their 2023 AFLW Premiership. Photo: AFLW
Stellar seasons from some of the most well-known players in the game are beginning to really highlight their dominance over time, particularly when it comes to the numbers. It should come as no surprise to anyone who follows AFLW that Ash Riddell topped off a formidable year as the leading disposal getter in the league, tallying 388 total disposals across her 13 games. Impressively, Riddell had her best year when it came to average disposals per game (29.8), bettering her season 6 best of 29.3.
Ash Riddell prepares to kick forward versus Geelong. Photo: AFL Players website
Whilst Riddell was impressive, the season 8 total disposal leader board features a couple of notable players that we must discuss. Ebony Marinoff is at the top of the list. She finished third for total disposals, her fifth top five finish in this category in the last six seasons.
In fact, she excelled in a few of the most important areas, including leading the total kick and total tackle count for the season, and finishing a close second to Jasmine Garner for total metres gained.
Stats courtesy aflwstats.com.au
Now that we’ve mentioned Jasmine Garner, a closer look shows us just why she is so valuable to North Melbourne, and a worthy selection into her sixth All-Australian team. Garner also added a handful of other awards to her trophy cabinet, including a third AFL Coaches Association AFLW Champion Player of the Year award, the most of any players in AFLW history.
Stats courtesy aflwstats.com.au
She also took out the AFL Players’ Association Players’ MVP award, which some suggest may well be the most coveted of any awards given it is voted on by peers.
Not unlike her teammate Riddell, Garner had a standout year, breaking records when it came to averages across a bunch of key statistics. Her 28.6 average disposals per game was well above her 2022 high of 22.8, and an average of 6.5 clearances per game was her best since season 5 back in 2021.
She also kicked 13 goals, the most goals she’s kicked in a season since her career began back in 2017.
Jasmine Garner. Photo: AFLW
It would be remiss of us at this point not to take a moment and recognise one of the game’s all-time greats, Garner’s teammate Emma Kearney. The heart and soul of North Melbourne, skipper Kearney again gained an All-Australian nod for her season 8 performance, the only player to be named in every AFLW AA team since it’s inception. Not only one of the Kangaroo greats, but a great of the game.
Emma Kearney prepares to deliver a handball versus Adelaide, Season 6. Photo: AFLW
Kearney and Garner continue to combine and deliver the ball from the backline through to the forward line, providing the likes of forward Kate Shierlaw with multiple scoring opportunities. Both players were consistent contributors across the season in multiple categories, but the numbers across their careers so far really show their continued consistency.
Stats courtesy aflwstats.com.au
Season 8 produced some great numbers for various players, some of which we have already discussed. However, the conclusion of the season also provided us with a chance to look back at those who have dominated the AFLW over the past 8 seasons.
Of the five leading disposal getters across the AFLW’s first 8 seasons, Marinoff sits atop as the clear leader with a total of 1799. In second place, Anne Hatchard has amassed 1534 disposals, two of Adelaide’s best dominating across the ground. Just like Marinoff, Hatchard has not only gathered many a disposal, she has consistently led the league.
She’s finished top five in disposals in 6 of the first 8 seasons.
Stats courtesy aflwstats.com.au
Jasmine Garner, Ally Anderson and Emma Kearney complete the top five for leading disposals in the first full eight seasons of the competition. Quite impressive that there are two players from both Adelaide and North Melbourne sitting in the top five.
Season 8 was full of excitement, full of impressive performances, and again showed us that the league is growing and developing quickly. We can’t wait to follow the numbers again when season 9 begins in 2024!
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