In a pulsating count that went down to the wire, Adelaide Crows superstar Ebony Marinoff has claimed the AFLW’s most prestigious individual honor, edging out North Melbourne’s Ash Riddell by the slimmest of margins to be crowned the league’s best and fairest.
A Fitting Reward for a Stellar Season
For Marinoff, the accolade is rich reward for a phenomenal season that saw her once again stamp herself as one of the competition’s most influential figures. The dynamic midfielder was a dominant force throughout the Crows’ campaign, racking up disposals at will and consistently driving her side forward with her explosive speed and penetrating kicking.
Her stellar form saw her poll votes in all bar one of Adelaide’s matches, finishing the count with a total of 23 out of a possible 33 – a testament to both her individual brilliance and importance to the Crows’ setup. In claiming the award, Marinoff becomes just the second Adelaide player to take home the AFLW’s top gong, following in the illustrious footsteps of club legend and former teammate Erin Phillips.
“It’s an amazing feeling and such an honor to win this award,” an emotional Marinoff said upon receiving the medal. “I couldn’t have done it without the support of my incredible teammates, coaches and everyone at the Adelaide Football Club.”
Riddell Falls Just Short in Thrilling Finish
But Marinoff was made to sweat on her victory, with Riddell – the standout performer in North Melbourne’s march to the minor premiership – breathing down her neck until the final set of votes were read out. The classy Roos onballer, who led the league in disposals and took out the AFLCA MVP award, looked set to cap off a remarkable individual season with the ultimate prize.
In the end though, Marinoff’s consistency across the entire home and away season proved decisive, with the Crow able to maintain a slender lead as Riddell stormed home in a thrilling finish. The final margin of three votes was the closest in the award’s history, a fitting reflection of the incredible seasons put together by the competition’s two standout midfielders.
Marinoff Joins Rare Air
The Best and Fairest triumph elevates Marinoff into truly rarified air, confirming her status as one of the AFLW’s all-time greats. Still only 27 years of age, the midfield dynamo has already put together a glittering resume since making her debut in the league’s inaugural season.
- 3x AFLW Premiership player (2017, 2019, 2023)
- 7x All Australian (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024)
- AFLW record holder for most career tackles
Those accomplishments, combined with her latest individual honor, have many speculating that Marinoff could one day supplant Phillips as the Crows’ all-time greatest servant – a staggering thought given the latter’s enormous contribution to Adelaide’s golden era of success.
“Eb is a once-in-a-generation player and a deserved winner of the award,” Crows coach Matthew Clarke said. “Her work ethic, professionalism and ability to consistently perform at an elite level is second to none. To be mentioned in the same breath as a champion like Erin is a testament to her impact on our club.”
Just Reward After Heartache
For Marinoff, the Best and Fairest medal will go some way to atoning for the heartbreak of last season’s Grand Final defeat to the Brisbane Lions – a loss that left the star Crow shattered in the aftermath.
On that fateful day at Adelaide Oval, Marinoff was a constant thorn in the Lions’ side, racking up a game-high 27 disposals as she willed her side forward time and again. But a combination of desperate Brisbane defending and wasteful Crows finishing consigned the home side to a gut-wrenching three-point defeat, with Marinoff cutting a devastated figure as she slumped to the turf at the final siren.
That heartbreaking loss lit a fire within Marinoff and her Crows teammates, fueling their quest for redemption in 2024. And while the ultimate prize may have once again eluded them, falling to Melbourne in a classic preliminary final, Marinoff’s individual honor will come as some consolation for the team’s disappointing finals exit.
Primed for Tilt at More Glory
With Marinoff at the peak of her powers, Adelaide looks poised to once again challenge for the flag in AFLW Season Eight. The Crows have been a model of consistency since the league’s inception, reaching the playoffs in all seven seasons and claiming three premierships along the way.
Central to their sustained success has been the club’s ability to retain its core group of stars, with Marinoff, Chelsea Randall, Anne Hatchard and Eloise Jones forming the backbone of a side that is perennially in the championship mix. The quartet’s experience, combined with the emergence of exciting young talents like Teah Charlton and Eloise Ware, ensures Adelaide will again be a formidable force next season.
“This group is so driven and so determined to chase more success,” Marinoff said. “We’ve tasted the ultimate glory but we’ve also felt the pain of falling short. That’s what motivates us every single day – to keep pushing, keep improving and keep striving to be the best.”
For now though, Marinoff can bask in the afterglow of an award that cements her standing as one of the AFLW’s greatest-ever players. A true Crows champion, her legacy – like that of the legendary Phillips – will forever be intertwined with the club’s golden era of success.
But Marinoff was made to sweat on her victory, with Riddell – the standout performer in North Melbourne’s march to the minor premiership – breathing down her neck until the final set of votes were read out. The classy Roos onballer, who led the league in disposals and took out the AFLCA MVP award, looked set to cap off a remarkable individual season with the ultimate prize.
In the end though, Marinoff’s consistency across the entire home and away season proved decisive, with the Crow able to maintain a slender lead as Riddell stormed home in a thrilling finish. The final margin of three votes was the closest in the award’s history, a fitting reflection of the incredible seasons put together by the competition’s two standout midfielders.
Marinoff Joins Rare Air
The Best and Fairest triumph elevates Marinoff into truly rarified air, confirming her status as one of the AFLW’s all-time greats. Still only 27 years of age, the midfield dynamo has already put together a glittering resume since making her debut in the league’s inaugural season.
- 3x AFLW Premiership player (2017, 2019, 2023)
- 7x All Australian (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024)
- AFLW record holder for most career tackles
Those accomplishments, combined with her latest individual honor, have many speculating that Marinoff could one day supplant Phillips as the Crows’ all-time greatest servant – a staggering thought given the latter’s enormous contribution to Adelaide’s golden era of success.
“Eb is a once-in-a-generation player and a deserved winner of the award,” Crows coach Matthew Clarke said. “Her work ethic, professionalism and ability to consistently perform at an elite level is second to none. To be mentioned in the same breath as a champion like Erin is a testament to her impact on our club.”
Just Reward After Heartache
For Marinoff, the Best and Fairest medal will go some way to atoning for the heartbreak of last season’s Grand Final defeat to the Brisbane Lions – a loss that left the star Crow shattered in the aftermath.
On that fateful day at Adelaide Oval, Marinoff was a constant thorn in the Lions’ side, racking up a game-high 27 disposals as she willed her side forward time and again. But a combination of desperate Brisbane defending and wasteful Crows finishing consigned the home side to a gut-wrenching three-point defeat, with Marinoff cutting a devastated figure as she slumped to the turf at the final siren.
That heartbreaking loss lit a fire within Marinoff and her Crows teammates, fueling their quest for redemption in 2024. And while the ultimate prize may have once again eluded them, falling to Melbourne in a classic preliminary final, Marinoff’s individual honor will come as some consolation for the team’s disappointing finals exit.
Primed for Tilt at More Glory
With Marinoff at the peak of her powers, Adelaide looks poised to once again challenge for the flag in AFLW Season Eight. The Crows have been a model of consistency since the league’s inception, reaching the playoffs in all seven seasons and claiming three premierships along the way.
Central to their sustained success has been the club’s ability to retain its core group of stars, with Marinoff, Chelsea Randall, Anne Hatchard and Eloise Jones forming the backbone of a side that is perennially in the championship mix. The quartet’s experience, combined with the emergence of exciting young talents like Teah Charlton and Eloise Ware, ensures Adelaide will again be a formidable force next season.
“This group is so driven and so determined to chase more success,” Marinoff said. “We’ve tasted the ultimate glory but we’ve also felt the pain of falling short. That’s what motivates us every single day – to keep pushing, keep improving and keep striving to be the best.”
For now though, Marinoff can bask in the afterglow of an award that cements her standing as one of the AFLW’s greatest-ever players. A true Crows champion, her legacy – like that of the legendary Phillips – will forever be intertwined with the club’s golden era of success.
