Collingwood midfielder Jaimee Lambert has been presented with her third Collingwood AFLW Best and Fairest award having been crowned the 2022 winner on Friday night.
Lambert, who previously won the award in 2019 and 2020, becomes the club’s only AFLW player to win the award on three occasions.
The 29-year-old was a clear 2022 winner, polling 130 votes to finish 24 votes clear of runner up Ruby Schleicher (106 votes) and third-placed Mikala Cann (88 votes).
Averaging 20.3 disposals this season, Lambert was a dominate force through the midfield polling in every match of the home and away season.
Leading the side in contested possessions (109), inside 50s (31) and clearances (averaging 4.3), Lambert earnt her second All-Australian selection this season.
Collingwood AFLW senior coach Steve Symonds commended Lambert on her outstanding achievement.
“Jaimee has had another phenomenal season,” Symonds said.
“To now be a three-time winner of this award speaks to Jaimee’s ability to consistently bring her best and perform at the highest level.
“She continues to play with such class week in, week out and drives such a high-competitive standard which is not only admired by our program but within the entire league.
“This is a huge reward for all her hard work and she should be extremely proud of her efforts.”
Schleicher claimed the runner up award for the second consecutive season.
The Pies’ vice-captain and foundation player was a pillar of strength in defence, with the second highest ranking in marks (54) and intercept possessions (79) in the league. The 24-year-old also received her second All-Australian honours this year.
In her best season to date, Cann stepped up in the midfield averaging career-high disposals (15.6), tackles (4.1) and score involvements (2.3). The 21-year-old was named in the AFLPA’s 22Under22 side for the second year in a row.
Rounding out the top five in Collingwood’s best and fairest vote was vice-captain Brittany Bonnici (69 votes) and fourth-year defender Lauren Butler (60 votes).
In other awards on the night, Eliza James was presented as the Best First Year player, while Lauren Butler was awarded the Players’ Player award.
Best and Fairest Award presented by presented by AIA
Jaimee Lambert
Player’s Player Award presented by Nike.
Lauren Butler
Best First Year Player presented by Sharp Extensive IT
Eliza James
Side By Side Award presented by KFC
Jen Plumb (Team Manager / Property Assistant)
Best and Fairest Results
1st Jaimee Lambert 130 votes
2nd Ruby Schleicher 106 votes
3rd Mikala Cann 88 votes
4th Brittany Bonnici 69 votes
5th Lauren Butler 60 votes
(All four coaches gave five players votes, in a 5-1 order, after each match (including the finals series). The maximum votes a player can receive per match is 20.
