WOMENS.AFL'S Team of the Week: Best of the Best is here.
Every Tuesday during the nine-round home and away season, the Team of the Week was announced, and we've compiled those selections to come up with an overall Team of the Year.
Like last year, the bulk of the team is made up of those with the most nominations.
PRELIMINARY FINALS REVEALED Who plays who in week two
When a tie-breaker was needed, we consulted the overall tally of womens.afl's 3-2-1 votes (awarded after each match).
Given the evenness of the competition this year, there was one final, final tie-breaker needed which hadn't been used in 2020's edition: the AFLCA votes for player of the year was used to decide the last spot in the 21.
There are six defensive and six forward positions (one of each on the bench), eight midfield roles (three on the bench) and one ruck picked.
DEFENDERS
Lauren Ahrens (Gold Coast), Kerryn Harrington (Carlton), Stacey Livingstone (Collingwood), Kate Lutkins (Brisbane), Ruby Schleicher (Collingwood)
Ahrens (16.7 disposals and 7.2 intercepts) was a lynchpin of Gold Coast's backline and stood up remarkably well considering how often the ball was in the Suns' defensive 50.
Carlton co-captain Harrington (14.7 touches at 77.3 per cent, 7.2 intercepts) started slowly but was back to her best by the end of the season, while Lutkins (11.8, 215.8m gained) was a consistent performer.
Collingwood duo Livingstone (13.4 disposals, 7.6 intercepts, 3.6 marks) and Schleicher (16.6, 284m gained, 4.3 marks) complemented each other nicely.
MIDFIELDERS
Lauren Pearce (Melbourne, ruck), Kiara Bowers (Fremantle), Brianna Davey (Collingwood), Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne), Alyce Parker (GWS), Georgia Patrikios (St Kilda)
Pearce averaged 15 hitouts, 14.7 disposals and 3.7 clearances, and her form came on in leaps and bounds as the season progressed.
Bowers (21.2 touches, 10.3 tackles, 6.3 clearances), is hot favourite for the AFLW best and fairest, while Davey (23.1, 4.8 clearances) had a career-best season.
It may not have been quite her incredible best, but Garner (21.1 disposals, 5.9 clearances, eight goals) was still a very dangerous player.
Giant Parker (23.9, 5.6 clearances, 5.1 tackles) and Saint Patrikios (23.9, 360.1m gained, 3.8 clearances) were shining lights for their sides in tough seasons.
FORWARDS
Katie Brennan (Richmond), Chloe Molloy (Collingwood), Erin Phillips (Adelaide), Cora Staunton (GWS), Darcy Vescio (Carlton)
Finally injury-free, Brennan (13.3 disposals, 259.1m gained, 14 goals) had her best season of AFLW, as did another original marquee player in Vescio (9.1 disposals, 4.4 score involvements and 16 goals).
Molloy (9.1 touches, 14 goals) won more than one game for the Pies off her own boot, as did the evergreen Staunton (10.3, 10 goals).
Phillips (18.3 disposals, 5.6 score involvements, 12 goals) would occasionally take part in centre bounces but did her most dangerous work inside 50.
INTERCHANGE
Ellie Blackburn (Western Bulldogs), Britt Bonnici (Collingwood), Izzy Huntington (Western Bulldogs), Maddy Prespakis (Carlton), Hannah Priest (St Kilda)
Blackburn (19.6 disposals, 351.9m gained, five goals) had a blistering start to the year, as did teammate Huntington up forward (8.8 touches, 4.4 marks, 12 goals).
Bonnici (24.7 touches, 320.2m gained) ran all day for the Pies, while Prespakis (21.2, 11.1 contested possessions, 4.0 score involvements) was a crucial Carlton cog moving into attack.
Saints co-captain Priest (13.4 disposals, 6.0 intercepts, 3.4 marks) takes the last defensive spot after a busy year in the backline.
