Sydney Swans duo Sofia Hurley and Laura Gardiner have polled strongly in Round 6, earning votes from the coaches as part of the AFL Coaches Association AFLW Champion Player of the Year award.

With the Swans playing two fixtures over the Round 6 compression games of the season against Essendon and Geelong, the red and white midfield pair earned votes in both weeks for their strong performances.

Hurley polled nine votes in the sides three-point defeat to Essendon, finishing with 28 disposals, 16 contested possessions, six tackles and eight clearances while Gardiner polled six votes with a game high 35 disposals, 15 contested possessions, six inside 50s and seven tackles.

Defender Tanya Kennedy polled three votes in the contest with 21 disposals, a game high 11-tackles, seven clearances and six inside 50s.

Essendon v Sydney Swans – Round 6A

Votes Player (Club)
9 Sofia Hurley (SYD)
6 Laura Gardiner (SYD)
6 Brooke Walker (ESS)
5 Amy Gaylor (ESS)
3 Tanya Kennedy (SYD)
1 Paige Scott (ESS)

In the side’s three-point defeat to Geelong in Round 6B, Gardiner again featured heavily with a game-high 30 disposals, 12 contested possessions and five clearances to earn five votes, while Hurley finished with 20 disposals and nine tackles to earn three votes.

In her first game this year, Paris McCarthy kicked three majors in the space of seven minutes during the second quarter, alongside her 12 touches to earn two votes.

McCarthy also earnt a NAB AFLW Goal of the Year nomination where she snapped overhead to claim her third major of the afternoon.  

Sydney Swans v Geelong – Round 6B

Votes Player (Club)
5 Rebecca Webster (GEEL)
5 Laura Gardiner (SYD)
5 Nina Morrison (GEEL)
4 Julia Crockett-Grills (GEEL)
4 Jacqueline Parry (GEEL)
3 Sofia Hurley (SYD)
2 Georgie Prespakis (GEEL)
2 Paris McCarthy (SYD)

Gardiner sits tenth on the leaderboard with 36 votes this year while Hurley sits equal 15^th with 27 votes.

See the leaderboard at the completion of Round 6.

The AFL Coaches Association AFLW Champion Player of the Year is an award voted by the AFLW senior coaches on a 5,4,3,2,1 basis after each home and away game, acknowledging outstanding effort to an individual player in a season.

The best way to support our AFLW team is by purchasing a membership. From $37 you can get access to ALL home and away games this season, plus many more perks. Join today!