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Fremantle Dockers midfielder Kiara Bowers ties for AFLW best and fairest in thrilling count

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Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
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VideoAFLW: The Brisbane Lions have been crowned the 2021 AFLW Premiers after toppling the Adelaide Crows on their home turf.

AFL chief executive Gill McLachlan called the fifth AFLW season as the longest, best and a "seminal" one - and Fremantle’s Kiara Bowers was one of its queens.

Bowers tied with Collingwood star Brianna Davey on 15 votes to share AFLW best and fairest award in a thrilling count, putting the exclamation mark on a remarkable journey which saw her go from missing the first two seasons with injury, to becoming one of the game’s best.

The 29-year-old polled a maximum votes in three games, while being recognised by the umpires seven of the nine home and away matches.

Bowers chased down Davey, who led the Dockers midfielder by one vote heading into the final round, with the Collingwood star not polling in the final three rounds.

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This opened up the door for the tackling machine, who got the vital one vote for her 19 disposal, seven tackle effort against North Melbourne to tie for the award.

The Fremantle vice-captain polled three votes in round two for her 23 disposal, 14 tackle effort against West Coast, before doing it again against Adelaide the next weekend (23 disposals, 13 tackles) and in round seven against Carlton (28 disposals, 10 tackles).

“It (the feeling) is utter shock at the moment. I definitely didn’t think I was going to get it, I thought there’s incredible players out there that were easily going to run over the top so I feel very fortunate to wear this around my neck,” Bowers said.

“I am shocked that she (Davey) didn’t (poll in the final round), she’s a great player. I am fortunate that I won, got some votes and was able to draw with her. I’m feeling pretty lucky to be honest.

“I never thought it (winning the award) would be possible, so it’s definitely shock going through me at the moment.”

Bowers averaged a career-high 21 touches in 2021 as she began to change her role from contested beast to outside user with her silky kicking and smart decision making.

“(Coach) Trent (Cooper) sent me that goal at the start of the year to try to get more run and get the ball in my hands a little bit more and not so much in the stoppage area,” she said.

“Hopefully he lets me do it again next year.”

Kiara Bowers.
Camera IconKiara Bowers. Credit: John Koh/The West Australian

For all her accomplishments though, Bowers still was putting the team first, with a burning desire to bring the Dockers their first flag.

“I definitely don’t think it (her win) is the biggest thing we’re going to have in the coming years,” she said.

“I know we’re all striving for success and individual success is great, but it’s not what we all want.

“We’ll take this, enjoy it for a little bit and then move on.”

Western Bulldogs star Ellie Blackburn was the hot starter, polling 11 votes in the first four rounds, before her count came to a halt, polling three in the final round to finish on 14.

West Coast second-year midfielder Mikayla Bowen polled the most votes for the Eagles with five, while import Aisling McCarthy polled three votes.

Where Freo earned votes:

Round 1 v GWS

3 votes - G. Houghton

2 votes - S. Duffy

Round 2 v West Coast

3 votes - K. Bowers

1 vote - H. Miller

Round 3 v Adelaide

3 votes - K. Bowers

2 votes - G. Houghton

Round 4 v Gold Coast

3 votes - H. Miller

2 votes - G. O'Sullivan

1 vote - K. Bowers

Round 5 v Brisbane

2 votes - K. Bowers

Round 6 v West Coast

3 votes - G. Houghton

2 votes - K. Bowers

1 vote - S. Duffy

Round 7 v Carlton

3 votes - Kiara Bowers

Round 8 v Melbourne

1 vote - Tiah Haynes

Round 9 v North Melbourne

1 vote - Kiara Bowers

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