Lucy Wales, Eliza West and Emily Bates have been recognised with Club awards at Hawthorn’s AFLW best and fairest on Wednesday night.
Wales received two awards after a stellar 2025 campaign, taking out the World Class Award and the Players’ Player Award.
Wales’ ability to drive elite standards across all areas, exhibit a growth mindset, show accountability and resilience, as well as being disciplined and consistent in her approach, were all reasons why she was given the World Class Award for a second straight season.
She was also awarded the Players’ Player Award, voted on by the 21 selected players after each game on who they judged the players’ player.
22-year-old Wales averaged 20 hitouts, 18.3 disposals, 11.8 contested possessions, 6.3 intercept possessions, 5.9 tackles and four clearances per game.
Another dual Club award winner was West, who claimed the Competitor Award and was named Best in Finals.
The Competitor Award recognises West as a player who always gives maximum effort, who knows their role, shows commitment, energy and intent and embraces the challenge in whatever form it presents.
The vice-captain did a stellar job as stand-in skipper, leading by example and with courage, from Round 8 through to the Qualifying Final.
She averaged 22.6 disposals, 15.1 handballs, 13.9 contested possessions, 5.6 tackles and 3.8 clearances, West was pivotal to the Hawks 2025 campaign.
The 28-year-old’s efforts in finals were all class. In the Qualifying Final she managed a game-high 27 disposals, 18 handballs, four tackles, equal game-high four clearances.
While in the Semi Final she collected 17 disposals, 12 handballs, team-high seven tackles, team-high four clearances and four score involvements.
Bates was recognised with the Unbreakable Award. The award highlights a player who is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed, has a team-first mentality, communicates with honesty and integrity and celebrates every win, big or small.
The skipper played 8 of a possible 14 games, having been sidelined after Round 7 with a sternoclavicular joint injury, before making a remarkable return in the Hawks’ Semi-Final.
Having been a great support for her teammates while sidelined through injury, she was reliable as ever when on field in 2025, averaging 21.5 disposals, 5.6 tackles and 2.8 clearances.
See the full list of award winners below.
World Class Award – Lucy Wales
Competitor Award – Eliza West
Unbreakable Award – Emily Bates
Best Player in Finals – Eliza West
Players’ Player – Lucy Wales
