The AFLW Coaches’ Award

The AFLW Coaches’ Award is voted by AFLW senior coaches — the equivalent of the AFLPA MVP for the women’s competition. The award honours the player most-respected by the league’s coaching figures, often diverging from umpire-voted Best & Fairest winners. Coaches recognise different attributes than umpires; the AFLW Coaches’ Award captures that distinction.

The History: AFLW Coaches’ Recognition

The AFLW Coaches’ Award was instituted in the early years of the AFLW competition (post-2017). The voting system: every AFLW senior coach votes annually for the league’s most-valuable player. Total votes are tallied and the player with the most receives the trophy.

The award fills a similar role to the AFL Players’ Leigh Matthews Trophy — capturing the respect of senior figures within the competition rather than relying on umpire visibility.

Recent AFLW Coaches’ Award Winners

• 2024: AFLW Season recent winners
• 2023: AFLW Season 7 winners
• 2022: Coaches’ recognition for season’s best
• 2021: Various winners
• 2020: COVID-affected season; awards adjusted
• 2019: Erin Phillips contender
• 2018: Various winners
• 2017: Inaugural winner

The Coaches’ Vote vs Best & Fairest

The AFLW Coaches’ Award and the Best & Fairest often produce different winners in the same season, reflecting:

• Different voter bases: Coaches see player attributes umpires don’t notice (defensive efforts, leadership, tactical awareness)
• Different visibility patterns: Best & Fairest favours ball-getters; Coaches’ Award favours team contributors
• Different season summary: Coaches see the full season; umpires vote game-by-game

This divergence enriches the AFLW awards calendar — multiple legitimate “best player” honours each year.

Trivia for the Pub

• The AFLW Coaches’ Award is voted by AFLW senior coaches.
• It is the AFLW equivalent of the AFLPA’s Leigh Matthews Trophy.
• The award has been instituted as the AFLW competition has matured.
• The Coaches’ Award and Best & Fairest often diverge in winners.
• Voting captures coaches’ respect rather than umpire visibility.
• The award is presented at the AFLW Awards Ceremony.
• Some AFLW Coaches’ Award recipients have transitioned to coaching roles post-playing.
• The award has been sponsored by various corporate partners.
• Multiple winners have gone on to AFLW captaincy roles.
• The Coaches’ Award reflects the maturation of the AFLW competition.

The Rumours

The persistent rumour: integrating AFLW and AFL coaches’ awards. Won’t happen — both are kept separate.

The other rumour: renaming the AFLW Coaches’ Award after a foundational figure. Has been canvassed; no formal renaming yet.

The Verdict

The AFLW Coaches’ Award captures the genuine respect of senior figures within the women’s competition. Long live the AFLW’s coaches’ MVP.

The award also represents the maturation of the AFLW competition. As the league has expanded from 8 to 18 teams, the coaching ranks have grown — bringing diverse perspectives, tactical innovations, and the kind of experienced voice that makes a “Coaches’ Award” genuinely meaningful. Senior AFLW coaches now include former AFLW players, former AFL coaches with women’s-football experience, and dedicated AFLW pathway coaches who’ve come up through state-level women’s football leagues.

For AFLW players, winning the Coaches’ Award is genuinely respected. It captures recognition that goes beyond statistical achievement — coaches see the full picture of a player’s contribution, including defensive efforts, leadership, tactical awareness, and the willingness to do the work that doesn’t show up on a stat sheet. Best & Fairest winners often are the league’s most-prolific ball-getters; Coaches’ Award winners often add layers of contribution beyond that.

The AFLW Coaches’ Award is also notable for its role in highlighting the women’s competition’s tactical dimensions. As the AFLW has matured, tactical complexity has grown — players are now drilled on positioning, marking, contested-ball technique, and team structure to a degree that exceeded the inaugural seasons. The Coaches’ Award honours players who excel in these tactical dimensions.