Emily Bates of the Brisbane Lions wins AFLW best and fairest, Mimi Hill named rising star

Emily Bates has taken out the AFLW best and fairest award, beating Anne Hatchard by a single vote.

Brisbane Lions vice-captain Bates, who was also named AFLCA champion player of the year, was tied with Hatchard with one round of votes to count.

However, Bates earned a maximum three votes from her final round while Hatchard had to settle for second place after earning two votes.

It was Hatchard's fellow Crow Ebony Marinoff who earned the three votes in Adelaide's final game to pip Hayley Miller to third spot.

«I'm just in shock really,» Bates said.

«I know my name was being thrown around a little bit but that was a shock to me and this is obviously the greatest honour you could ever achieve.»

Bates paid tribute to the Lions' «sisterhood», which she said was particularly in evidence when they came to help her clean her home after it flooded last month during Brisbane's floods.

She also paid credit to her late father, who she credited with getting her involved in football at the Aspley club in Brisbane, where he was a coach of the men's team.

Lions coach Craig Starcevich bought the house down when he obliged Bates by drinking a champagne shoey in celebration, to the delight of the audience at the Crown Palladium.

Earlier in the night veteran defender Emma Kearney was named in her sixth All-Australian team, the only player to be honoured in every AFLW season to date.

The North Melbourne defender was also named as captain.

«It's a huge honour,» she said.

«Obviously really privileged to lead such a skilful and great group of women.»

Carlton's Mimi Hill completed a remarkable return from injury to win the Rising Star award, beating out Charlie Rowbottom of the Gold Coast Suns by a single point.

Hill earned 43 votes after earning a nomination