Monique Conti has made history for Richmond, becoming the first player for the club to win the AFLW‘s best and fairest award.
It caps an outstanding year for Conti who claimed her fifth All-Australian honour on Monday night.
The midfielder finished with 23 votes, winning by seven with a four-way tie for second between Geelong’s Amy McDonald, Sydney’s Chloe Molloy, North Melbourne’s Ash Riddell and Gold Coast’s Claudia Whitfort.
READ MORE: Iconic 112-year-old scoreboard’s one subtle change
READ MORE: Bitter reaction to accidental cult hero’s viral golf moment
READ MORE: Swimming legend quits job as AFLW boss
Despite dominating polling across her 10 matches in 2023, Conti admitted to being anxious throughout the count.
“I was just really nervous, I’m sweating horribly right now and shaking. I was sitting there trying to do the math, and I had (captain) Katie Brennan sitting there staring at me, which made me even more nervous, but how exciting,” she said.
The 23-year-old went on to pay tribute to her coaches after finishing with six best on grounds during the season.
“Honestly, you can’t be where you are without your teammates. I think we’ve got a really great coach in Ryan Ferguson and his assistants. With the help of Grace Egan in the midfield this year, and Eilish (Sheerin) came in for the last round, some good people around me, it really helps,” she said.
“Obviously, I’ve been challenged a lot this year (with Richmond’s injury crisis), as the whole team have been, so just great coaches and team.”
Conti’s achievement is even more remarkable considering her cross-code status, having already returned to the WNBL after Richmond’s season finished.
Her motivation to keep playing both sports comes down to an inability to sit still, she admitted.
“I’d go crazy if I did, I like to be go, go, go all the time, and I think that’s what makes me, me. I wouldn’t be sane if I was sitting still,” Conti said.
“I go from one to the other to keep myself going, and that’s the way I like it.”
While paying credit to the retired Erin Phillips, who played in the AFLW after finishing up in basketball, Conti spoke admirably of her position as a role model for any athletes pursuing more than one code.
“I’m still working on my why but I think that’s something that keeps me going is knowing that myself and everyone in this room … we are all role models for young female athletes and even young athletes coming through,” she said.
“That’s what keeps me going is knowing I can help create a path for young girls who are told to choose one or the other, so credit to the girls who can do both.
“Being a role model is really important, I think it’s one thing that drives me and something that drives a lot of us.”
As the AFLW continues to grow, the youngster said she’s got no plans to put a definitive call on what she does in the future.
“Sometimes my body doesn’t feel 23, but I just want to keep doing what I’m doing,” she said.
“I don’t like to look too far ahead, that stresses me out.”
Conti has now polled 79 votes from her 61 games at AFLW level.