Garner, Marinoff lead AFLW's top 50 players for new season

The Australian

2 days ago

They're the one-two punch that have dominated the competition since day one. And now 10 seasons in, Jasmine Garner and Ebony Marinoff remain top of the pops in AFL Women's. But to ask who sits atop this season's player rankings is akin to choosing your favourite child.
Aerially and a power athlete, reigning premiership star Garner has all the qualities of a prototype AFLW player. An elite runner and trainer who has quietly garnered — pardon the pun — the respect and adulation of her teammates and opponents.
A tackling machine, Marinoff — the reigning league best and fairest winner — has built a reputation from rising star to out and out star, a true midfield beast.
So what would they steal from one another?
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL TOP 50
'As the competition as evolved, we naturally as athletes have to evolve the competition,' Marinoff told this masthead.
'And I think Jazzy's probably exactly that. She's just grown and evolved to the best player in the competition and naturally you're envious of people and their success, but you had to be happy for someone like Jazzy last year to hit the pinnacle of holding up that cup because of the hard work that goes into become the athlete that you are and help mould a team to have success.
'That was pretty inspiring, watching Jazzy do that from a team aspect. As a player, she's so hard to play against, because she's got it all. The one thing I don't have is aerial, and that's Jazzy.
'Her ability to hit the scoreboard is something that I admire, and she's just so calm. You watch her kick and she's got so much time when she doesn't have time. Always able to execute.
'She's such a well-rounded player and has got an amazing partnership with Ash Riddell in there - like what I've got with Anne Hatchard.
'Absolutely a complete player who can go back and protect on the defensive line and is someone that I've loved coming up against.'
Garner admires three-time premiership player Marinoff's consistency.
'Just about every year, she's made All-Australian,' Garner said.
'Last year, for her to top off the season with winning the best and fairest, we were all rooting for you on our table.
'It's just great to see. Every year we look to play Adelaide and we know it's going to be a battle inside. Noffy's name gets circled as someone we have to look after. It's just her workrate - we know how hard she works and if that's one thing I could steal from her, it would be her hunt.
'The way she runs, she just doesn't stop. For a player who tackles so much, maybe you don't get the ball as much, but she's still getting 30-plus. To do both is just great and I love coming up against players like Noffy. It's so good for the competition, having players that work as hard as her.'
And then there's Monique Conti, a league best and fairest winner herself who joins fellow medal winners Ally Anderson and Emily Bates inside the top 10.
The Prespakis sisters and breakout Swan Laura Gardiner slot in, while — as a prospective list for the upcoming season, all going well — multiple All-Australians Brianna Davey and Tayla Harris just sneak in, on the caveat that at their best, and in the hope they can find it, they're amid the top of the competition. Full-time pay, more analysis: Stars open up on AFLW dreams Lauren Wood Sports Reporter
Lauren Wood is an AFL and AFL Women's reporter for the Herald Sun and CODE Sports. She also covers a range of other sports across the busy Melbourne sporting calendar. AFL
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