St Kilda’s inaugural AFLW Best & Fairest has remarkably ended in a four-way tie, with Georgia Patrikios, Caitlin Greiser, Olivia Vesely and Rosie Dillon sharing the club’s highest honour.

The four Saints couldn’t be split after six rounds, each enjoying stellar debut campaigns to finish on 37 votes apiece on the celebrated night, held virtually over Zoom.

Patrikios and Vesely polled in every game before the season was abruptly cut short due to COVID-19, while Dillon stormed home with all her votes coming from the final four games of the year.

For Greiser, the recognition adds to her string of league-wide accolades, which included All-Australian selection, a Rising Star nomination and the AFLW Leading Goalkicker Award.

The G-Train’s thumping kick, sure hands and status as a hero of Moorabbin earned her widespread praise – especially after her match-winning goal in St Kilda’s maiden triumph – but just as importantly, cemented her as a pivotal piece of the Saints’ future successes.

Decorated youngsters Patrikios and Vesely were just as important in the red, white and black’s landmark season, providing dazzle and heart respectively through the midfield, plus a great deal of skill, to hold their own against seasoned oppositions.

Both were also nominated for the Rising Star during the year, with the smooth-moving Patrikios – who was selected in the All-Australian squad – finishing second in the count.

In Dillon’s case, it was overdue recognition for a largely unheralded campaign at the elite level.

The glue and the grunt that held the St Kilda’s midfield together, the tenacious on-baller packed a punch week after week on the side to allow her teammates to thrive.

Nat Exon polled behind the historic quartet on 28 votes, while co-captain Rhi Watt (26), Tilly Lucas-Rodd (24), Hannah Priest (24), Clara Fitzpatrick (20) and Nicola Xenos (16) rounded out the top-10.

Watt was presented the Players’ Player of the Year Award off the back of her terrific season at the helm, while Fitzpatrick – over 17,000km away in Ireland – was recognised for her consistent season in defence with the Dare Iced Coffee Coaches’ Award.

St Kilda AFLW 2020 Best & Fairest