Jaimee Lambert has gone back-to-back at St Kilda’s AFLW Best & Fairest count, with the star Saint collecting her second club honour in the red, white and black at tonight’s event at The Crown Aviary.
Already boasting one of the most decorated résumés in the league, tonight’s award marks the dual All-Australian’s fifth best and fairest honours at the highest level, with her first three awards earned during her time at Collingwood.
Lambert shone as one of the Saints’ most consistent ball winners throughout the 2024 season, with the 31-year-old polling a total of 66 votes to claim pole position ahead of teammates Jesse Wardlaw (55) and Tyanna Smith (54).
Once again cementing herself as her side’s premier midfielder, the ball-magnet racked up a career-high 51 clearances and topped the club for total disposals (209) for the second consecutive season.
Just one vote separated second place, with spearhead Wardlaw finishing runner-up. The All-Australian kicked 14 majors for the year, taking out the Saints' leading goalkicker title alongside a career-best 131 disposals, 53 marks and an All-Australian squad inclusion.
Young gun Smith finished third, having a career-best campaign after missing both 2022 seasons with an ACL injury. Tonight marks her third podium finish, having previously placed as runner-up in 2021 and 2023.
Serene Watson was a force to be reckoned with in 2024 with the star defender claiming fourth place and well-earned All-Australian squad position, while running machine Molly McDonald and new recruit Paige Trudgeon couldn’t be separated in fifth.
In other awards across the night, Ash Richards received the Always a Saint Award for best exemplifying the team’s values on and off the field, Lambert and Wardlaw shared the fan-voted Red Rooster Sainter of the Year Award, J’Noemi Anderson was deemed the Best Emerging Player, while Football Operations & Logistics Coordinator Chantel Pinney was presented the staff-specific Bernadette Sierakowski Allegiance Award.
St Kilda 2024 AFLW Best & Fairest
1. Jaimee Lambert (66 votes)
2. Jesse Wardlaw (55)
3. Tyanna Smith (54)
4. Serene Watson (41)
=5. Molly McDonald (38)
=5. Paige Trudgeon (38)
6. Nicola Stevens (35)
=7. Grace Kelly (32)
=7. Ash Richards (32)
8. Darcy Guttridge (24)
9. Hannah Priest (19)
10. Olivia Vesely (17)
Additional award winners
Always a Saint Award - Ash Richards
Best Emerging Player Award - J’Noemi Anderson
Red Rooster Sainter of the Year - Jaimee Lambert and Jesse Wardlaw
Bernadette Sierakowski Allegiance Award - Chantel Pinney
