Southern Saints 2023 Best and Fairest Preview

18/07/2023

The 2023 season had countless highlights for the Southern Saints. With the 2023 Best and Fairest set to take place this Saturday, we've reviewed the season of a few Saints’ stars who could take home the Club’s top award.

Tessa Boyd

A mainstay in defence, Tessa Boyd barely put a foot wrong all season and managed to feature in all 14 matches for the Saints. Boyd’s positional sense and awareness helped her average a team-high 18.1 disposals per game.

Boyd’s courage and aerial prowess were on display throughout the season as she took a number of intercept marks to halt opposition attacks. Her excellent foot skills then helped the Saints create many rebound chances from the backline – she averaged 13.3 kicks per game.

When a game was there to be won, the team could always rely on Boyd and this was epitomised by a sensational highlight in the dying moments of our Round 6 clash against the Western Bulldogs. Normally it’s a game saving mark but on this occasion – and rather uncharacteristically – Boyd found herself in the forward line and got on the end of a handball to kick the winning goal with just over a minute left.

Boyd would certainly be a worthy winner if she took home the award this Saturday, July 22.

Winnie Laing

An all-rounder in every sense of the word, Winnie Laing had another outstanding season for the Southern Saints in 2023. Averaging an impressive 16.8 disposals and 5.7 tackles per game, Laing worked tirelessly up and down the wing throughout the season.

At only 21 years of age, Laing is already an on-field leader for the Saints and during a game if you can’t see her on the field chances are she’s at the bottom of a pack fighting for a hard ball get.

Laing also demonstrated her goalkicking capabilities as she booted three majors in 2023. Two of Laing’s goals were kicked at home against Essendon in Round 2 as she capped off a trademark two-way performance (20 disposals and eight tackles) that evening.

Not a single Sainter would be surprised if Laing capped off an amazing 2023 season with the Best and Fairest award.

Ali Hynes

Ali Hynes, the Southern Saints Co-Captain and a true heart and soul player, was a strong contributor for the Saints in 2023. Hynes was given more ruck duties this season and averaged an impressive 16.2 hit outs per game, up from 8.4 last season.  

Beyond her ruck work, Hynes, a fierce exponent of the art of tackling, averaged a mammoth 7.9 tackles per game throughout the season. Her follow-up work after the ruck contest is unmatched as she hunts the ball and opposition players alike.

Hynes is a true on-field leader for the team with her voice, direction and uncompromising playing style.

If Hynes does win the 2023 Best and Fairest, she can add it to her accolades which already include the Southern Saints’ Best Emerging Player Award from 2021.

Tayla Kearns

Co-Captain Kearns was a beacon up forward for the Saints in 2023. Kearns often presented well up the field to give her teammates an option before getting into dangerous positions and impacting the scoreboard.

Kearns booted five goals in her 12 VFLW matches this season to go along with an average of 9.4 disposals per match. She also averaged a team-high 3.8 marks per match – up from 3.1 marks in 2022.

Kearns’ on-field leadership was on display in a narrow three-point victory against Port Melbourne in Round 8 as she kicked a goal, had 13 disposals and laid seven tackles.

After a top-five finish in the Best and Fairest last year, Kearns will be looking to repeat that effort and perhaps go a step further in 2023.

Gaby De Angelis

Gaby De Angelis had a stellar season up forward, always posing a lively threat as she averaged an impressive 15.6 disposals across 14 matches for the Saints.  

De Angelis finished the season with a team-high ten goals. The 22-year-old showed just how damaging she can be inside-50 against Carlton in Round 11 as she finished the match with three goals including a sensational soccer in the first quarter and another soccer late to seal a six-point win.

De Angelis played her role perfectly throughout 2023, constantly putting the opposition under pressure and causing turnovers in the Saints’ attacking half. De Angelis averaged 4.6 tackles per game, a slight improvement on last year (4.2 tackles per game).

With a top three Best and Fairest finish in 2021 to her name, De Angelis may well take the award home in 2023.

Regardless of who is crowned Best and Fairest for the Saints in 2023, the winner will be worthy.

It’s not too late to get a ticket and enjoy the night in person this Saturday. Find out more.

Written by Matthew Santini - Sandringham Football Club Media