Hayley Bullas has etched her name in the history books as the inaugural Essendon VFL Women’s Best & Fairest winner.
Just over a fortnight after she was named in the VFLW Team of the Year as a forward pocket, the tenacious midfielder added a club championship to an outstanding 2018 season.
Bullas polled 183 votes to finish the count in first place ahead of winger Courtney Ugle (160 votes) and defender Bec Neaves (159 votes).
The 22-year-old joined the Bombers from former VFLW club Diamond Creek and was the youngest member of Essendon’s seven-piece inaugural leadership group.
Across an outstanding season, Bullas’ ferocious tackling and match-by-match consistency saw her blossom into an integral part of the midfield.
Further winners at the Essendon VFL & VFLW Best & Fairest Night were midfielder Nat MacDonald (Rising Star Award) and leadership group members Lauren Morecroft and Jess Trend, who tied for the VFLW Clubwoman of the Year.
Forwards Alex Quigley and Valerie Moreau finished in a dead-heat for the leading goalkicker award with seven goals each.
BEST AND FAIREST TOP FIVE:
Bullas 183
Ugle 160
Neaves 159
Nalder 152
Trend 150
