Fremantle Dockers ruck Mim Strom caps off monster season with 2024 club fairest and best award

Fremantle star Mim Strom’s record-breaking season of ruck dominance has won her a maiden fairest-and-best on Thursday night.

And the newly-crowned All-Australian also claimed the club’s players’ award as teammates celebrated a season where she finished head and shoulders above other rucks in all key measures.

Strom polled 256 votes to win ahead of midfield gun and leading goal-kicker Aisling McCarthy, who finished runner-up with 237 votes.

Former No.1 draft pick recruit Gabby Newton rounded out the top three and was also awarded the Dockers’ player of the finals.

It has been a year laden with silverware for 23-year-old Strom, who had already won the derby medal from Fremantle’s win over West Coast, one of a few stunning performances.

She also broke the record for most hitouts in a regular home and away season with 390 across 11 games.

Strom has credits her dominance this year to her brother South Fremantle premiership player Zac, who was brought on as a specialist ruck coach for the AFLW this season

“I think he’s complimented our group so much, he’s an undersized ruck in the WAFL competition so it’s been great for us,” she told The West Australian’s Dubya podcast.

“We’ve got Ari (Ariana Hetherington) and TK (Tunisha Kikoak) coming into it new who are undersized and I’m actually an undersized ruck myself and he’s just bought so many tips and tricks.”

Strom’s athleticism and work rate have set a new standard for rucks across the competition.

She broke the league’s hitout record in a single game with 48 in week one, equalling it in week eight, and breaking it again with a massive 55 hitouts in Fremantle’s elimination final match against Essendon.

Injured captain Ange Stannett was named best club woman for a remarkable fifth straight year.

The popular figure was named captain for the first time this season, even after she had been ruled out in the wake of ACL surgery.

All-Australian defender Emma O’Driscoll (222) finished fourth after leading the league in intercept possessions, followed by Gabby O’Sullivan (183).

Orlagh Lally (182), Jessica Low (180), Ash Brazill (170), co-vice captain Laura Pugh (162) and Dana East (153) all polled in the top ten after strong performances during the season.

Tunisha Kikoak was named best first-year player after a breakout season saw her kick six goals over 11 games.