North Melbourne's football dynamo, Ash Riddell, has capped off an extraordinary season by clinching the AFLW best and fairest award, delivering a heartwarming and humour-filled acceptance speech that celebrated a star teammate and lovingly roasted her husband.
A Clear Victory and a Key Partnership
Riddell secured the prestigious honour comfortably, amassing an impressive 23 votes across the season. This placed her clearly ahead of Geelong's George Prespakis, who finished as runner-up with 20 votes. A significant factor in her dominant performance was being named best on ground six times from just 12 matches.
In her speech, Riddell was quick to heap praise on her Kangaroos teammate, the formidable Jasmine Garner. She highlighted their symbiotic relationship on the field as a key driver of her success. "We just make each other better," Riddell stated. "We're sort of by-products of each other on the field and we have some good times off the field as well. It makes footy really enjoyable."
Her admiration for Garner was profound. "I really admired the way that she went about it and she's so humble," Riddell said. "She should be up here a few more times than I should be. She's an amazing player and is so well respected by the AFLW community."
A Hilarious Tribute to a Supportive Husband
While her praise for Garner was effusive, Riddell turned to playful mockery when acknowledging the contributions of her husband, Vinnie. She credited him with being her "greatest support" and the person who inspired her return to football, but couldn't resist poking fun at his unsolicited coaching tips.
"Vinnie, you got me back into football and gosh you annoy me when you try and give me tips on how to play the game," she joked. "When all you ever played was rugby and you're the worst football player. You still think you're a better football player than me but whatever. You just stick to doing our gym programs and telling people off."
The good-natured ribbing didn't stop with her husband. Riddell also dragged her dad into the spotlight, quipping, "You tell me that you've taught me everything I know, so thank you for that." She concluded by expressing gratitude for the supportive people in her life who push her to improve every day.
From Teacher to Football Superstar
The 31-year-old's remarkable year also includes winning a record-equalling eighth All-Australian blazer and being named captain of the representative side on three occasions. Balancing her elite sporting career with her profession, Riddell is a primary school teacher, who famously fronted up for work on the Monday before heading to the awards ceremony.
Her journey to the top wasn't straightforward. Riddell revealed she initially returned to football for the social aspect, inspired by Vinnie and his friends' love of the game. "Then I probably got a little bit too competitive and wanted to take it to the next level when the AFLW came in," she admitted. After being overlooked at two drafts, North Melbourne finally picked her up for their inaugural AFLW season as an expansion club in 2019.
Eyes on the Grand Final Prize
The individual accolades are piling up, but Riddell's focus is now firmly on the ultimate team prize. Alongside Garner, Tahlia Randall, and Blaithin Bogue—all named in the All-Australian team—Riddell will be a key figure for the North Melbourne Kangaroos in Saturday night's grand final against the Brisbane Lions.
The Kangaroos enter the decider as the defending premiers and hot favourites, riding a phenomenal 26-match winning streak. For Ash Riddell, this could be the perfect end to a perfect season.
