The lure of returning home for Williamstown’s Emily Eaves is always there but playing for the Seagulls keeps her coming back for more every year.
Eaves capped off a brilliant season for the Seagulls as she shared the Victorian Football League women’s coaches most valuable player award at the league awards night on Monday night.
Eaves and Ange Cogos each polled 77 votes to share the award with Cogos, a former VU Spur and Western Bulldogs player going back-to-back in that award.
Eaves polled coaches’ votes in every game she played this year as she helped guide her side to a semi final.
“It’s nice to have a consistent season,” Eaves said. “I had a big pre-season this year and just wanted to have fun and see what I could do.”
After being a Sydney Swans train on player a few years ago, Eaves made the move to Victoria to broaden her football career.
She joined Williamstown and it has formed a special part of her life.
Eaves said the community at the club is second to none and makes everyone at the club play their best football.
“Every year I’ve been here, I’ve said it’s my last year and I’m going to go back,” she said.
“I stick around as Williamstown is probably the best footy club I’ve been a part of.
“I brag about it to everyone I talk to about how good that footy club is.
“I feel like it’s like a local footy club with that professional environment. That sense of community in Williamstown is something, I want everyone to experience it.
“I can’t thank that football club enough for making me have a family away from home.”
Eaves also finished fourth in the Lambert-Pearce Medal which was won by Gogos.
Former coach Liam Cavanagh said multiple times throughout the season he thought AFLW clubs should be looking at Eaves for a spot on their list after her strong performances.
Eaves was named in the team of the year alongside teammate Jemima Wrigley. Western Bulldogs’ Sarah Sansonetti was also named in the time.
Meanwhile, Seagulls Brodie McLaughlin was awarded the Frosty Miller medal as the leading goalkicker in the men’s competition.
He finished fifth in the J.J Liston Trophy award which was won by Southport’s Jacob Dawson.
McLaughlin, who said on the night he wasn’t sure what his future held, was named in the team of the year along with defender Luke Parks.
Footscray Bulldogs Cooper Craig-Peters and Ryan Gardner were named in the team of the year as well, with Bulldogs coach Stewart Edge being named coach of the year for a second time.
