Koenen the destroyer: Lions' brick wall named Best on Ground

Updated

BRISBANE skipper Bre Koenen has willed her side to its second AFLW flag with an inspiring performance in the back half, earning her the Best on Ground Medal.

Koenen picked up the full 15 votes in her side's 17-point victory over North Melbourne, getting three votes from each of the five judges.

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She finished with 19 disposals, eleven tackles, seven marks (three contested) and nine intercept possessions as she constantly repelled the Roos' forays forward.

She was presented with the award by recently retired Adelaide and Port Adelaide great Erin Phillips, herself a two-time winner.

>>> CHECK OUT THE FULL VOTES BELOW

"I just wanted to get the job done and lead them the best I could," Koenen said.

"I wanted to play my role for the team and bring others into it.

"I think one of my strengths is my voice, I wanted to be able to instruct the girls as best I could today."

Koenen's leadership was on display as she threw herself into contest after contest before she kicked the match-sealing goal in the final moments of the game.

She was also sent into the midfield to play a negating role on Jasmine Garner after the Kangaroos superstar started to take control of the game.

"Being thrown around is definitely something that I've taken as a challenge this year and one I've really liked," she said. "To be able to play anywhere and support the girls as best I can is the main thing.

"Massive respect for their midfield, they're incredible and hard to match up on.

"My defensive mindset bodes well for those situations, and I revel in one-on-one contests, so I definitely love those challenges.

"I've got really good people around me; I wouldn't have been able to step into the midfield today if I didn't have the likes of Belle Dawes and Ally Anderson being able to settle me."

The Roos booted two goals in quick succession late in the third term and Koenen said she was proud of how her side found something extra when the heat was on.

"The way the group responded in that moment, we threw everything at them and gave it our all," she said.

"Everyone lifted in that last quarter, it got us over the line.

"There's so many little moments that make a difference, you've sometimes got to win these matches a few times."

15 – Breanna Koenen, Brisbane Lions – 33333
9 – Jasmine Garner, North Melbourne– 22221
5 – Belle Dawes, Brisbane Lions – 2111
1 – Natalie Grider, Brisbane Lions – 1

Abbie Holmes (Chair): Breanna Koenen, Belle Dawes, Jasmine Garner
Erin Phillips: Breanna Koenen, Jasmine Garner, Belle Dawes
Gemma Bastiani: Breanna Koenen, Jasmine Garner, Belle Dawes
Quentin Hull: Breanna Koenen, Jasmine Garner, Belle Dawes
Lauren Wood: Breanna Koenen, Jasmine Garner, Natalie Grider