Round 2 of the 2023 AFLW season was the highest-scoring on record, as well as Hawthorn producing an upset, milestone magic, and historic highs for Gold Coast.

Here are Edge of the Crowd's Round 2 AFLW Best and Fairest votes.

Richmond (12) def. by Adelaide (41)

3. Caitlin Gould (ADEL)

2. Ebony Marinoff (ADEL)

1. Monique Conti (RICH)

The Tigers had no answers for Crows forward/ruck Caitlin Gould, who took the game on and into her own hands with a dominant performance. Gould presented well up forward taking five marks (four inside 50) and slotting three goals including the first of the game and another two as the Crows began to kick away with the match.

Ebony Marinoff continued her hot form to start the 2023 season with a 23-disposal (13 contested) outing that included 14 tackles, six clearances, and 486 metres gained. In a losing effort, Monique Conti was Richmond's best, with 29 touches (17 contested) and five tackles, while kicking one of her side's two goals.

Gold Coast (99) def. West Coast (26)

3. Charlie Rowbottom (GCS)

2. Jamie Stanton (GCS)

1. Claudia Whitfort (GCS)

Charlie Rowbottom was as damaging as ever on the way to helping Gold Coast to its highest-ever score and biggest-winning margin. The Suns midfielder collected 33 touches (24 contested) on Saturday, had 16 clearances, laid 10 tackles, took six marks, and had four goal assists.

In a forward line that showed great displays, it was Jamie Stanton in her 50th AFLW match who produced a game-high six goals - which is also a career-high for the Suns forward - and eight scoring shots from 10 kicks along with four marks (three inside 50). Claudia Whitfort gets one vote for a 33-disposal game that included seven inside 50s, six clearances, 531 metres gained, and a goal.

Port Adelaide (26) def. by Brisbane (76)

3. Ally Anderson (BL)

2. Orla O'Dwyer (BL)

1. Dakota Davidson (BL)

The reigning AFLW Best and Fairest winner showed why she won it last year, with a superb performance that helped Brisbane to a 50-point win. Ally Anderson collected 36 disposals with seven marks, five clearances, and a game-high six inside 50s in a dominant display.

Orla O'Dwyer had 19 touches (15 contested) against Port Adelaide, laid six tackles and had a game-high 10 intercepts as she had a massive determination to win the ball. Dakota Davidson took nine marks (six inside 50 and six contested) on the way to kicking a game-high four goals.

Sydney (41) def. by Geelong (68)

3. Nina Morrison (GEEL)

2. Chloe Scheer (GEEL)

1. Laura Gardner (SYD)

The Geelong vice-captain had a 21-possession (14 contested) game as her work through the middle and across the ground was exemplified greatly with six clearances and nine tackles. Nina Morrison also helped the Cats to their total score with eight score involvements along with seven inside 50s.

Chloe Scheer had five shots on goal, each resulting in the maximum points on the way to a new career-high, while also taking four marks (two inside 50) and laying two tackles. Laura Gardner was the best on field for Sydney for a 27-disposal, two-tackle, and seven-clearances effort.

Western Bulldogs (39) def. by Hawthorn (46)

3. Tilly Lucas-Rodd (HAW)

2. Emily Bates (HAW)

1. Ellie Blackburn (WB)

The new Hawks skipper helped their side to record an unlikely victory against the Bulldogs, leading the charge, especially in the fourth-quarter comeback. Tilly Lucas-Rodd had 21 touches (12 contested), laid seven tackles, and had six clearances while doing a lot of work out of the backline (four rebounds), but still found time to sneak forward and kick the first goal of the game.

Emily Bates gets two votes after collecting 22 touches, taking four marks, and laying six tackles, with six intercepts and seven inside 50s. Ellie Blackburn tried her hardest for the Bulldogs, collecting 20 disposals (12 contested) at 75 per cent efficiency while gathering nine clearances.

Collingwood (46) def. Fremantle (25)

3. Kiara Bowers (FRE)

2. Brianna Davey (COLL)

1. Aishling Sheridan (COLL)

Despite her team going down by 21 points, Kiara Bowers returned to the AFLW from a knee injury with an absolute bang. The Fremantle vice-captain had 23 touches (15 contested) with six clearances and four inside 50s but it was her tackling that was most dangerous - 17 overall, including 14 in the first half alone.

Brianna Davey is in the votes again following 19 disposals, 10 tackles, four clearances and a goal. Aishling Sheridan had 21 touches with eight tackles and six clearances as she worked hard in all areas of Victoria Park.

North Melbourne (66) def. Carlton (6)

3. Jasmine Garner (NM)

2. Ash Riddell (NM)

1. Tahlia Randall (NM)

Jasmine Garner collects the three votes for the second week in a row as she helped North Melbourne to a monstrous victory over Carlton. The Kangaroos' vice-captain had 36 disposals, 10 tackles, 10 inside 50s, eight clearances, and went forward to kick a goal.

Ash Riddell's stats were similar to her aforementioned teammate, where she had 36 touches, 10 tackles, six marks, and five clearances. Tahlia Randall kicked a career-high four goals (all in the second half) from 15 disposals along with eight score involvements and three one percenters.

Essendon (40) def. St Kilda (28)

3. Madison Prespakis (ESS)

2. Jamie Lambert (STK)

1. Georgia Gee (ESS)

Madison Prespakis led from the front for the Bombers' first win at Windy Hill on Sunday with a game-high 29 disposals. As well, Prespakis had six tackles, six clearances, and four marks with 338 metres gained.

Jamie Lambert was the shining star in the loss for the Saints, gathering 26 disposals with a tenacious attack on the game allowing her to grab six clearances, have seven frees for, lay four tackles, and kick a goal. Georgia Gee had 21 touches and five marks while also kicking a first-quarter goal.

GWS (22) def. by Melbourne (99)

3. Kate Hore (MELB)

2. Tyla Hanks (MELB)

1. Olivia Purcell (MELB)

A captain's game helped Melbourne to put up a big score and post a huge win over GWS on the weekend, with Kate Hore proving unstoppable once again. Hore's first quarter was one for the ages, collecting 13 (of her 23) disposals and kicking three (of a total five) goals, while she laid six tackles (four inside 50), took eight marks (four inside 50), three rebounds, and had 10 score involvements overall through the match.

Tyla Hanks had a game-high 30 disposals for the Demons that included a game-high 12 clearances - both career-highs for the 23-year-old. Olivia Purcell kicked two goals in a performance where she collected 28 touches with 10 score involvements, seven inside 50s, five tackles and five clearances.

Leaderboard

1 Jasmine Garner (6)

=2 Brianna Davey (5)

=2 Kate Hore (5)

=2 Ebony Marinoff (5)

=2 Madison Prespakis (5)

=2 Charlie Rowbottom (5)

=3 Ally Anderson (4)

=3 Monique Conti (4)

=3 Ash Riddell (4)

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