20-year-old midfielder Laura Gardiner has finished second in the AFL Coaches Association AFLW Champion Player of the Year, after accumulating 74 coaches votes this season.

She was just seven votes short of the title which saw North Melbourne star Jasmine Garner awarded in back-to-back seasons. 

After moving from the Geelong Cats ahead of the pre-season, Gardiner has enjoyed an emphatic first year with the Sydney Swans playing all ten rounds and proving to be influential in the team's six wins.

The star sits third in the league for disposals and tackles, averaging 29.7 and nine per game respectively. She has also kicked two majors for the red and white.

Gardiner polled six-plus votes in every game in 2023. She becomes the first AFLW player to poll votes from both coaches in every single round from the home and away season. 

Co-captain Chloe Molloy finished the season with 31 coaches votes, closely followed by Rising Star nominee Ally Morphett with 27 votes.