Brisbane Lions midfielder Emily Bates may have left the membership seven months in the past on the finish of a career-best season however says she is now reaping the last word reward for staying loyal.
Bates will play in her fourth AFLW grand closing for the membership on Sunday when Brisbane host Melbourne at their new Springfield house.
The 27-year-old received the best-and-fairest award on the finish of Season Six earlier this 12 months.
Bates had choices to go away the Lions with Hawthorn one of many enlargement golf equipment main the cost for her providers after a season the place she additionally received the Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year and the Players Association Most Valuable Player awards.
She stated she “definitely” made the appropriate choice to stay with Brisbane. The gamers made a pact after dropping final season’s preliminary closing to the Demons to stay collectively as a unit and go one higher this season.
“It was great fuel for the girls and it also galvanised our group,” Bates stated.
“There was a lot of expansion that happened last season and we made a commitment as a group to stay together. We thought if we did that we could go that step further and make a grand final, and hopefully win one.
“Heading into the prelim (in opposition to Adelaide) there was a sense that dropping wasn’t an possibility for us. We have that perception as a result of we now have labored so laborious collectively and hopefully that pays off on Sunday.
“It is a nice reward that we get to play in this grand final because we did stick together.”
The 2021 premiership winner was not named not too long ago within the All-Australian squad for AFLW Season Seven however that didn’t faze her.
“I am quite self-aware and I know I wasn’t as dominant this season as I was last season, but I don’t play for any external validation or rewards,” she stated.
“It is more about how my teammates and coaches see me. If they are happy with how I am performing then that is all that matters.”
Bates has been on the prime of her sport within the Lions’ two finals wins and intends to copy that kind on Sunday.
“You know (in a grand final) you can leave everything out on the field because there is absolutely no tomorrow,” she stated.
The Lions educated for the primary time on the Springfield taking part in floor on Monday evening.
“It was pretty special yesterday to finally get to train on the ground after staring at it for the last six weeks,” Bates stated.
“Everyone is really excited.”
