For the first time in AFLW history, the two best players in the competition couldn't be split with Collingwood co-captain Brianna Davey and Fremantle star Kiara Bowers tying for the league's best and fairest with 15 votes apiece.
Davey didn't poll in round one but then polled the maximum three votes in every game between rounds two and six, while Bowers polled consistently and landed a vote in round nine to force the tie.
Early leader and Western Bulldogs captain Ellie Blackburn and GWS young gun Alyce Parker had 14 votes apiece, while Melbourne gun Karen Paxman finished on 13.
Davey was named captain of the All-Australian team earlier in the night, recognising a season where she averaged 23.1 disposals and booted six goals.
Meanwhile Bowers was vice-captain after averaging 21.2 disposals and 10.3 tackles per game.
The Docker came close to being ineligible for the award after she was suspended for a dangerous tackle on Melbourne's Eden Zanker but had her one-match ban overturned at the AFL tribunal.
The 29-year-old was one of Fremantle's first signings but missed the first two AFLW seasons through knee injuries before coming to the fore, finishing second behind Maddison Prespakis in last year's best and fairest.
Earlier in the night, Melbourne young gun Tyla Hanks was named the 2021 AFLW Rising Star.
Hanks won the award with 48 votes, ahead of Richmond's Ellie McKenzie (32), West Coast's Mikayla Bowen (22), St Kilda's Tyanna Smith (19) and Brisbane's Nat Grider (10).
