The last thing Ally Anderson expected to be doing in Brisbane's grand final week was win the AFLW's best and fairest award.
The 28-year-old Lions midfielder was a shock winner of the main honour at Tuesday night's W awards function.
She beat pre-count favourite, Richmond star Monique Conti, by two votes after Anderson earned best-afield honours in her last three games.
Anderson is the first winner of the league's highest individual honour not to make the All-Australian team in the same season.
The depth of Brisbane's midfield talent meant most people - Anderson included - thought they would take votes from each other.
Once she missed out on the All-Australian team earlier in the night, that was confirmation enough for Anderson she would not be at the pointy end of the best and fairest voting.
"I guess it's disappointing for everyone who didn't make the All-Australian (team). I was so happy for my teammates, though," Anderson said of the four Lions who were named in the honorary side.
"It didn't really matter to me.
"So then I guess I thought I definitely won't be up there in the votes.
"I was surprised a few of the girls didn't steal a few more votes - but pleasantly surprised."
Others saw it coming before Anderson. Teammate Emily Bates, who won the award last season, told her with one round of votes left to start thinking about a speech.
"I just had absolutely no idea - a nice surprise," Anderson said.
But Anderson wants to put the honour to one side as quickly as possible, given the Lions will host Melbourne on Sunday at their new Springfield facility to decide the premiership.
The Lions stayed in Brisbane for the count and Bates presented Anderson with the best and fairest medal.
"I will have to move on pretty fast because my main focus is the grand final," she said.
There has been controversy around the grand final venue, given this will be Springfield's first game and there have been frantic efforts to make sure it is ready in time.
Brisbane earned the right to host the grand final as minor premiers, but the Gabba and the Gold Coast's Metricon Stadium were unavailable.
Despite the rushed preparations, Anderson said Springfield feels like home.
"We've been there for the last six weeks, watching the grass grow and not actually realising we would play there," she said.
"Just seeing it come together, it looks really good ... it gets better pretty much every day.
"We're making it our home advantage and it does feel like our home now."
