PORT ADELAIDE congratulates its Under 16 Next Generation Academy product Lauren Young who won the SANFLW Best and Fairest award in a stunning debut year.

Young who is just 15, played eleven games this season and was named in the best players seven times.

She collected 18 votes to finish four votes ahead of Glenelg’s Jessica Bates and Central District’s Shelby Smith at the SANFLW awards night at Adelaide Oval.

Young only took the lead with one round to go and won best on ground honours to extend her advantage in the final round.

It was a big night for the talented teen, who was also named the winner of the 2021 SANFLW Coaches Award as well as the 2021 SANFL Powerade Breakthrough Player Award.

To be eligible for the SANFLW Powerade Breakthrough Player Award, players must be aged 21 and under at the start of the year and have played six games or less at the start of the season.

Young was nominated for her standout performance in her SANFLW debut in Round 1 when she had a game-high 25 disposals, nine marks and eight tackles.

It has been a big year for the Goodwood Saints junior who was also named MVP for South Australia’s Under 19 side after strong performances at the National Championship.

She finished as the SANFLW’s leading disposal winner and finished second for marks despite playing two fewer games than some because of the Championship.

At Tuesday night’s ceremony, Young and fellow Port Adelaide NGA product Shineah Goody were selected as part of the Advertiser’s 2021 SANFLW Team of the Year.

Goody, 15, also made her SANFLW debut in 2021 at Woodville-West Torrens.

Young was selected in the centre while Goody was named in the forward pocket and was the sole selection from the Eagles.

Goody was also a nominee for the Powerade Breakthrough Player Award won by Young.

She received her nomination in Round 10 after having 17 disposals, four marks and three tackles as the Eagles suffered a disappointing loss to Glenelg.

Young will be hoping to cap her remarkable debut season with a premiership when West Adelaide takes on Glenelg in Saturday’s SANFLW Grand Final.