Brisbane Lions AFLW midfielder Ally Anderson has been crowned the winner of the Sportsperson of 2023 at the Brisbane Black Excellence Awards on Saturday night.

Hosted at the Triple A Community Ball, the awards celebrate and recognise First Nations communities and their achievements.

The reigning AFLW Best and Fairest winner was recognised for her excellence not only on the football field but as a leader within the community.

The proud Ghungalu woman has a strong passion for mentoring and leadership through coaching young girls how to play Aussie Rules.

Speaking on at the awards, Anderson was incredibly thankful to everyone who has been involved in her life as a proud Indigenous woman.

“It is such an incredible honour to be standing here in front of you all tonight and to be able to receive this award, it means so much to me and so much to my family too,” she said.

“I want to thank my aunty for nominating me for this award, I didn’t even know she nominated me until about two days ago and then she surprised me by being here tonight as well.

“I want to thank all the incredible Indigenous women in my life who taught me so much about my culture and about myself.

“Also, to all the other Indigenous athletes and Indigenous women who have paved the way for me, I feel so blessed to be receiving this award.” The award recognises and celebrates an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander sportsperson in South-East Queensland.

The Brisbane Black Excellence Sportsperson can be a rising star or an accomplished sportsperson in their respective sport, who is achieving or striving for excellence and involved in their community within South-East Queensland.

Anderson became the second, First Nations person to win the AFLW’s Best and Fairest Award in last season.