Emily Bates

{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Emily Bates

| image = Emily Bates 19.03.17.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Bates playing for Brisbane in 2017

| fullname = Emily Bates

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|10|18|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bacchus Marsh, Victoria

| originalteam = Yeronga South Brisbane (QAFLW)

| draftpick = No. 2, 2016 national draft

| debutdate = Round 1, 2017

| debutteam = {{AFLW|Bri}}

| debutopponent = {{AFLW|Mel}}

| debutstadium = Casey Fields

| height = 169cm

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = {{AFLW|Haw}}

| guernsey = 1

| years1 = 2017–2022 (S7)

| club1 = {{AFLW|Bri}}

| games_goals1 = 66 {{0}}(9)

| years2 = 2023–

| club2 = {{AFLW|Haw}}

| games_goals2 = 22 {{0}}(6)

| games_goalstotal = 88 (15)

| sooyears1 = 2017

| sooteam1 = The Allies

| soogames_goals1 = 1 (0)

| statsend = the 2024 season

| repstatsend = 2017

| careerhighlights =

}}

Emily Bates (born 18 October 1995) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Hawthorn Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for the Brisbane Lions from 2017 to season 7. Bates was selected by the Western Bulldogs in the inaugural national women's draft in 2013, and represented them in the first three years of the exhibition games staged prior to the creation of the league. She represented Brisbane in 2016, the last year that the games were held, and was drafted by the club with the second selection in the 2016 AFL Women's draft prior to the inaugural AFL Women's season.

Bates won an AFL Women's premiership with Brisbane in 2021 and was awarded the league's highest individual accolade, the AFL Women's best and fairest, in season 6. She is also a three-time AFL Women's All-Australian, four-time Brisbane best and fairest winner and won the Hawthorn best and fairest award in 2023. Bates has served as Hawthorn captain since 2024.

Early life

Bates was born in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria[https://www.lions.com.au/news/310527/introducing-the-newest-brisbane-lions-players Introducing the Newest Brisbane Lions Players] from Brisbane Lions 12 October, 2016{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/emily-bates-says-being-drafted-by-brisbane-is-a-dream-come-true/news-story/66da18c16fc99c1583a0fe8af4fc7e36|title=Emily Bates says being drafted by Brisbane is a dream come true|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|last=Hamilton|first=Andrew|date=14 October 2016|access-date=3 March 2016}} as one of three sisters. At the age of three, her family relocated to Brisbane.[Brisbane’s Emily Bates playing for her dad in AFLW Grand Final after major influence on her career https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/brisbanes-emily-bates-playing-for-her-dad-in-aflw-grand-final-after-major-influence-on-her-career/news-story/f288cc17861c55dbf067e929503580e1] by Andrew Hamilton for the Courier Mail 25 March 2017 Her father Lloyd went on to be a key figure in Queensland football, and encouraged Bates to play football at Yeronga Football Club, where he coached.{{cite web | url=https://www.lions.com.au/news/911858/emily-bates-letter-to-fans | title=Emily Bates' Letter to Fans }} Through him she grew up with a football in her hand and when a girls' team started up in 2011, she joined as a junior with her father as team coach with the two winning the under 15 junior premiership. Lloyd passed of cardiac arrest when she was 15 and the medal awarded to the best and fairest player in Yeronga’s QAFLW team is named in his honour.Emily Bates: Yeronga through and through from AFLW 23 November 2019[Women’s Bates on the rise https://www.aflq.com.au/womens-bates-on-the-rise/] from AFL Queensland 27 June 2013 She was educated at Brigidine College, Indooroopilly.{{fact|date=March 2023}}

In 2011 and 2012 she represented Queensland at under-18 level in both cricket and Australian rules football (as captain), but she ultimately chose Australian rules football over a cricket career.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aflq.com.au/womens-bates-on-the-rise/|title=Women's Bates on the rise|publisher=AFL Queensland|last=Newman|first=Beth|date=27 June 2013|access-date=3 March 2017}}{{cite web | url=https://www.aflq.com.au/dual-honours-for-yeronga-duo/ | title=Dual Honours for Yeronga Duo | AFL Queensland }}

Bates was selected by the {{AFLW|WB}} with the forty-fourth selection in the inaugural national women's draft in 2013, and represented them in the first three years of the exhibition games staged prior to the creation of the league. {{fact|date=March 2023}}

She won the Best & Fairest in the QWAFL in 2016.{{fact|date=March 2023}}

AFL Women's career

Bates was taken with the number two pick, {{AFLW|Bri}}'s first, in the 2016 AFL Women's draft. She was announced as one of the "values leaders" to assist captain Emma Zielke alongside Sabrina Frederick-Traub, Leah Kaslar and Sam Virgo in January 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lions.com.au/news/2017-01-05/aflw-captain-named|title=Emma Zielke named as Brisbane Lions' inaugural AFLW Captain|publisher=Brisbane Lions|date=5 January 2017|access-date=3 March 2017}} She made her debut in the Lions' inaugural game against {{AFLW|Mel}} at Casey Fields in the opening round of the 2017 AFL Women's season.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/aflw-2017-round-one-melbourne-demons-v-brisbane-lions/news-story/44467d8bc1d64c6880b41c91e222f13d|title=AFLW 2017 round one: Melbourne Demons v Brisbane Lions|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=5 February 2017|access-date=3 March 2017}}

Bates was nominated by her teammates for the 2017 AFLW Players’ Most Valuable Player Award, was named Brisbane's best and fairest and was also listed in the All-Australian team.{{cite web|title=AFLW MVP Nominations Revealed|url=http://www.aflplayers.com.au/article/aflw-mvp-nominations-revealed/|website=AFL Players Association|access-date=21 March 2017|date=21 March 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.lions.com.au/news/2017-03-31/aflw-best-fairest|title=Emily Bates takes out inaugural Brisbane Lions Best & Fairest|date=31 March 2017|work=Lions.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=30 January 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Navaratnam|first1=Dinny|title=Lions, Crows dominate AFLW All Australian team - AFL.com.au|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-03-28/lions-crows-dominate-aflw-all-australian-team|website=AFL.com.au|publisher=BigPond|access-date=28 March 2017|date=28 March 2017}}

Brisbane signed Bates for the 2018 season during the trade period in May 2017. {{cite web|title=AFLW: All the clubs' full lists after trade period - AFL.com.au|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-26/aflw-all-the-clubs-full-lists-after-trade-period|website=afl.com.au|publisher=Telstra Media|access-date=26 May 2017|date=26 May 2017}}

Brisbane signed Bates for the 2020 season during the trade and sign period in April 2019.{{cite news|last=Black|first=Sarah|title=Eagles pinch star Dockers mid, Dees and Freo re-sign 18 each|url=https://womens.afl/news/17786/eagles-pinch-star-dockers-mid-dees-and-freo-re-sign-18-each|work=womens.afl|date=10 April 2019|access-date=12 April 2019}}

Bates signed on with {{AFLW|Bri}} for 2 more years on 15 June 2021.{{cite web|title=Stars Sign and the Future Looks Bright|url=https://www.lions.com.au/news/959288/stars-sign-and-the-future-looks-bright|date=15 June 2021|access-date=15 June 2021|work=Lions Media}}

In 2022 season 6, Bates elevated her game to new heights and averaged nearly 22 disposals and six tackles a game, becoming the Lions' best player. She polled 21 votes in the best and fairest count and became the club's first league best and fairest recipient, the highest individual accolade in the sport.{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/kearney-named-in-sixth-consecutive-aflw-all-australian-side-20220405-p5aave.html|title=Lion Bates soars late to the W Award, Kearney named in All-Australian side|work=The Age|date=5 April 2022|author=Lachlan Abbott}} She also earned the Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award and the Players Association Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, which made her the second player in the competition's history to win all three individual end-of-season awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.womens.afl/news/90894/lion-queen-gun-midfielder-claims-coaches-award-tie-for-second|title=Lion Queen: Gun midfielder claims coaches' award, tie for second|date=17 March 2022|work=womens.afl|author=Gemma Bastiani}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-06/emily-bates-wins-aflpa-mvp-to-complete-aflw-awards-sweep/100970820|title=Emily Bates voted AFLW player of the year at AFLPA awards, as Daisy Pearce, Kirsty Lamb, Charlie Rowbottom also recognised|work=ABC News|date=6 April 2022|author=Kate O'Halloran}}

Leading into the 2023 season, Sarah Black named Bates at no. 10 on her annual list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.{{cite news|last=Black|first=Sarah|title=Sarah Black's top 30: Ten best players revealed|url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1010277/sarah-blacks-top-10-aflw-players-revealed-is-she-right|work=afl.com.au|date=21 August 2023|access-date=30 August 2023}}

Leading into the 2024 season, Bates was announced as Hawthorn's new captain, replacing Tilly Lucas-Rodd.{{cite news|title=Bates to captain Hawks in 2024|url=https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/1609757/aflw-leadership|publisher=Hawthorn Football Club|date=25 July 2024|access-date=1 September 2024|archive-date=25 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725103257/https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/1609757/aflw-leadership|url-status=live}} Bates was named among Hawthorn's best players in its win over Carlton in week 1{{cite news|last=Bastiani|first=Gemma|title=Irish pair, recruits lead charge as hot Hawks blow Blues away|url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1210492/hot-hawks-blow-blues-away|website=afl.com.au|date=1 September 2024|access-date=1 September 2024}} but was a late withdrawal from Hawthorn's win over Collingwood in week 2, missing an AFLW match for the first time in her career.{{cite news|last=Black|first=Sarah|title=Hawks smash Pies, but left counting injury toll|url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1213382/match-report-collingwood-magpies-v-hawthorn-hawks|website=afl.com.au|date=7 September 2024|access-date=7 September 2024}} She returned against Adelaide in week 3 and was named among Hawthorn's best players.{{cite news|last=Oates|first=Tayla|title=Ponter's record haul helps Crows bring Hawks back down to earth|url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1221125/danielle-ponters-record-haul-helps-adelaide-crows-bring-hawthorn-hawks-back-down-to-earth|website=afl.com.au|date=15 September 2024|access-date=18 September 2024}}

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2024 season.{{cite web|title=Emily Bates – player stats by season|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/playerseason/Emily+Bates/19978|publisher=Australian Football|access-date=1 September 2024}}

{{Australian rules football statistics legend|p=y|s=y|w=y}}

{{AFLW player statistics start}}

|-

| 2017 || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 1

| 8 || 1 || 1 || 84 || 41 || 125 || 21 || 38 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 10.5 || 5.1 || 15.6 || 2.6 || 4.8 || 4

|-

| 2018 || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 1

| 8 || 0 || 0 || 73 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | 66 || 139 || 18 || 37 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 9.1 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | 8.3 || 17.4 || 2.3 || 4.6 || 4

|-

| 2019 || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 1

| 7 || 0 || 1 || 62 || 54 || 116 || 15 || 29 || 0.0 || 0.2 || 8.9 || 7.7 || 16.6 || 2.1 || 4.1 || 1

|-

| 2020 || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 1

| 7 || 1 || 1 || 80 || 59 || 139 || 23 || 24 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 11.4 || 8.4 || 19.9 || 3.3 || 3.4 || 4

|-

| bgcolor=F0E68C | 2021# || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 1

| 11 || 1 || 1 || 96 || 79 || 175 || 26 || 43 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 8.7 || 7.2 || 15.9 || 2.4 || 3.9 || 6

|-

| 2022 (S6) || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 1

| 12 || 3 || 2 || 142 || 114 || 256 || 25 || 85 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 11.8 || 9.5 || 21.3 || 2.1 || 7.1 || bgcolor=98FB98 | 21±

|-

| 2022 (S7) || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 1

| 13 || 3 || 2 || 131 || 105 || 236 || 29 || 85 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 10.1 || 8.1 || 18.2 || 2.2 || 6.5 || 8

|-

| 2023 || {{AFLW|Haw}} || 39

| 10 || 1 || 3 || 104 || 104 || 208 || 18 || 97 || 0.1 || 0.3 || 10.4 || 10.4 || 20.8 || 1.8 || 9.7 || 5

|-

| 2024 || {{AFLW|Haw}} || 1

| 12 || 5 || 4 || 126 || 126 || 252 || 30 || 85 || 0.4 || 0.3 || 10.5 || 10.5 || 21.0 || 2.5 || 7.1 || 17

|- class=sortbottom

! colspan=3 | Career

! 88 !! 15 !! 15 !! 888 !! 748 !! 1646 !! 205 !! 523 !! 0.2 !! 0.2 !! 10.2 !! 8.5 !! 18.7 !! 2.3 !! 5.9 !! 70

|}

Honours and achievements

Team

Individual

References

{{reflist}}