Gold Coast AFLW signing Kalinda Howarth has carried the torch for the SUNS at AFL Queensland’s Grogan Medal awards night after a stellar season in the QAFLW for Bond University.

Howarth’s first gong was the leading goalkicker award after the 20-year-old booted 29 majors in the regular season.

She was nominated for goal of the year (won by Shannon Campbell) and also earnt selection on the half forward flank in the QAFLW Team of the Year.

Two other SUNS were named in the team, with Lauren Bella the starting ruck and Kate Surman selected in the midfield.

Winter Series representative Alex Hamlyn was also named in the side in the backline.

In the QAFLW Rising Star voting, inaugural SUN Ellie Hampson finished runner-up on 15 votes from her eight games, trailing winner Lily Postlethwaite by 13 votes.

Howarth finished third in the Rising Star on seven votes while SUNS Academy and Winter Series representative Georgia Brehmer was next on the list with six.

Surman, reigning Player of the Winter Series, finished equal-fourth in the QAFLW MVP award voted by the coaches.

In the competition’s ultimate award, the QAFLW Best & Fairest, Howarth again polled well to finish runner-up with 15 votes, just a solitary vote behind winner Emily Bates on 16.

Gold Coast Winter Series representative Sally Young also cracked the top eight with nine votes.

With the QAFLW season now conluded, Gold Coast’s AFLW players will have time off before reporting for pre-season training in November.