Emily Bates

AFL Women's career Bates was taken with the number two pick, 's first, in the 2016 AFL Women's draft. She made her debut in the Lions' inaugural game against at Casey Fields in the opening round of the 2017 AFL Women's season.

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.

Brisbane signed Bates for the 2018 season during the trade period in May 2017.

Brisbane signed Bates for the 2020 season during the trade and sign period in April 2019.

Bates signed on with for 2 more years on 15 June 2021.

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. 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.

Leading into the 2023 season, Sarah Black named Bates at no. 10 on her annual list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.

Leading into the 2024 season, Bates was announced as Hawthorn's new captain, replacing Tilly Lucas-Rodd. Bates was named among Hawthorn's best players in its win over Carlton in week 1 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. She returned against Adelaide in week 3 and was named among Hawthorn's best players.

Statistics Updated to the end of 2025.

96 !! 16 !! 16 !! 957 !! 861 !! 1818 !! 217 !! 568 !! 0.2 !! 0.2 !! 10.0 !! 9.0 !! 18.9 !! 2.3 !! 5.9 !! 80

Honours and achievements Team AFL Women's premiership player : 2021 2× AFL Women's minor premiership : 2017, S7 McClelland Trophy : 2024

Individual Hawthorn captain: 2024–present AFL Women's best and fairest: S6 AFLPA AFLW most valuable player: S6 AFLCA AFLW champion player of the year: S6 3× AFL Women's All-Australian team: 2017, 2018, S6 4× Brisbane best and fairest: 2017, 2020, S6, S7 Hawthorn best and fairest: 2023 Allies representative honours in AFL Women's State of Origin: 2017