THE AFLW coaches have spoken. Erin Phillips' torn ACL means she won't win a third competition best and fairest, but it'll be a midfielder who will.

In womens.afl's coaches' survey, 12 players were nominated as possible winners of the AFLW best and fairest, which has only been won by Phillips and North Melbourne's Emma Kearney.

Collingwood recruit Brianna Davey and Melbourne star Karen Paxman (pictured below) received two votes, with 10 of the 12 players found on the ball.

Only Jasmine Garner and Chloe Molloy aren't nominal midfielders, although both are capable of running through the middle of the ground.

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One coach was a big fan of Molloy (pictured below), who will be returning to AFLW in 2020 after sitting out last year with a foot injury.

"She does things other people can't do. She's so good sideways and gets herself out of trouble. She not only beats her opponent, she makes them look silly," one coach said.

"Her stoppage exits are spectacular. She gets caught a couple of times, but when you look at her, even up forward, the stuff she does at training with her goal shots and trick shots, it's just amazing. She's 'Stevie J' (former AFL forward Steve Johnson) all over."

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North Melbourne received the most nominations, with Garner, Kearney and Ash Riddell's names all being mentioned as possible winners.

Voting results
2 – Brianna Davey (Collingwood), Karen Paxman (Melbourne)
1 – Kiara Bowers (Fremantle), Alicia Eva (GWS), Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne), Anne Hatchard (Adelaide), Dana Hooker (West Coast), Emma Kearney (North Melbourne), Kirsty Lamb (Western Bulldogs), Chloe Molloy (Collingwood), Daisy Pearce (Melbourne), Ash Riddell (North Melbourne)

This is part of a series which saw each AFLW senior coach surveyed anonymously about who they regard as the best in the competition. Check back to womens.afl as more answers are revealed in the coming days.