MADDY Prespakis' one-week suspension has blown the race for the AFLW Best and Fairest Award wide open, with a host of talented players in the running.

At the halfway mark of the season, Fremantle gun midfielder Kiara Bowers is two votes clear on top of womens.afl's player of the year.

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At the conclusion of each match, the reporter assigned to the game awards their 3-2-1 to the players they judge to be best afield.

Bowers is averaging 21.6 disposals, 357.5m gained, 12 tackles and 5.8 clearances over her five matches. 

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Bowers powers this long bomb all the way home

Kiara Bowers throws the ball on the boot at the stoppage and the bounce does the rest for a vital goal

She's holding off a fast-closing pack, with Western Bulldogs captain Ellie Blackburn and Crow Ebony Marinoff currently in second position.

Collingwood's rise up the ladder has been primarily driven off the back of a strong midfield performance, and Brianna Davey and Britt Bonnici also feature in the top echelon of players.

AFLW player of season (end of round five):

12 – Kiara Bowers (Fremantle)
10 – Ellie Blackburn (Western Bulldogs), Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide)
9 – Britt Bonnici (Collingwood), Maddy Prespakis (Carlton)*
8 – Monique Conti (Richmond), Brianna Davey (Collingwood), Alyce Parker (GWS)
7 – Erin Phillips (Adelaide)
6 – Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne), Karen Paxman (Melbourne)
* = Ineligible for W award