SANFLW 2025

[Bluedemon]

With the Eagles winning through to the Grand Final, I reckon that now means all clubs have played in at least 1 SANFLW GF.

I stand to be corrected

[Bluedemon]

Hostplus SANFLW Prelim Final Match Wrap


South Adelaide 7.6 (48) d Sturt 0.3 (3)
South Adelaide surged into its sixth Hostplus SANFLW League Grand Final with a powerful 45-point win against Sturt in the Preliminary Final at Magain Stadium.

Sweeping aside any lingering disappointment from their heart-stopping loss to the Eagles in the Second Semi-Final, the Panthers looked every bit the premiership contender as they held Sturt scoreless for the opening three quarters.

South’s preference to move the ball by foot paid dividend as it controlled the contest with a 33-21 inside 50m count while also having 22 more marks and 26 more kicks.

And the pressure from Rick Watts’ charges was evident early in the first term when, after two crunching tackles were laid in succession deep inside 50m, it paved the way for Hope Taylor to boot the opening goal of the game.

With ruck Soriah Moon – who missed the Second Semi-Final with a groin complaint – being eased back into the action from the interchange, South soon had their second when Lucy Northcott instinctively pounced on a loose ball to successfully let fly at goal in traffic.

Panthers Emma Charlton and Lily Baxter booted six-pointers in the second term, Charlton setting up the second for Baxter with a neat foot pass inside 50m.

And when exciting South forward Shae Archbold sunk the the only three goals of the third quarter, the hosts were well and truly in preparation mode for the title-decider.

The only concern for the Panthers will be the health of Archbold, who had to be assisted from the field late in the third term by two trainers as she was unable to place any weight on her right leg.

South will now prepare for a rematch with Woodville-West Torrens in the Hostplus SANFLW League Grand Final, which will be played next Sunday at Stratarama Stadium from 2.15pm.

Lily Baxter led the way on the stats sheet for South with 24 disposals, seven marks and a goal while Lauren Clifton had 19 disposals and Caitlin Couch 18 disposals.

Veteran defender Jaslynne Smith was like a brick wall in defence as she set up play well with her 18 disposals and seven marks.

Coming off a stunning 26-point win against North Adelaide in the First Semi-Final, Sturt’s season comes to an end after being forced into having 25 more handballs than the Panthers.

The Double Blues began to gain some fluency in the final term when using the ball by foot, leading to Millie McCarthy opening the scoring with a behind in the fifth minute.

Star Sturt midfielder Izzy Kuiper racked up a game-high 28 disposals and six clearances, while Monique Bessen had 21 disposals, five clearances and five tackles.

Claudia Edmonds and Lily Whitcombe each had 20 possessions for the Double Blues, who won the clearances 27-25.

[Bluedemon]

Sunday 27th July

Stratarama Stadium

Grand Final

Woodville-West Torrens v South Adelaide - 2:15pm

[marbles]

The Womens AFL is in summer i believe? Have these girls been playing in the W-SANFL in the winter?

[gadj1976]

The Womens AFL is in summer i believe? Have these girls been playing in the W-SANFL in the winter?

.

[Bluedemon]

Trengove wins Hostplus SANFLW Powerade Breakthrough Player

Woodville-West Torrens young gun Imogen Trengove has won the 2025 SANFLW Powerade Breakthrough Player award after pulling together a phenomenal campaign in the Hostplus SANFLW League.

Hailing from Bute on the Yorke Peninsula, the versatile utility was a huge contributing factor towards the Eagles’ soaring season, which saw them finish minor premier and play finals for the first time since they joined the competition in 2019.

Nominated for her eye-catching Round 3 performance against Central District, where she tallied 20 disposals and kicked three goals playing on the half-forward flank, Trengove displayed her ability to not only win the ball but have an impact on the scoreboard.

The captain of the South Australian Girls U18 team, Trengove played 11 of a possible 14 matches for the Eagles SANFLW side, averaging 17.2 disposals, 5.4 tackles, 4.5 inside 50s and kicking 10 goals in her breakout season.

Trengove is the second Woodville-West Torrens’ player to win the SANFLW Powerade Breakthough Player award after Shineah Goody won the award in 2022.

The Eagles’ talent was awarded with a $1,000 cash prize and trophy, courtesy of Powerade.

Woodville-West Torrens led the way for nominations in 2025, with five players featuring on the list of contenders, with South Adelaide having three.

Maia Freemantle (Round 9), Lucy Moore (Round 11), Ruby Lynch (Round 12) and Julia Faulkner (Round 14) were the other Eagles to be nominated.

To be eligible for the SANFLW Powerade Breakthrough Player Award, players must be aged 21 and under at the start of the year.

Trengove was chosen by a panel of judges which included SANFL Female Talent Manager Robbie Neill, SANFL Talent Coordinator – Female Programs Bek McMahon, SANFL Football Operations Coordinator Daniel Joyce, SANFL Football Operations Administrator Nick Bremner, SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank and SANFL Media and Communications Coordinator Alexandra Bull.

2025 SANFLW Powerade Breakthrough Player Nominees
Round 1 – Sophie Eaton (Central District)
Round 2 – Emma Kilpatrick (West Adelaide)
Round 3 – Imogen Trengove (Woodville-West Torrens)
Round 4 – Emma Charlton (South Adelaide)
Round 5 – Taya Maxwell (South Adelaide)
Round 6 – Monique Bessen (Sturt)
Round 7 – Lily Smart (Sturt)
Round 8 – Layla Vizgaudis (South Adelaide)
Round 9 – Maia Freemantle (Woodville-West Torrens)
Round 10 – Lucy Waye (West Adelaide)
Round 11 – Lucy Moore (Woodville-West Torrens)
Round 12 – Ruby Lynch (Woodville-West Torrens)
Round 13 – Lani Cocks (Norwood)
Round 14 – Julia Faulkner (Woodville-West Torrens)

[Bluedemon]

The Womens AFL is in summer i believe? Have these girls been playing in the W-SANFL in the winter?

I stand to be corrected but I dont think any of the Port or Crows AFLW players have played this year in the SANFLW

[Bluedemon]

2025 The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year

Woodville-West Torrens’ rise up the ladder has been reflected in the 2025 The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year.

All eight teams are represented in the side, with the Eagles having the most representatives with six and South Adelaide five faces in the side.

Eagles’ coach Narelle Smith has been named coach of the team after her phenomenal coaching effort in which she took her charges from seventh to first with a win-loss record of 12-2 at the end of the minor round.

West Adelaide has three players named in the team, with North Adelaide, Sturt and Norwood with two and Glenelg and Central District both with one.

Eagles’ forward Klaudia O’Neill is named at full forward for the team after kicking 24 goals for the season, the second highest total in the SANFLW.

She is joined in the side by 2025 SANFLW Powerade Breakthrough Player Imogen Trengove on the half-forward flank, who adds plenty of speed and tenacity to the side.

Christina Leuzzi, picked up by the Adelaide Crows AFLW side this year, has been rewarded for her season and has been named as captain and will start in the centre, with retiring Glenelg superstar Jess Bates named as her vice-captain.

This year’s Hostplus SANFLW League leading goal kicker, Central District forward Katelyn Rosenzweig, takes her place at centre half-forward and is joined by Norwood’s Jade Halfpenny who has been named on the half-forward flank after another stellar season.

Sturt speedster Monique Bessen has been named on the wing, where her pace and skills allow her to take the game on, with Isobel Kuiper the second Double Blues player named in the team, with the bullish midfielder named as the Rover.

Laela Ebert, who was excellent for North Adelaide this year before getting selected by Melbourne’s AFLW side, has been named on the half-back flank, with South Adelaide vice-captain Tiffany King named at centre half-back and Eagles’ jet Maia Freemnatle on the other half-back flank.

For West Adelaide, exciting young forward Lucy Waye has been named in the forward pocket, with workhorse Zoe Venning starting on the wing and tackling machine Hannah Button named as one of five on the interchange.

The first SANFLW player to reach 100 games, South defender Jaslynne Smith, is in the side for the first time since 2018, in the back pocket, with dangerous North defender Jamie Parish holding down the fort at full back.

South Adelaide’s Soriah Moon has been named in the ruck for a second consecutive year after averaging 99.6 ranking points in 2025.

Panther Taya Maxwell, emerging as one of SANFLW’s best young talents, has been named on the interchange, along with South young gun Emma Charlton who is causing headaches for her opposition in every game she plays.

The interchange is rounded out by versatile Norwood utility Kiana Lee and Eagles’ star Lucy Moore.

Based on performance across the minor round, the 2025 The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year was selected by SANFL Female Talent Manager Robbie Neill, SANFL Talent Coordinator Female Programs Bek McMahon, SANFL Competitions Specialist – State Leagues Daniel Joyce, SANFL Football Operations Administrator Nick Bremner, SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank and SANFL Media and Communications Coordinator Alexandra Bull.

2025 The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year Profiles

FORWARD POCKET: Lucy Waye (West Adelaide)
A member of the 2025 SA U18 Girls’ squad, Waye has been a standout for West Adelaide in season 2025. The hard running forward, who can play higher up the ground if required, upped her output this year averaging 16.2 disposals, 2.4 clearances and 4.7 tackles across 11 games this season.

FULL FORWARD: Klaudia O’Neill (Woodville-West Torrens)
The Eagles’ leading goal kicker, O’Neill is a natural fit at full forward. The 19-year-old recorded 24 goals in the minor round, kicking two goals in multiple games, a bag of four in Round 14 and a haul of six goals in Round Seven.

HALF-FORWAD FLANK: Imogen Trengove (Woodville-West Torrens)
Making her debut in the Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year, the SA U18 Girls Captain is truly a superstar in the making. The 18-year-old – who can play a high forward role or through the midfield – averaged 17.3 disposals in 11 games this season, as well as kicking 10 goals.

CENTRE HALF-FORWARD: Katelyn Rosenzweig (Central District)
Who else but the 2025 Hostplus SANFLW League leading goal kicker at Centre Half-Forward? 27 goals kicked across 13 games this season, with two four-goal hauls and multiple games with two goals. She’s kicked 121 goals in her SANFLW career – will anybody catch her phenomenal record?

HALF-FORWARD FLANK: Jade Halfpenny (Norwood)
Halfpenny enjoyed another stellar season for the Redlegs, playing predominantly through the middle but also sneaking up forward for a couple of goals. A member of the 2025 SANFLW State Team, Halfpenny averaged 19.4 disposals, 6.1 tackles and 4.6 clearances.

WING: Zoe Venning (West Adelaide)
This West Adelaide superstar’s work rate is second to none. The 21-year-old amassed 369 disposals across 14 games, averaging 26.4 disposals at 71 per cent efficiency. The sky is the limit for the Bloods’ vice-captain who will enter her eighth season of SANFLW next year.

CENTRE: Christina Leuzzi (Woodville-West Torrens) CAPTAIN
The ever-consistent Eagle was rewarded for her incredible season by signing with the Crows AFLW in June, where she has been a train-on player for the past two seasons. A natural-born leader, the 21-year-old averaged 22.8 disposals across 10 games in 2025 and was best on ground for SA against Victoria in in April.

WING: Monique Bessen (Sturt)
Bessen, 18, pairs her speed with skill and isn’t afraid to take the game on. Featuring in nine Hostplus SANFLW League games in the minor round, Bessen’s running power and ability to cleanly move the ball efficiently for her team is unparalleled.

HALF-BACK FLANK: Laela Ebert (North Adelaide)
A rebounding defender, Ebert is another SANFLW star that was rewarded for her incredible start to the season – signing with Melbourne’s AFLW team. She averaged 20.3 disposals across nine games at an unbelievable 94 per cent efficiency. Known for her high football IQ and clean skills, Ebert is a natural fit at half-back and was best on ground for the SANFLW state team against the WAFLW in May.

CENTRE HALF-BACK: Tiffany King (South Adelaide)
Reliable and rock solid in defence, the South Adelaide vice-captain has been a consistent mainstay of the Panthers defence. King featured in both State Games this year and is one of the main contributors to South’s premiership defence.

HALF-BACK FLANK: Maia Freemantle (Woodville-West Torrens)
This 16-year-old is only just getting started but is already displaying maturity beyond her years. Freemantle was captain of the SA U16s Girls side this year and was a Powerade Breakthrough Player nominee. With steady hands and a booming kick, Freemantle is one to watch.

BACK POCKET: Jaslynne Smith (South Adelaide)
One of the SANFLW originals, Smith goes about her business every week without any fuss. Reliable and consistent, every time she gets the ball she makes an impact. Smith is ultra consistent and finished the minor round with a brilliant 96 per cent disposal efficiency.

FULL BACK: Jamie Parish (North Adelaide)
Averaging close to five rebound 50s and 3.4 marks across 14 games this season, Parish is a dependable tall defender. She finished inside the top 10 for marks taken in the competition this year and is steadily becoming one of the competition’s premier backline players.

RUCK: Soriah Moon (South Adelaide)
Arguably the most consistent player in the competition, Moon had a standout season for the Panthers. She was second in the competition for hit outs and averaged close to five tackles and seven clearances across 14 games. Moon was also a member of the SANFLW state team this year.

RUCK ROVER: Jess Bates (Glenelg) VICE CAPTAIN
One of the best to grace SANFLW, Bates was at her vintage best this season. The retiring Glenelg superstar averaged 30.5 disposals, along with 7.7 tackles, 7.1 clearances. This year’s SANFLW State team vice-captain, Bates will be sorely missed in 2026.

ROVER: Isobel Kuiper (Sturt)
Kuiper was back to her best this year, averaging 23.6 disposals, an impressive 10 tackles and 8.3 clearances across 14 games during the season. The Sturt midfielder is a force to be reckoned with and is one of the toughest going around in the SANFLW.

INTERCHANGE: Taya Maxwell (South Adelaide)
Named as an emerging leader in the SA U18 Girls squad, Maxwell is quickly becoming one of the most versatile players in the comp. Able to play in the ruck or across the backlines, Maxwell played a possible 11 out of 14 games this year and was the Round 5 Powerade Breakthrough Player nominee.

INTERHCNAGE: Emma Charlton (South Adelaide)
The younger sister of AFLW player Teah Charlton, Emma is quickly forging her own path as one of the competition’s best young midfielders. At just 17 years old, Charlton averaged 21 disposals, 7.5 tackles and five clearances across 11 games. She was also a member of the SA U18 Girls squad for 2025.

INTERCHANGE: Hannah Button (West Adelaide)
Button is quite literally a tackling machine. The West Adelaide midfielder set a new record for the greatest number of tackles recorded in a SANFLW game – 24 – whilst averaging 10 tackles a game. Couple this with averaging 5.3 and 18.8 disposals per game, Button’s game reached another level this year.

INTERCHANGE: Kiana Lee (Norwood)
A strong overhead and contested mark, Lee finds herself in the SANFLW Team of the Year for the first time. Finishing the minor round season with 19 goals to her name, Lee also recorded 25 contested marks within her total of 73 marks, the most in the competition.

INTERCHANGE: Lucy Moore (Woodville-West Torrens)
This 17-year-old is already a star for Woodville-West Torrens, averaging 17.1 disposals, 7.2 tackles and 5.6 clearances in her 12 matches for the Eagles in 2025. Playing predominantly through the middle, Moore was the Round 11 Powerade Breakthrough Player nominee.

COACH: NARELLE SMITH (WWTFC)
A pioneer of women’s coaching in Australia, Smith is the obvious choice for Coach of the Year. Bringing Woodville-West Torrens from seventh place to minor premier in the space of 12 months, Smith steered her Eagles toward a 12-2 win-loss record en route to the club’s first SANFLW Grand Final appearance.

[Bluedemon]

Zoe Venning wins 2025 SANFLW Best and Fairest

West Adelaide ball magnet Zoe Venning has been rewarded for her outstanding consistency after winning the 2025 Hostplus SANFLW League Best and Fairest Award in a thrilling count at Adelaide Oval on Monday night.

Becoming the fourth Bloods player to win the SANFLW’s most prestigious individual trophy, Venning leapfrogged South Adelaide ruck Soriah Moon in Round 14 to claim honours by one vote.

Polling a total of 24 votes, the Bloods’ joint vice-captain trailed Moon by one heading into the final minor round match.
Venning managed to attract two votes in her team’s last outing for the season while Moon was unable to capture the attention of the umpires.

Named on the wing in The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year, the 21-year-old received votes in 10 of her 14 appearances this year, underlining her exceptional consistency.

West’s No.9 was adjudged best afield on six occasions – in Rounds 1, 2, 5, 7, 9 and 10 while also receiving two second preferences and two third preferences.

Already with three games under her belt representing the SANFLW State team, including two in 2025, Venning has forged a reputation as one of the hardest-running players in the competition.

Her eye-popping stats sheet includes averages of 26.4 disposals, 5.1 clearances, 5.8 tackles and four marks while also having just two matches in which she collected 18 disposals or less.

Starting her footy journey with Mitcham before moving to Blackwood Football Club for the majority of her junior career, Venning made her SANFLW debut for the Bloods in 2019 and has now played a total of 85 League games.

With Moon finishing second on 23 votes, retiring Glenelg great Jess Bates was third with 20 ahead of influential Sturt midfielder Izzy Kuiper on 19 and Venning’s teammate Hannah Button on 16.

Venning joins fellow West players Button (2018), Rachelle Martin (2020) and Lauren Young (2021) to win the Hostplus SANFLW League Best and Fairest Award.


Kia Coaches Award

The rapid rise of Eagle Christina Leuzzi has been recognised by her claiming honours in the 2025 SANFLW Kia Coaches Award.

Topping the vote-winners with a total of 74, Leuzzi’s win becomes even more meritorious considering she missed the final three minor round matches after being selected by Adelaide’s AFLW team.

Not only did the 21-year-old earn the ultimate respect of the SANFLW coaches, she was also sixth in the 2025 SANFL Best and Fairest Award whilst also being named in The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year.

Averaging nearly 23 disposals in her 10 appearances this season, the power-packed utility also averaged more than seven tackles, seven clearances and four inside 50s.

Leuzzi, who has featured in three SANFLW State games, wins a $500 cash prize and a trophy courtesy of Kia.

Runner-up to Leuzzi was Sturt’s Isobel Kuiper on 71 votes while last year’s winner, Glenelg’s Jess Bates, rounded out the top three on 67 votes.


AAMI Leading Goal Kicker

Central District’s Katelyn Rosenzweig continues to etch her name into SANFLW history after winning the 2025 AAMI Leading Goal Kicker Award.

Booting a record 27 goals across the minor round, Rosenzweig earned her third consecutive goal kicking crown and fourth overall after previous triumphs in 2018, 2023 and 2024.

Rosenzweig led the race for the majority of the minor round and kicked a goal in all but one of her 14 Hostplus SANFLW League appearances.

She booted a season-high four goals in Round 2 and 14 while also kicking multiple majors on nine occasions while holding off runner-up Klaudia O’Neill (Eagles) by four goals.

Originally from the Hamley Bridge Football Club, Rosenzweig was also selected at centre half-forward in The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year.

Rosenzweig was awarded a $500 cash prize courtesy of AAMI.


SA Power Networks Leadership Award

Retiring Glenelg great Jess Bates has won the SA Power Networks Leadership Award after being nominated by the Tigers for her outstanding team-first approach in 2025.

Introduced in 2021, the SA Power Networks Leadership Award recognises players for their off-field attitude as much as their on-field achievements.

Retiring Sturt skipper Maya Rigter won the inaugural award while Norwood captain Alison Ferrall claimed honours in 2022, Double Blues captain Kate Harris in 2023 and Eagles skipper Annie Falkenberg last year.

The award was developed from the Female Personal Pathways program – a series of workshops and forums covering leadership, financial and career development, club culture and mental health education.

SANFL clubs nominated a player based on a number of criteria, including demonstrating care in mentoring younger players at their club, inspiring and encouraging personal development and having values that reflect those of their club.

Bates, who was named vice captain of The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year and vice-captain of the SANFLW State Team, will receive a $1ooo cash prize courtesy of SA Power Networks.