Nikki Nield wins 2024 SANFLW Best and Fairest

By ZAC MILBANK

A fairytale homecoming for South Adelaide’s Nikki Nield is a step closer after winning the 2024 Hostplus SANFLW League Best and Fairest Award in a pulsating count at Adelaide Oval on Monday night.

The first Panther to win the most prestigious individual SANFLW prize, Nield (nee Gore) hit the lead in Round 13 when she polled three votes against Glenelg, to leapfrog competition pacesetter, Tiger Jess Bates.

Polling a total of 27 votes after landing another two in the final minor round match, Nield finished three ahead of 2022 SANFLW Best and Fairest Bates, who missed the last two matches with a foot injury.

Named ruck rover in The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year, Nield will be aiming to finish her 2024 campaign in style by playing in her third premiership with South Adelaide on Saturday July 6.

Returning to Noarlunga after playing with AFLW clubs Adelaide and Fremantle, the 23-year-old attracted the umpires’ attention in all but two of her minor round matches to illustrate her exceptional consistency.

South’s No.2 was adjudged best afield on six occasions – in Rounds 1, 3, 9, 11, 12 and 13 as she finished with significant momentum heading into the SANFLW major round.

A dual title-winning midfielder with the Panthers in 2018 and 2019, Nield claimed the Powerade Breakthrough Player award in 2018 as the competition’s most promising player aged under 21 at the start of the season.

Averaging 22 disposals, four clearances and four marks per game, Nield also displayed her willingness to defend by averaging an outstanding 10 tackles per game in 2024.

Starting her career with the Christies Beach Football Club, Nield was a talented surfer before choosing to concentrate on her football journey.

Making her debut for South in 2018, Nield is fast approaching her 50-game milestone with the Panthers, having appeared in 41 matches.

Sturt sensation India Rasheed placed third with 19 votes while retiring Central District premiership skipper Shelby Smith was fourth on 17, three ahead of West ball magnet Zoe Venning, who rounded out the top five.

Central District’s Katelyn Rosenzweig and South Adelaide’s Emily Brockhurst are joint winners of the 2024 AAMI Leading Goal Kicker Award.

Each booting 25 goals across the minor round, Rosenzweig and Brockhurst created history as it is the first time the SANFLW League has had joint winners of the prestigious trophy.

Rosenzweig led the race for the majority of the minor round until Brockhurst equalled the tally with an eye-catching goal against the Bulldogs in Round 14.

Amazingly, Brockhurst’s 25th major came early in the fourth quarter of their final clash before the major round, creating an exciting finish.

It is the third time Rosenzweig has won the SANFLW Leading Goal Kicker trophy, having also saluted in 2018 while playing with North Adelaide and last year with the Bulldogs.

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

Brockhurst, who booted 63 goals for Flagstaff Hill last year, made a fairytale return to SANFLW ranks in 2024 with the Panthers, claiming her first Leading Goal Kicker Award whilst earning selection in the forward pocket of The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year.

Rosenzweig and Brockhurst were both awarded $500 cash prizes courtesy of AAMI.