AAMI Rookies take flight in 2025

By ZAC MILBANK

SANFL clubs are continuing to invest in South Australian products with as many as 53 AAMI Rookies making their Hostplus SANFL League debut in 2025.

The class of 2025 featured a diverse array of young and mature-age talent as players were handed their opportunity to shine throughout the minor round.

Woodville-West Torrens forward Jett Hasting and Adelaide’s Ned Atkinson were among the 15 players to line-up for their first League game in Round 1, the most AAMI Rookies unveiled in a round this year.

There was at least one AAMI Rookie chosen in each of the minor rounds this season, with the exception of Round 15 being the SANFL Showdown, while one AAMI Rookie was selected each week throughout the minor round of the Hostplus SANFLW League campaign.

All AAMI Rookies to make their League debut this year earned $500 for their original Community Football Club as well as a framed picture of them to hang in the clubrooms.

Sturt’s Alex Holt was an excellent example of a player who had to display great persistence before making his Hostplus SANFL League debut in Round 6, lining up in 38 Reserves matches across three seasons.

But it paid off for the rebounding half-back who went on to be an important role player in the Double Blues’ premiership team this year.

Eagles pair Jack Cook and Jevan Phillipou, together with Rooster Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier, were among the potential 2025 AFL draftees to be chosen at League level while 17-year-old Bulldog Dougie Cochrane, eligible for the 2026 AFL Draft, displayed exciting signs with four goals in his first half of League football in Round 16.

Central’s Aidan Schubert, also in the mix to be drafted this year, achieved the rare feat of making his League debut in the Elimination Final against Norwood.

Round 1
Heath Growden (Port) – Willaston FC
Deakan Jackson (Eagles) – Port District FC
Jett Hasting (Eagles) – Central Yorke Cougars FC
Brandon Jackson-Martin (Eagles) – Payneham FC
Liam Ueding (Eagles) – Rosewater FC
Joel Parker (West) – PHOS Camden FC
Adam Bunworth (West) – Flagstaff Hill FC
Sam Burbridge (West) – Flagstaff Hill FC
Oscar Talbot (West) – Goodwood Saints FC
Riley Hill (West) – Goodwood Saints FC
Ned Atkinson (Adelaide) – Edwardstown FC
Blake Rodrigues (South) – Yankalilla FC
Jaiden Magor (South) – Myponga-Sellicks FC
Brad Jefferies (South) – Onkaparinga Valley FC
Alex Van Wyk (North) – Athelstone FC

Round 2
Harrison Ramm (Glenelg) – Brighton FC
Marco D’Annunzio (Norwood) – Glenunga FC

Round 3
Jacob Newton (Norwood) – Elliston Districts FC

Round 4
Charlie Haysman (West) – Unley Jets FC

Round 5
Willa Taylor (Sturt) – Unley Jets FC

Round 6
Evan Bradley (North) – Golden Grove FC
Tom Stevens (North) – Golden Grove FC
Kobe McEntee (Sturt) – Mitcham FC
Alex Holt (Sturt) – Glenunga FC

Round 7 
Jake Andrews (Woodville-West Torrens) – Port District FC
Jaxon Bennett (Adelaide) – Ceduna Blues FC

Round 8 
Luca Slade (Sturt) – Glenunga FC
Jayden Matz (Central) – Freeling FC

Round 9 
Jay Chapman (South) – Port Noarlunga FC
Ray Harding (West) – Henley FC

Round 10
Steve Jackson (North Adelaide) – Weeroona Bay FC
Beau Symonds (Glenelg) – Brighton FC
Finn Reed (Central) – Tanunda FC

Round 11
Tye McManus (South) – Kalangadoo FC
Tom Barrett (South) – Happy Valley FC
Trent Tattoli (Central) – Angle Vale FC

Round 12
Jack Cook (Eagles) – Port District FC
Dayne McGary (South) – Brighton FC

Round 13
Jevan Phillipou (Eagles) – PHOS Camden FC
Jordan Tilbrook (Eagles) – Southern Eagles FC (Yorke Peninsula)
Brody Mair (Eagles) – Port District FC
Hamish Dow (West) – Coorong Cats FC

Round 14
Will Crane (Adelaide) – Imperials Murray Bridge FC
Tyson Walls (Norwood) – Payneham FC
Cohen Shortridge (South) – Cove FC

Round 16
Dougie Cochrane (Central) – Port District FC

Round 17
Ryan Borlace (South Adelaide) – Yankalilla FC
Balyn O’Brien (Norwood) – Central Eyre United FC
Jonty Koehne (West Adelaide) – Loxton North FC

Round 18 
Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier (North) – Modbury FC

Round 19
Latrelle Pickett (Glenelg) – Tumby Bay FC
Hugh Payze (North Adelaide) – Walkerville FC

Elimination Final
Aidan Schubert (Central) – Gawler Central FC

Round 1 – Polly Turner (North Adelaide) – Hectorville FC
Round 2 – Tessa Davis (Glenelg) – Brighton FC
Round 3 – Maia Freemantle (Woodville-West Torrens) – Henley FC
Round 4 – Ashleigh George (North Adelaide) – Broadview FC
Round 5 – Saskia Reynolds (Sturt) – Glenunga FC
Round 6 – Lottie Almond (Norwood) – Tea Tree Gully FC
Round 7 – Lily Whiteman (Sturt) – Glenunga FC
Round 8 – Imogen Szegedi (Sturt) – Nairne Bremer FC
Round 9 – Sarah Deed (West Adelaide) – Goodwood Saints FC
Round 10 – Elizabeth Johnson (Glenelg) – Flagstaff Hill FC
Round 11 – Alice Tentye (Woodville-West Torrens) – North Gambier FC
Round 12 – Lani Cocks (Norwood) – Tumby Bay FC
Round 13 – Ella Sergi (Central District) – Salisbury North FC
Round 14 – Hope Taylor (South Adelaide) – Happy Valley FC