India Rasheed wins 2024 Hostplus SANFLW Powerade Breakthrough Player

By ZAC MILBANK

Sturt sensation India Rasheed has won the 2024 Powerade Breakthrough Player award after an exceptional individual campaign in the Hostplus SANFL Women’s League.

The ultra-talented Double Blues midfielder relished spending more time in the midfield this season, averaging an impressive 24 disposals, five clearances and five inside 50s in her 12 Hostplus SANFLW League outings.

Nominated for her stunning performance in Round 2, the 17-year-old racked up 21 disposals, eight tackles, five marks and two goals against the Tigers as she put the competition on notice.

A key member of the South Australian Girls U18 team, Rasheed is the first Sturt player to win the Powerade Breakthrough Player since the award’s inception when the SANFLW competition began in 2017.

Rasheed, the daughter of former Double Blue and international tennis coach Roger Rasheed, was one of three Sturt players nominated this season with teammates Monique Bessen (Round 6) and Zara Walsh (Round 4) also earning acknowledgement.

Sturt’s No.6 was awarded with a $1,000 cash prize and trophy, courtesy of Powerade.

Sturt and South Adelaide led the way for nominations in 2024, with three players each featuring on the list of contenders.

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

Rasheed was selected by a panel of judges which included SANFL General Manager Football Matt Duldig, SANFL Female Talent Manager Robbie Neill, SANFL Talent Coordinator – Female Programs Bek McMahon, SANFL Football Operations Coordinator Daniel Joyce, SANFL Head of Football Operations Sean Toohey, SANFL Football Operations Administrator Lucy Kroschel and SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank.

Round 1 – Poppy Scholz (Glenelg)
Round 2 – India Rasheed (Sturt)
Round 3 – Violet Patterson (Glenelg)
Round 4 – Zara Walsh (Sturt)
Round 5 – Jasmine Evans (Central District)
Round 6 – Monique Bessen (Sturt)
Round 7 – Lucy Boyd (West)
Round 8 – Grace Martin (Woodville-West Torrens)
Round 9 – Kiana Lee (Norwood)
Round 10 – Laela Ebert (North Adelaide)
Round 11 – Layla Vizgaudis (South Adelaide)
Round 12 – Emma Charlton (South Adelaide)
Round 13 – Mel Anderson (South Adelaide)
Round 14 – Charlotte Riggs (Central District)