SANFLW Top 5 in 2025 – Defenders

12 November 2025

By ALEXANDRA BULL

The best Hostplus SANFLW League performers in 2025 are being unveiled through the SANFLW Top 5 in 2025 rankings.

Form across the 2025 season was used as the chief factor in the ranking process, with selection in The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year and the SANFLW state team weighing heavily, together with placings in the SANFLW Best and Fairest, Club best-and-fairest awards, SA Under 18 performances and awards, and strong performances in finals matches.

High rankings in statistics such as total disposals, marks, contested marks, goals, clearances and tackles were also taken into account, along with Champion Data ranking points.

Find out who the most influential defenders were in 2025.

A quiet achiever down back, Jaslynne Smith is the unsung hero of the Panthers’ premiership success.

The first SANFLW player to play 100 games in the competition, Smith is a smooth operator down back, averaging a superb 96 per cent disposal.

She was inducted as South Adelaide Life Member in season 2025, after she won an incredible fourth premiership with South Adelaide.

She may only be 16 years old, but Woodville-West Torrens’ Maia Freemantle is quickly making a name for herself.

Captain of SA’s U16 Girls side this year, Freemantle was named as the rover in the 2025 AFLW U16 Girls All-Australian team and made her debut for the Eagles SANFLW side in Round One of the Hostplus SANFLW League, along with being a Powerade Breakthrough Player nominee.

Whilst she only played 11 games during the season, Freemantle was selected in The Advertiser 2025 SANFLW Team pf the Year, and with her steady hands and booming kick, we are sure to be seeing more of her in the years to come.

The ever-reliable Roosters’ defender was rewarded for her stellar season in red and white with her maiden best and fairest and first selection in The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year.

Parish established herself as a dependable option in defence this season averaging close to five rebound 50s and 3.4 marks across 14 games.

At only 22 years old and 174cm, Parish provides poise and consistency in defence for the Roosters.

South Adelaide’s vice-captain Tiffany King is a huge key to her side’s sustained success.

Selected in The Advertiser 2025 SANFLW Team of the Year and both SANFLW State Games, King has been a mainstay in the Panthers’ side since her debut in 2019.

Reliable and rock-solid down back, when the 26-year-old is at her best, the Panthers are hard to stop.

She only played nine games for North Adelaide this season before being selected by Melbourne’s AFLW team, but Laela Ebert was clearly the best SANFLW defender in 2025.

Averaging 20.3 disposals at an incredible 94 per cent efficiency and with her high football IQ, Ebert’s impact off half-back was undeniable.

Ebert was recognised for her stellar performances down back with selection in The Advertiser 2025 SANFLW Team of the Year, and selection in both SANFLW State Squads, with her performance against Western Australia earning her best-on-ground honours.