SANFLW Top 5 in 2025 – Midfielders

18 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 midfielders were in 2025.

Named in The Advertiser’s SANFLW Team of the Year for the second consecutive season, Jade Halfpenny was at her best in season 2025.

The former AFLW player went back-to-back in Norwood’s Best and Fairest, winning the count by almost 200 votes, as she averaged 19.4 disposals, 4.2 marks, 6.1 tackles and 4.6 clearances.

The versatile midfielder – who also can play up forward – featured in both of the SANFLW State games in 2025.

Izzy Kuiper is a midfield machine.

Kuiper won Sturt’s SANFLW Best and Fairest for a second consecutive season, along with finishing fourth in the SANFLW Best and Fairest.

The Double Blues midfielder averaged a staggering 23.8 disposals, 9.8 tackles, 8.2 clearances and 105.1 ranking points across 16 games.

Emma Charlton is quickly making a name for herself in the SANFLW.

The Panthers youngster was best afield in the SANFLW Grand Final this year and was named the 2025 U18 Girls MVP as a bottom-ager.

She finished second South Adelaide’s Best and Fairest count, along with being named in The Advertiser 2025 SANFLW Team of the Year for the first time.

The retiring Tiger won Glenelg’s SANFLW Best and Fairest, along with being named vice-captain The Advertiser’s 2025 SANFLW Team of the Year.

Jess Bates collected more disposals than anyone else in 2025, averaging 30.5 disposals, 7.7 tackles and 7.1 clearances to finish third in the SANFLW Best and Fairest in a vintage season.

She also featured twice in the SANFLW State Team and was also recognised for her outstanding leadership qualities with the SA Power Networks Leadership Award.

The reigning SANFLW Best and Fairest, Zoe Venning had a season to remember in the red and black.

Averaging 26.4 disposals, 5.8 tackles and 5.1 clearances, Venning won back-to-back-to-back club best and fairest awards for West Adelaide this season, solidifying herself as one of the most dominant midfielders the SANFLW has seen.

Venning played in both SANFLW state games and was named on the wing in The Advertiser’s 2025 SANFLW Team of the Year.