SOUTH Adelaide won its fourth SANFL Women’s flag and second consecutive title, defeating Woodville-West Torrens in a memorable 2025 decider. A total of 10 State Academy members – between 18s and 16s – stepped out on the big stage and we took note of how they performed when the stakes were at their highest.

WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS:

#4 Julia Faulkner (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 7 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles

With Christina Leuzzi back in the side, Faulkner was largely deployed forward with some midfield minutes later in the match. She applied great pressure around the ball and though she did give away a free kick to Tape early, showed clean hands and an innate ability to dispose of the ball very quickly. Did not win a lot of it, but had less opportunities and did make her mark when she got her chance.

#7 Maia Freemantle (Wing)

Stats: 7 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Returned after a long stint out with injury and returned to her wing role where she ran just as hard as ever without missing a beat. Her defensive pressure is always sublime, and Freemantle has slick hands under pressure. Her ability to evade opponents and move the ball in transition is great, and while she might have only had the seven touches, definitely had more impact with her ground coverage and tackling.

#15 Lucy Moore (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 8 tackles, 5 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

One of the best Eagles on the day, Moore battled hard for four quarters around the coalface and gave as good as she got. Much like Freemantle, there is never a question on Moore’s defensive attributes, and the bottom-ager has a terrific burst out of the stoppage when given any kind of space. Competed hard and followed-up well whenever she did turn the ball over, also working into the back half to provide assistance and mop up.

#22 Imogen Trengove (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 behind

Started forward and was really restricted in terms of impact with the ball up the other end. Got moved on-ball where she got her hands on it a bit more and was able to get her famed running game up and about. She was still not able to have her usual impact, but she always gives 100 per cent and set up a consolation goal to Lynch with a nice kick. Almost kicked a goal herself in the opening minute of the second term but it only just drifted and missed from a tight angle.

#36 Ruby Lynch (Forward/Ruck)

Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks (2 contested), 2 tackles, 4 hitouts, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s

The athletic tall was not overawed acting as the second ruck to Leah Cutting, a role she will likely inherit in 2026 given Cutting’s retirement. The left-footer took a couple of huge contested grabs, including one inside 50 on the lead at the highest point making it incredibly difficult to spoil her. Lynch nailed the goal then showed her ground coverage by working into defence to spoil up the other end, with promising signs for the future in her debut season.

SOUTH ADELAIDE:

#8 Hope Taylor (Forward)

Stats: 6 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Started the game well with a great holding the ball free kick against Eagles skipper Annie Falkenberg, and set the tone for her performance. Laying almost as many tackles (five) as disposals (six), Taylor got just rewards for her pressure by slotting a set shot goal from a tight angle 20m out. It came after missing an earlier chance a little further out. Overall stood up when called upon to do so inside 50.

#20 Layla Vizgaudis (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Another youngster who was not overawed by the big stage, Vizgaudis got to start on-ball and predominantly played there where her quick hands and smarts were on display. She got the dream of a lifetime when marking on the forward side of the middle and then seeing the opening goalsquare, bursting away inside 50, taking a bounce and slotting one on the run to seal the result early in the fourth quarter. Kept running hard all day and was clever when she went near it.

#25 Emma Charlton (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 26 disposals, 3 marks (1 contested), 7 tackles, 10 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s, 1 behind

No one would have disputed Charlton as best on ground and deserving of the medal, having dominated the stoppages and really all around the ground. She racked up the most disposals and clearances in the match, and was able to set up two goals directly and many more indirectly. Her performance was put in more detail via our Player Focus.

>> SANFLW Grand Final Player Focus: Emma Charlton (South Adelaide)

#56 Lily Baxter (Wing)

Stats: 7 disposals, 3 marks (1 contested), 2 tackles

While not having as much of the ball as the preliminary final, Baxter just had a few really memorable moments. The first was a huge running tackle on Alice Tentye catching her opponent off guard, then she laid another great tackle in the same first term on Trengove to lock the ball up. Her high-flying grab two minutes into the fourth term at half-back set up the match-sealing goal to Vizgaudis with a pinpoint perfect kick straight down the corridor from half-back to half-forward.

#60 Marley Tape (Defender)

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks (2 contested), 1 inside 50

Was one of the surprise packets of the grand final. Not because she is not capable, but more on the biggest stage, the youngest Panther really stood tall under some immense heat. Tape took a couple of huge contested grabs, intercepted on several occasions and spread well to be an option across the ground too. The double bottom-ager was not overawed by the occasion which was great to see.