Halfpenny crowned SANFLW Best and Fairest
NORWOOD captain Jade Halfpenny has capped a career-best SANFLW campaign by claiming the 2026 SANFLW League Best and Fairest Award amongst a flurry of accolades at Adelaide Oval last night.
Halfpenny polled 27 votes to finish clear of Sturt’s Isobel Kuiper (23) and Woodville-West Torrens’ Alice Tentye (22), becoming the second Norwood player to win the medal after Najwa Allen in 2019.
The Redlegs skipper collected four maximum-vote games across the count, polling three votes in Rounds 3, 5, 6 and 11. She also earned six two-vote and three one-vote performances, underlining the consistency behind her first league best and fairest triumph.
Halfpenny was one of the competition’s most prolific ball-winners throughout the minor round, averaging 26.9 disposals, 8.4 tackles, 5.9 inside 50s and 4.8 clearances across 14 matches. Her ceiling was on show against West Adelaide in Round 4, when she amassed 41 disposals, eight clearances, eight inside 50s and six tackles.
The medal rounded out a memorable night for Halfpenny, who won the Coaches Award, Leadership Award and was also named ruck rover and captain of the 2026 SANFLW Team of the Year. Her fifth selection in the side came as Norwood’s three representatives also included exciting youngsters Coby Morgan on a wing and Lani Cocks on the interchange.
Woodville-West Torrens had a major presence in the Team of the Year after securing a second consecutive minor premiership. The Eagles supplied four players to the 21-player side – headlined by centre Tentye and full forward Klaudia O’Neill – while Narelle Smith’s selection as coach took the club’s overall representation to five.
Tentye’s rise was recognised twice, with the 20-year-old midfielder also taking out the 2026 SANFLW Breakthrough Player Award. The Mount Gambier product averaged 26 disposals, 9.4 tackles and 4.1 clearances in eight Eagles games before joining Adelaide’s AFLW list as a Replacement Player. Her nomination came after a Round 2 performance of 23 disposals, five marks, eight tackles and one goal.
O’Neill, who was selected at full forward, collected the Leading Goal Kicker Award after booting a record 33 minor-round goals. Eagles defender Annie Falkenberg was named vice-captain of the Team of the Year, with Tahlita Buethke completing the Eagles’ quartet.
All eight SANFLW clubs were represented in the Team of the Year, with Sturt boasting four players and North Adelaide, Norwood and South Adelaide each supplying three. The official 21-player selection and the confirmed award recipients are listed below.
SANFLW Best and Fairest Top 5
| Place | Player | Club | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jade Halfpenny | Norwood | 27 |
| 2 | Isobel Kuiper | Sturt | 23 |
| 3 | Alice Tentye | Woodville-West Torrens | 22 |
| 4 | Zoe Venning | West Adelaide | 21 |
| 5 | Lani Cocks | Norwood | 17 |
2026 SANFLW Team of the Year
B: Alexandra Ballard (Sturt) – Annie Falkenberg (Woodville-West Torrens) (vc)
HB: Ella Metcalfe (North Adelaide) – Jamie Parish (North Adelaide) – Tahlita Buethke (Woodville-West Torrens)
C: Coby Morgan (Norwood) – Alice Tentye (Woodville-West Torrens) – Holly Ifould (South Adelaide)
HF: Zoe Venning (West Adelaide) – Amber Ward (North Adelaide) – Melissa Anderson (South Adelaide)
F: Madeline Nuss (Sturt) – Klaudia O’Neill (Woodville-West Torrens)
R: Soriah Moon (South Adelaide) – Jade Halfpenny (Norwood) (c) – Isobel Kuiper (Sturt)
INT: Iilish Ross (West Adelaide) – Lani Cocks (Norwood) – Miyu Endersby (Central District) – Georgia Swan (Sturt) – Isla Wiencke (Glenelg)
Coach: Narelle Smith (Woodville-West Torrens)
Coaches Award
| PLAYER | SANFL CLUB | VOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Jade Halfpenny | Norwood | 93 |
| Isobel Kuiper | Sturt | 76 |
| Lani Cocks | Norwood | 67 |
| Zoe Venning | West Adelaide | 60 |
| Alice Tentye | Woodville-West Torrens | 57 |
Leading Goal Kicker
| PLAYER | SANFL CLUB | TOTAL GOALS (MINOR ROUND) |
|---|---|---|
| Klaudia O’Neill | Woodville-West Torrens | 33 |
| Amber Ward | North Adelaide | 17 |
| Madeline Nuss | Sturt | 17 |
| Hope Taylor | South Adelaide | 14 |
| Georgia King | Sturt | 14 |
| Polly Turner | North Adelaide | 13 |
Halfpenny crowned SANFLW Best and Fairest
NORWOOD captain Jade Halfpenny has capped a career-best SANFLW campaign by claiming the 2026 SANFLW League Best and Fairest Award amongst a flurry of accolades at Adelaide Oval last night. Halfpenny polled 27 votes to finish clear of Sturt’s Isobel Kuiper (23) and Woodville-West Torrens’ Alice Tentye (22), becoming the second Norwood player to win […]
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