Click here to see the AFL Sydney Women’s Rising Star honour roll which dates back to the award’s inception in 2012.
Below you can read about all the past winners and view the vote counts from each year.
AFL SYDNEY WOMEN’S 2019 RISING STAR
Alexa Cardassilaris from Southern Power has been awarded the 2019 AFL Sydney Women’s Rising Star.
After an injury plagued debut season in 2018 Alexa hit her stride and found her place in the Southern Power Premier Division side in 2019. Just her second year of playing AFL Footy Alexa’s aggression at the footy, ability to read the flight of the ball, high-level athleticism and running prowess has made her transition into the sport almost seamless. Alexa is an exciting prospect and we’re looking forward to seeing what 2020 has in store for the rising star.
Full Votes:
| Name | Club | Votes |
| Alexa Cardassilaris | Southern Power | 27 |
| Sarah Ford | East Coast Eagles | 20 |
| Zoe Hurrell | Sydney Uni | 16 |
| Ally Dallaway | East Coast Eagles | 12 |
| Madeline Convery | Inner West | 9 |
| Samantha Goldrick | UTS AFC | 9 |
| Chloe Arndt | East Coast Eagles | 7 |
| Anna Pellen | UNSW/ES | 5 |
| Isadora McLeay | Sydney Uni | 5 |
| Abby Dixon | Newtown | 5 |
| Rylee McGartland | East Coast Eagles | 4 |
| Caelah Stanley | East Coast Eagles | 1 |
| Tayliya Kennedy | Inner West | 0 |
Photo: Alexa Cardassilaris (left) accepting her award from John Yates Award winner and AFL NSW/ACT Head of Talent and Coaching, Darren Denneman.
AFL SYDNEY WOMEN’S 2018 RISING STAR
Jemima Wrigley from Southern Power has been awarded the 2018 AFL Sydney Women’s Rising Star.
At just 17 years of age, Jemima decided to forgo her last year of junior footy to make the jump up to Seniors in 2018. The midfielder is mature beyond her years which helped her transition seamlessly into the senior ranks. Jemima excels at a number of sports, representing NSW and Australia in Oz Tag as well as playing Rugby Union for Randwick in the Women’s 7’s.
The fiercely competitive, natural leader continues to lift her game and is well on the path to getting herself on the radar for higher levels of footy.
Full voting:
| Name | Club | Votes |
| Jemima Wrigley | Southern Power | 24 |
| Maryanne Harley | Sydney Uni | 23 |
| Rebecca Mount | UNSW/ES | 20 |
| Senna Gulden | UNSW/ES | 11 |
| Margot Vella | Auburn-Penrith | 10 |
| Ella Farley | UTS Shamrocks | 9 |
| Jessica Urquhart | Western Wolves | 8 |
| Rebecca Miller | Western Wolves | 8 |
| Sarah Yatim | Auburn-Penrith | 6 |
| Maddy Kohlrusch | UNSW/ES | 4 |
| Brooke Curren | Southern Power | 4 |
| Garner Hancock | UTS Shamrocks | 3 |
| Isabella Hardwick | UNSW/ES | 3 |
| Pia Bernasconi | UTS Shamrocks | 2 |
| Other Nominees | ||
| Gabbi Morton | Western Wolves | 0 |
| Susannah Rennie | Newtown | 0 |
Photo: Jemima Wrigley (left) accepting her award from GWS Giants AFLW Player and former AFL Sydney Women’s Rising Star Award Winner Nicola Barr.
AFL SYDNEY WOMEN’S 2017 RISING STAR
Zoe Devlin from the UNSW ES Stingrays has been awarded the 2017 XBlades AFL Sydney Women’s Rising Star.
Zoe is an 18 year old who came to the UNSW-ES Stingrays this season after playing at the Maroubra Saints. She is a highly skilled left footer who played her first Premier Division game in Round 1. She was an integral part of the UNSW ES midfield this season, playing in the center with experienced Premiership midfielders Phoebe Monahan and Tia Bool.
Full voting:
| Name | Club | Votes |
| Zoe Devlin | UNSW/ES | 25 |
| Allie Tialshinsky | UTS | 22 |
| Paige Pirotta | Auburn-Penrith | 19.5 |
| Laura Marshall | Western Wolves | 17 |
| Jacqueline Anyon-Smith | Auburn-Penrith | 16.5 |
| Gabrielle Biedenweg-Webster | Wollongong Saints | 13.5 |
| Koozee Huybers | UNSW/ES | 12 |
| Rylee McGartland | Wollongong Saints | 9 |
| Courtney Richmond | Western Magic | 9 |
| Pippy Clegg | Sydney Uni | 8.5 |
| Libby Graham | North Shore | 6 |
| Olivia Suman | Western Magic | 6 |
| Senna Gulden | UNSW/ES | 5 |
| Georgia Davis | Sydney Uni | 4.5 |
| Jacqueline Gay | Auburn-Penrith | 3 |
| Madeleine McCathie | Sydney Uni | 2.5 |
| Julia Hunt | UNSW/ES | 0 |
Photo: Zoe Devlin moving the ball forward – Round 13 UNSW ES Stingrays v Sydney Uni at Trumper Park. Photo Narelle Spangher
AFL SYDNEY WOMEN’S 2016 RISING STAR
Auburn Giants star Angela Priftis has been awarded the 2016 Sydney AFL Women’s Rising Star.
Angela is a gifted young footballer whose remarkable abilities continued to grow over the season, as she gained valuable experience playing against the best female footballers in AFL Sydney.
Priftis polled 40 votes, finishing 11 votes ahead of runner up, Macquarie Universitiy’s Annabel Ferrari with 29 votes. Meg Haynes of Sydney University finished third with 21 votes.
Full voting:
| Name | Club | Votes |
| Angela Priftis | Auburn Giants | 40 |
| Annabel Ferrari | Macquarie Uni | 29 |
| Meg Haynes | Sydney Uni Bombers | 21 |
| Larissa Parry | Wollongong Saints | 20 |
| Madi Moar | UNSW/ES Stingrays | 20 |
| Sarah Steele-Park | UNSW/ES Stingrays | 18 |
| Makenzie Eddington | Power Wolves | 18 |
| Laara Lewis | Pennant Hills | 18 |
| Kassandra Chan | Wollongong Saints | 16 |
| Taylor Blaydon | Newtown Breakaways | 15 |
| Anna Johnston | Sydney Uni Bombers | 11 |
| Elise Arangio | Newtown Breakaways | 10 |
| Rachel Jones | Wollongong Saints | 7 |
| Charly Iron | Sydney Uni Bombers | 7 |
| Ellie Herron | Macquarie Uni | 4 |
| Erin Doyle | Sydney Uni Bombers | 3 |
Photo: Angela Priftis (Left) accepting her award from GWS Giants Academy Coach Jason Saddington
AFL SYDNEY 2015 WOMEN’S RISING STAR
Sydney University star midfielder Nicola Barr has been awarded the 2015 Sydney AFL Women’s Rising Star.
The 19 year old is in her second year of senior football previously playing in the youth girls competition for Queenswood. It has been a great year for Nicola who also represented NSW/ACT in the state game against Queensland in July.
Barr polled 34 votes, finishing 5 votes ahead of runner up, UNSW/ES Jen Chan with Kiona Vance of Macquarie University finishing third with 25 votes.
Full voting:
| Name | Club | Votes |
| Nicola Barr | Sydney University | 34 |
| Jen Chan | UNSW/ES | 29 |
| Kiona Vance | Macquarie University | 25 |
| Haneen Zreika | Auburn | 19 |
| Gabrielle Ferreira | Macquarie University | 18 |
| Emma Nolan | Penrith | 17 |
| Sharni Collins | Gosford | 13 |
| Quincy Dorans | Blacktown | 12 |
| Sam Murray | UNSW/ES | 11 |
| Rheanna Lotter | Southern Power | 10 |
| Isabella Rudolph | Manly Warringah | 9 |
| Telecia Brown | Macquarie University | 9 |
| Terri-Ann Martin | Newtown | 4 |
| Vivien Talbot | Macquarie University | 3 |
| Other Nominees | ||
| Narmeen Mohammed | Auburn | |
| Tayla Stahl-Smith | Newtown |
Photo: Nicola Barr (Right) with her rising star award
AFL SYDNEY 2014 WOMEN’S RISING STAR
Wollongong Foward Catherine Stanton has been awarded the 2014 Sydney AFL Women’s Rising Star.
The 15 year old is in her first year of senior football previously playing in the girls youth competition. Its been a great first year for Catherine also claiming the Women’s Division Two goal kicking award.
Stanton polled 50 votes, finishing a whopping 32 votes ahead of runner up, Wollongong’s Nicola Kennedy with Emily Crookes of Gosford finishing third with 17 votes.
Full voting:
| Name | Club | Votes |
| Catherine Stanton | Wollongong | 50 |
| Nicola Kennedy | Wollongong | 18 |
| Emily Crookes | Gosford | 17 |
| Bianca North | Southern Power | 16 |
| Kimberly Chan | Wollongong | 15 |
| Holly Graham | Manly Warringah | 12 |
| Shelby Koh | UNSW/ES | 11 |
| Wafaa Elwadia | Auburn | 8 |
| Morgan Ross | Gosford | 8 |
| Ashleigh Carter | Manly Warringah | 7 |
| Brooke Ashcroft | Macquarie University | 6 |
| Jasmine Smith | UNSW/ES | 5 |
| Natasha Loiseau | Penrith | 2 |
| Waded Hammoud | Auburn | 1 |
| Other Nominees | ||
| Hayat Ajaj | Auburn | |
| Aziza Malas | Auburn |
Photo: Catherine Stanton with her rising star award
AFL SYDNEY 2013 WOMEN’S RISING STAR
Sydney University Foward Stephanie Walker has been awarded the 2013 Sydney AFL Women’s Rising Star.
The 18 year old is in her first year of senior football previously playing in the girls youth competition. Its been a great first year for Stephanie being selected in the NSW Country Championship team that competed in Cairns playing in two of the games.
Walker polled 40 votes, finishing 8 votes ahead of Macquarie University’s Rebecca Beeson with Remi Banuelos of UNSW/ES finishing third with 17 votes.
Full voting:
| Name | Club | Votes |
| Stephanie Walker | Sydney University | 40 |
| Rebecca Beeson | Macquarie University | 32 |
| Remi Banuelos | UNSW/ES Stingrays | 17 |
| Coline Duquet | UTS Shamrocks | 14 |
| Isabelle O’Brien | UNSW/ES Stingrays | 12 |
| Fahimi Quiek | Auburn Tigers | 11 |
| Antoinette Moliterno | UTS Shamrocks | 10 |
| Amy Foo | Sydney University | 10 |
| Charlotte Latsombath | Western Wolves | 9 |
| Marwa Ismail | Auburn Tigers | 7 |
| Summeya Pala | Auburn Tigers | 6 |
| Megan Vella | Penrith Ramettes | 5 |
| Jasmine Payne | Penrith Ramettes | 4 |
| Nicola Kennedy | Wollongong Saints | 2 |
| Amanda Farache | Auburn Tigers | 1 |
Photo: Stephanie Walker (left) receiving his award from Defence Force Recruiting representative, Captain Patrina Baldwin
AFL SYDNEY 2012 WOMEN’S RISING STAR
Penrith Ramettes’ Stephanie Kostic has been awarded the 2012 Sydney AFL Women’s Rising Star.
Stephanie who hails from Hoxton Park is playing her first year of AFL.
The popular 20 year old fashion designer was an accomplished hockey player who has shown a rapid improvement to be one of the leading Ramettes players in their debut year.
Stephanie is a coach’s delight, listens and carries out game plans and gives great encouragement to the team. Despite having a lengthy drive to training, she never misses a session.
Kostic polled 35 votes, finishing three votes ahead of Wollongong’s Ashley Gray.
Full voting:
| Name | Club | Votes |
| Stephanie Kostic | Penrith | 35 |
| Ashley Gray | Wollongong | 32 |
| Eleri Morris | Wollongong | 24 |
| Sandra Janjetokic | Sydney University | 19 |
| Jessica Paulic | Auburn | 16 |
| Steph Potrivka | Wollongong | 7 |
| Madeline Collier | Wollongong | 7 |
| Kristy Church | Wollongong | 5 |
| Alice Fresle | Sydney University | 5 |
| Ashlea Rodman | Penrith | 5 |
| Caitlin Stanistreet | UNSW/ES | 3 |
| Ashlee Smith | Wollongong | 3 |
| Shannon Huntley-Wei | Wollongong | 2 |
| Lily Hall Harris | UTS | 1 |
| Taigan Grenfell | Wollongong | 1 |
Photo: Stephanie Kostic (left) receiving his award from GWS GIANTS Co-Captain, Luke Power