RECORD BREAKING RIDDELL TAKES OUT COACHES AWARD
2025 Sharp EIT Solutions AFLCA AFLW Champion Player of the Year Award
A string of dominant performances has seen North Melbourne dynamo ASH RIDDELL claim the 2025 Sharp EIT Solutions AFLCA AFLW Champion Player of the Year Award.
Riddell polled votes in every match of the 2025 season with her consistency and ability to the find the football shining through, the North Melbourne midfielder took out the award on 100 votes, with decorated teammate Jasmine Garner finishing second on 85 votes and Geelong young gun Georgie Prespakis in third (84 votes).
FULL VOTES (INCLUDING ROUND 11 & 12) & LEADERBOARD:
2025 Sharp EIT Solutions AFLCA AFLW Champion Player of the Year Award
The ball-magnet who broke her own AFLW disposal record three times in 2025 – with the record mark set at 45 following her instrumental display against Sydney in round eight – has been a crucial figure in North Melbourne’s 24-game record breaking winning run. Riddell averaged 37 disposals (an AFLW high), including 15.2 contested possessions, and 5.5 clearances (third) per game to underline her credentials as one of the AFLW’s premier midfielders.
AFL Coaches Association CEO Alistair Nicholson congratulated Riddell on being crowned the 2025 Sharp EIT Solutions AFLCA AFLW Champion Player of the Year.
“Ash is the engine behind the North Melbourne midfield, her huge influence this season has resulted in her being recognised by the coaches as the Coaches Champion Player. Her consistency week in week out saw her poll votes in every match which is an amazing effort," Nicholson said.
"The coaches have a unique perspective on what succeeds in each of the games which combined with the thought that goes into allocating the votes makes this one of the most prestigious of all the individual Awards.
“Ash should be very proud to receive this Award from the coaches and we congratulate Ash.”
North Melbourne coach Darren Crocker said Riddell was a well-deserving recipient of the award.
“This award is recognition for Ash’s consistency and the important role she plays in our team week in, week out,” Crocker said.
“Ash is such a professional, and she is relentless in how she drives the standards of the playing group and epitomises what it means to improve and get better every day.
“The amount of respect she has from us all at North is obvious, and it’s clear that this respect translates to opposition teams and coaches as well.”
The Sharp EIT Solutions AFLCA AFLW Champion Player of the Year is an award voted by the AFLW senior coaches on a 5,4,3,2,1 basis after each game, acknowledging outstanding effort to an individual player in a season.
