From Football SA NTC graduate to Adelaide United’s defensive cornerstone – Ella Tonkin has been crowned the 2025/26 Dianne Alagich Medalist, capping off another outstanding Ninja A-League Women’s campaign in red.
Tonkin Triumphant: Ella Tonkin Named 2025/26 Dianne Alagich Medalist
The award, named after the Club’s inaugural W-League captain and Matildas legend, recognises the player who consistently made a significant and positive impact on the team’s performance while upholding a professional attitude throughout the season.
First awarded in 2008/09, with Dianne Alagich herself the inaugural recipient, the medal remains one of Adelaide United’s most prestigious individual honours.
Now, in 2025/26, it belongs to one of the Club’s most reliable and respected performers – a player who has grown through the South Australian football pathway and become a leader in United’s backline.
The Making of a Medalist
At just 23 years of age, Ella Tonkin has already established herself as one of Adelaide United’s most consistent and dependable players.
Joining the Club in 2019 from the Football SA NTC program, Tonkin has steadily built her reputation through commitment, discipline, and a high standard of performance.
Her football journey began with Adelaide Croatia Raiders before progressing into the FSA NTC program, while she also gained interstate experience with Northern Tigers in New South Wales.
That pathway has shaped a defender who continues to embody the values of Adelaide United – hard-working, composed, and proudly South Australian.
In the 2025/26 regular season, Tonkin played every match, started every match, and completed every available minute – recording 20 appearances, 20 starts, and 1,800 minutes played.
Remarkably, it is the second consecutive season she has achieved the feat of playing 100 per cent of the regular season minutes.
Tonkin’s impact was not limited to her defensive work.
She scored two goals, ranking third in the team, while her 85 per cent pass accuracy was the best of any Adelaide United player across the campaign.
Her performances were also recognised externally, earning selection in the Ninja A-League Women Team of the Week on three occasions.
A Coach’s Praise
Adelaide United Women’s Head Coach Theo Tsiounis said Tonkin’s consistency, professionalism, and reliability made her a deserving winner.
“Ella has been exceptional this season,” Tsiounis said.
“To play every minute of every game for the second year in a row is an incredible achievement and speaks volumes about her preparation, her professionalism, and her importance to the team.
“She is a player who leads through her actions. She is calm under pressure, disciplined defensively, and has continued to grow in possession, which is reflected in her passing numbers.
“Ella represents so much of what this Club values – giving opportunities to South Australian players, helping them develop, and watching them become leaders at A-League level. This award is thoroughly deserved.”
A Season of Consistency
Tonkin’s 2025/26 campaign was defined by trust, resilience, and elite consistency.
Week after week, she provided stability in defence, quality in possession, and a standard that set the tone for those around her.
For a player who has come through the local pathway and grown with Adelaide United, the Dianne Alagich Medal is another significant milestone in a career that continues to rise.
Ella Tonkin has long been one of the Reds’ most dependable performers.
Now, she is also a Dianne Alagich Medalist.
Previous Dianne Alagich Award Winners:
2024/25: Erin Healy
2023/24: Nanako Sasaki
2022/23: Dylan Holmes
2021/22: Fiona Worts
2020/21: Maruschka Waldus
2019/20: Mallory Weber
2018/19: Amber Brooks
2017/18: Alyssa Mautz
2016/17: Sofia Huerta
2015/16: Abby Dahlkemper
2014/15: Kristy Moore
2013/14: Jenna McCormick
2012/13: Abby Erceg
2011/12: Ashleigh Gunning
2010/11: Racheal Quigley
2009/10: Dianne Alagich