![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ella-Tonkin-Red-Army-POTY.png\")
<\/p>\nFrom Football SA NTC graduate to Adelaide United\u2019s defensive cornerstone \u2013 Ella Tonkin has been crowned the 2025\/26 Dianne Alagich Medalist, capping off another outstanding Ninja A-League Women\u2019s campaign in red.<\/p>\n
Tonkin Triumphant: Ella Tonkin Named 2025\/26 Dianne Alagich Medalist<\/p>\n
The award, named after the Club\u2019s inaugural W-League captain and Matildas legend, recognises the player who consistently made a significant and positive impact on the team\u2019s performance while upholding a professional attitude throughout the season.<\/p>\n
First awarded in 2008\/09, with Dianne Alagich herself the inaugural recipient, the medal remains one of Adelaide United\u2019s most prestigious individual honours.<\/p>\n
Now, in 2025\/26, it belongs to one of the Club\u2019s most reliable and respected performers \u2013 a player who has grown through the South Australian football pathway and become a leader in United\u2019s backline.<\/p>\n
The Making of a Medalist<\/p>\n
At just 23 years of age, Ella Tonkin has already established herself as one of Adelaide United\u2019s most consistent and dependable players.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
That pathway has shaped a defender who continues to embody the values of Adelaide United \u2013 hard-working, composed, and proudly South Australian.<\/p>\n
In the 2025\/26 regular season, Tonkin played every match, started every match, and completed every available minute \u2013 recording 20 appearances, 20 starts, and 1,800 minutes played.<\/p>\n
Remarkably, it is the second consecutive season she has achieved the feat of playing 100 per cent of the regular season minutes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tonkin\u2019s impact was not limited to her defensive work.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Her performances were also recognised externally, earning selection in the Ninja A-League Women Team of the Week on three occasions.<\/p>\n
A Coach\u2019s Praise<\/p>\n
Adelaide United Women\u2019s Head Coach Theo Tsiounis said Tonkin\u2019s consistency, professionalism, and reliability made her a deserving winner.<\/p>\n
\u201cElla has been exceptional this season,\u201d Tsiounis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cElla represents so much of what this Club values \u2013 giving opportunities to South Australian players, helping them develop, and watching them become leaders at A-League level. This award is thoroughly deserved.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2262908977.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
A Season of Consistency<\/p>\n
Tonkin\u2019s 2025\/26 campaign was defined by trust, resilience, and elite consistency.<\/p>\n
Week after week, she provided stability in defence, quality in possession, and a standard that set the tone for those around her.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Ella Tonkin has long been one of the Reds\u2019 most dependable performers.<\/p>\n
Now, she is also a Dianne Alagich Medalist.<\/p>\n
Previous Dianne Alagich Award Winners:<\/p>\n
2024\/25: Erin Healy<\/p>\n
2023\/24: Nanako Sasaki<\/p>\n
2022\/23: Dylan Holmes<\/p>\n
2021\/22: Fiona Worts<\/p>\n
2020\/21: Maruschka Waldus<\/p>\n
2019\/20: Mallory Weber<\/p>\n
2018\/19: Amber Brooks<\/p>\n
2017\/18: Alyssa Mautz<\/p>\n
2016\/17: Sofia Huerta<\/p>\n
2015\/16: Abby Dahlkemper<\/p>\n
2014\/15: Kristy Moore<\/p>\n
2013\/14: Jenna McCormick<\/p>\n
2012\/13: Abby Erceg<\/p>\n
2011\/12: Ashleigh Gunning<\/p>\n
2010\/11: Racheal Quigley<\/p>\n
2009\/10: Dianne Alagich<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From Football SA NTC graduate to Adelaide United\u2019s defensive cornerstone \u2013 Ella Tonkin has been crowned the 2025\/26…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5925,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[341,395,957,958],"class_list":{"0":"post-5924","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-adelaide","8":"tag-a-league","9":"tag-adelaide","10":"tag-adelaide-united","11":"tag-featured"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5924"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5924\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}