The Margaret Nyland Medal, formerly known as the Women’s Best and Fairest Medal, is the South Adelaide Football Club’s highest individual honour awarded to the Best and Fairest Women’s player at the end of each SANFLW season.

The inaugural medal was awarded after South Adelaide's first SANFLW season in 2018 to Panthers junior Nikki Nield (née Gore). Since then, the award has recognised the outstanding talent, consistency, and sportsmanship of the Club’s senior women footballers.

In 2021, the Panther Club donated a perpetual trophy to be awarded alongside the medal and displayed at the Club as an enduring acknowledgement of past winners.

Season 2022 marked a historic moment, with Nicole Campbell becoming the first back-to-back winner and the award resulting in its first tie.

At the conclusion of each Senior Women’s match, the Women’s Football Selection Committee allocates votes to each player who represents the Club, based on their on-field performance. Players receive a score from 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest possible.

The player with the highest cumulative votes at the end of each SANFLW season is declared the winner of the Margaret Nyland Medal.

Please note: a different voting system was used during the 2018 season.*

In 2024, the medal was officially renamed the Margaret Nyland Medal in honour of the Club’s first female Chair and long-time supporter of women’s football, Margaret Nyland. The renaming recognises her significant leadership, advocacy for female athletes, and lifelong connection to the Panthers.

Check out the full list of Margaret Nyland Medal winners below.