Nikki Nield Explained

Nikki Nield
Nickname:Turbo
Birth Date:11 December 2000
Birth Place:Adelaide, South Australia
Originalteam:Christies Beach (AdelFL)
South Adelaide (SANFLW)
Draftpick:No. 8, 2018 AFL Women's draft
Debutdate:Round 6, 2019
Debutstadium:Peter Motley Oval
Height:164 cm
Position:Midfielder
Years1:2019–2022 (S6)
Games Goals1:21 (2)
Years2:2022 (S7)–
Games Goals2:9 (1)
Games Goalstotal:30 (3)
Statsend:the 2023 season
Careerhighlights:

Nikki Nield (Gore, born 11 December 2000) is an Australian rules footballer playing for Fremantle in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition. She previously played for Adelaide.

State football

Nield played Australian rules football since the age of 11, first at McLaren and then joined Christies Beach She captained Christies Beach under-14 boys' team in 2014 and in 2016 joined their senior South Australian Women's Football League (SAWFL) side, helping them claim the Adelaide Footy League Division 2 premiership in 2017.[1] In 2018, Nield joined SANFL Women's League (SANFLW) club South Adelaide. She had a very successful first season, averaging 19.5 disposals over eight games, as well as collecting 21 disposals and laying eight tackles in the Grand Final victory over Norwood. In round 4, after collecting 20 disposals, she was nominated for the Breakthrough Player Award, winning the award at the end of the season.[2] Furthermore, she was selected for the 2018 SANFLW Team of the Year and won South Adelaide's best and fairest award.[3] Nield represented South Australia at the 2018 AFL Women's Under 18 Championships and was selected for the initial squad of the All-Australian team.[4] In 2019, Gore averaged 18 disposals over seven games, laying 48 tackles during the SANFLW season, helping South Adelaide claim back-to-back premierships.[5] Gore also played two games for NT Thunder during the 2018 VFL Women's (VFLW) season.[6]

In 2024, Nield won the SANFL Women's League Best and Fairest Award with 27 votes, with South Adelaide qualifying for another Grand Final.[7]

AFL Women's career

Nield was drafted by Adelaide with their first selection and eighth overall in the 2018 AFL Women's draft. Adelaide's general manager of football, Phil Harper, said that she "is a real competitor who loves the contest, tackles hard, and has an enormous work rate."[8] She made her debut in the 32 point win over at Peter Motley Oval in round 6 of the 2019 season.[9] [10]

In June 2022, Nield was traded to Fremantle.[11]

Personal life

Nield was born in Christies Beach in Adelaide.[12] She has a twin sister, named Amy, who is a surfer. Both twins had started out surfing, but Gore changed to football due to not enjoying the individual aspect of surfing.[13] Both twins studied at Tatachilla Lutheran College until year nine, when they took up online schooling.[14]

Notes and References

  1. News: Southern Football League: Christies Beach women to join from Adelaide Footy League. The Advertiser. 28 October 2019.
  2. News: Nikki Gore breaks through as SANFLW rising star . 9 February 2020 . . 3 May 2018.
  3. Web site: Nikki Gore claims inaugural women's best and fairest. South Adelaide. 19 May 2018.
  4. Web site: Vics dominate AFLW U18 All Australian squad. Sarah. Black. Telstra Media. Australian Football League. 16 July 2018. 5 May 2020.
  5. Web site: Nikki Gore. Adelaide. Telstra Media. 13 May 2020.
  6. Web site: Nikki Gore. NT Thunder. 13 May 2020.
  7. Web site: Nikki Nield wins 2024 SANFLW Best and Fairest . sanfl.com.au . Zac . Milbank . 24 June 2024 . 24 June 2024.
  8. News: AFLW: SA talent Nikki Gore becomes a Crow. 23 October 2018. Adelaide. Telstra Media. 11 March 2019.
  9. News: AFLW: First-round draft pick Nikki Gore to debut for Adelaide. Emmalie. Balnaves-Gale. Adelaide. Telstra Media. 8 March 2019.
  10. News: Walsh . Liz . Crows head coach Matthew Clarke confirms teenager Nikki Gore will make her AFLW debut against Giants at Unley Oval on Sunday . 11 March 2019 . . 8 March 2019.
  11. Web site: Details finalised for Nikki Gore trade. Telstra. Fremantle. 8 June 2022.
  12. News: Nikki Gore living her dream playing Australian Rules Football. The Advertiser. 26 January 2018.
  13. Web site: AFLW Draft 2018: South Australian Nikki Gore hopes to emulate Erin Phillips' success in the AFL. Matt. Balmer. Fox Sports. 14 October 2018.
  14. Web site: AFLW: Sacrifice pays off for South Australian. Sarah. Black. Adelaide. Telstra Media. 10 October 2018.