Port Adelaide ruck Matilda Scholz has taken out the 2024 Telstra AFLW Rising Star tonight at the W Awards.

The 19-year-old received 57 out of a possible 60 votes to be crowned the Rising Star ahead of teammate Shineah Goody (48 votes) and Essendon’s Amy Gaylor (26).

Scholz was also named in the 2024 AFLW All Australian Squad after averaging 21.7 hitouts, 4.5 hitouts to advantage, 4.1 clearances, 3.7 tackles, 13.6 disposals and 10.5 contested across her 10 matches in the home and away season.

She becomes the second player from Port Adelaide to win the award, joining 2022 Season Seven winner, Hannah Ewings.

Last season, Scholz was named the club’s Best First Year Player and finished third in the club’s Best and Fairest.

Scholz played community footy with Goodwood and Mitcham.

Telstra, a valued supporter of the AFL and its communities for more than 20 years, is backing footy’s young guns as the Telstra AFLW Rising Star award recognises the best young player for 2024 in both the Toyota AFL Season and the NAB AFLW Season.

Telstra Head of Brand, Network & Sponsorships Alita McMenamin said: “It's our first year as naming rights partner of the Rising Star and we couldn’t be happier to congratulate Matilda Scholz as this year’s AFLW Rising Star. We love seeing young female talent thrive and Matilda really deserves this recognition for the incredible impact she has made on the game.”

2024 Telstra AFLW Rising Star voting:
1st place – Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide): 57 votes
2nd place – Shineah Goody (Port Adelaide): 48 votes
3rd place – Amy Gaylor (Essendon): 26 votes
4th place – Lucy Cronin (Collingwood): 22 votes
5th place – Beth Schilling (West Coast Eagles):  12 votes

2024 Telstra AFLW Rising Star nominees:

Gemma Bastiani:
5. Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide)
4. Lucy Cronin (Collingwood)
3. Shineah Goody (Port Adelaide)
2. Amy Gaylor (Essendon)
1. Elaine Grigg (Western Bulldogs)

Jason Bennett
5. Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide)
4. Shineah Goody (Port Adelaide)
3. Amy Gaylor (Essendon)
2. Kaitlyn Srhoj (GWS GIANTS)
1. Molly Brooksby (Port Adelaide)

Sarah Black
5. Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide)
4. Lucy Cronin (Collingwood)
3. Shineah Goody (Port Adelaide)
2. Amy Gaylor (Essendon)
1. Beth Schilling (West Coast Eagles)

Laura Kane
5. Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide)
4. Shineah Goody (Port Adelaide)
3. Lucy Cronin (Collingwood)
2. Amy Gaylor (Essendon)
1. Elaine Grigg (Western Bulldogs)

Katie Loynes
5. Shineah Goody (Port Adelaide)
4. Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide)
3. Amy Gaylor (Essendon)
2. Lucy Cronin (Collingwood)
1. Elaine Grigg (Western Bulldogs)

Josh Mahoney
5. Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide)
4. Shineah Goody (Port Adelaide)
3. Amy Gaylor (Essendon)
2. Beth Schilling (West Coast Eagles)
1. Mikayla Williamson (Hawthorn)

Emma Moore
5. Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide)
4. Shineah Goody (Port Adelaide)
3. Elaine Grigg (Western Bulldogs)
2. Beth Schilling (West Coast Eagles)
1. J’Noemi Anderson (St Kilda)

Erin Phillips
5. Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide)
4. Shineah Goody (Port Adelaide)
3. Lucy Cronin (Collingwood)
2. Beth Schilling (West Coast Eagles)
1. Amy Gaylor (Essendon)

Eliza Reilly
5. Shineah Goody (Port Adelaide)
4. Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide)
3. Amy Gaylor (Essendon)
2. Kaitlyn Srhoj (GWS GIANTS)
1. Beth Schilling (West Coast Eagles)

Narelle Smith
5. Shineah Goody (Port Adelaide)
4. Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide)
3. Amy Gaylor (Essendon)
2. Lucy Cronin (Collingwood)
1. Beth Schilling (West Coast Eagles)

Kelli Underwood
5. Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide)
4. Lucy Cronin (Collingwood)
3. Shineah Goody (Port Adelaide)
2. Beth Schilling (West Coast Eagles)
1. Amy Gaylor (Essendon)

Megan Waters
5. Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide)
4. Shineah Goody (Port Adelaide)
3. Amy Gaylor (Essendon)
2. Kaitlyn Srhoj (GWS GIANTS)
1. Beth Schilling (West Coast Eagles)

Former winners: