Matilda Scholz
Matilda Jane Scholz is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for Port [Adelaide Football Club] in the AFL Women's competition.
Early life
Born in Adelaide, South Australia to former Australian netball international Peta Scholz and David Scholz, Matilda was raised in Adelaide before temporarily moving with her family to Mt Maunganui, New Zealand in 2010 while her mother played for Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in the Trans-Tasman Netball League.Playing her junior football with Adelaide Footy League club Mitcham, Scholz made her SANFL Women's League senior debut for Glenelg Football Club in 2022, playing 11 games and finishing fifth in Glenelg's Best and Fairest.
AFL Women's career
After being named in the under-18s All-Australian team in 2022, Scholz joined Port Adelaide as an underage signing in the 2023 AFLW season's priority signing period.Making her AFLW debut in round 1, 2023, against, Scholz played all 10 games of the AFLW home and away season, finishing third in Port Adelaide's best and fairest and awarded the club's best first year player award.
In 2024, Scholz played a key role in Port Adelaide's first AFLW final series, winning the club best and fairest as well as being included in the extended All-Australian team|All-Australian] squad. Scholz won the 2024 AFL Women's Rising Star award with 57 votes. She was also awarded with the 2024 Mark of the Year for her spectacular mark against in week 7 of the season.
Scholz was the first women's footballer to win consecutive best-and-fairest awards for Port Adelaide, claiming the back-to-back honours in 2024 and 2025.