Alice is definitely making her mark

MOUNT Gambier’s Alice Tentye might be relatively new to SANFLW but she has already played in a grand final and now she has been adjudged the best player in the weekend’s State of Origin clash for South Australia in their clash with Western Australia.

Tentye was part of the 2025 SANFLW runners up with the Eagles and in her first foray as a State senior player she was named SA’s best in the heavy loss to WA.

“I was incredibly grateful to be selected to represent South Australia,” Tentye said. “To be recognised and given the chance to play alongside some of the best SANFLW players in the state was quite special, particularly as I was still quite new to SANFLW football.

“I also never had the chance to play state football in my junior years, so achieving that now is something I never expected. It’s definitely one of the proudest moments of my football journey so far.”

It is a football journey that started when Alice was quite young but initially was just one of a suite of sports to which she turned her hand.

“I’ve always been heavily involved in sport and loved trying new sports growing up,” she said. “I first started playing competitive football with my brother at Glencoe in the Mid South East League, where I played mixed junior colts as one of two females in the team.

“That’s really where my passion for football began. I played junior football for five years before transitioning into the Limestone Coast AFL Women’s League.”

Tentye racked up 62 senior games in the relatively newly established Limestone Coast AFL Women’s League and also represented the league at State Zone Carnival, earning a place in the Team of the Carnival.

“Not long after that, I received a phone call from Woodville-West Torrens Eagles SANFLW head coach Narelle Smith asking about my interest in joining the program,” Tentye said. “It all happened at the perfect time because I was already planning to move to Adelaide for university, so signing with the Eagles felt like a good opportunity.”

It was in Round 10 last year when she made her debut.

“From there, I was lucky enough to finish the season in the side, including playing in the Grand Final, which was an unreal experience,” Tentye said. “Since then, I’ve continued to grow within the program, earning SANFLW awards and now entering my second season playing regularly.”

Playing predominantly as a midfielder, Tentye is now focussed on developing her game in what is a strong program at the Eagles.

“I also really value the opportunity to train with Adelaide Crows AFLW during their preseason, which gives me exposure to the standards and habits required at AFLW level,” she said.

And having dipped her toe in the AFL pool, there is no doubt Tentye would love to reach those elite heights.

“AFLW is definitely something I aspire to,” she said. “Since only debuting last year, my focus right now is building consistency at SANFLW level and continuing to develop my game each week. I’m just trying to take every opportunity as it comes and keep improving wherever I can, in the hope of reaching that next level (AFLW).”

When she is not on the training track or playing a game, Tentye is studying a double degree in Human Movement with a Masters of Teaching.