Best Under 21 player - 2019

Originally from Gladstone in country SA, Zander grew up pursuing netball, swimming, tennis, basketball and soccer. Once women’s football began to open up with pathways, Zander made the switch and subsequently had a meteoric rise. In 2017, she was a member of the Adelaide University Division 4 Premiership team with future Norwood teammates Gabby Gormlie and Ellen D’Alessandro. By the end of the following year, her first season with Norwood after being recruited by coach Steve Symonds, she was the leading goalkicker and then won Adelaide University’s A Grade Best and Fairest – the Abrey Medal. 

At the end of 2019, Zander had been awarded Norwood’s “Best Under 21 player” Award,   and was a premiership player with the Adelaide University Division One team. Playing alongside Norwood team mates Jo Hill, Matilda van Riel, Cassie Tsoumbris, Georgia Taylor and Jessica Macolino, ‘the Blacks’ had a two point win over SMOSH West Lakes after being 9 points down at half time. Once again, Zander won the Abrey Medal, making it two in a row. 

Zander went to another level again in 2020, when she was named in the Advertiser’s SANFLW Team of the Year and won Norwood’s Best and Fairest in the same year, as an impressive midfielder who also played as a small forward. 

In 2021, Zander deferred her studies for a Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science to concentrate on football and made the move to Collingwood in the VFLW. Once again, her talents were noticed and rewarded when she won Collingwood’s Best and Fairest (VFLW) award for 2022. In 2023, Zander played in the VFLW Grand Final where Port Melbourne prevailed on the day. 

After three seasons with Collingwood, Zander moved to North Melbourne in 2024, playing alongside former Norwood team mate and former AFLW St Kilda and Gold Coast player, Tahlia Meyer. The move paid off, as North Melbourne defeated the Western Bulldogs to win the VFLW premiership – and Zander became a premiership player with them. 

Chris Brown, October 2024