Tessa Maywald

Tessa Maywald is the kind of young defender who handles the big moments like she’s been doing this for years, and at 22, that’s a really encouraging sign. The Adelaide United centre-back has established herself as a regular over the past two seasons with maturity and composure that have impressed coaches and supporters alike. Her willingness to commit to challenges, combined with good positional sense and improving distribution, marks her out as a defender with genuine potential to reach the highest levels of Australian women’s football.

What’s really accelerated Maywald’s development is the daily exposure to experienced centre-back partner Emily Condon — learning preparation and performance habits from a seasoned professional rubs off, and you can see it in her game. Coming through the South Australian pathway system, she waited patiently for her opportunity at Adelaide United and seized it with both hands. Her pace in recovery situations provides a safety net when the defensive line gets broken, and her ability to step out of the backline and join midfield build-up play adds an extra dimension that the coaching staff clearly value.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

Tessa Maywald is one of the W-League’s emerging defensive talents, and Adelaide United see her as a long-term building block in their backline — with good reason. Her progression over the past two seasons justifies that investment, and as she continues developing her communication, aerial game, and ball-playing ability, the potential to push for Matildas youth selection is very real. The 2025-26 season is an important one, and everything suggests she’s ready for it.

NC — Staff sports writer, australiafootball.com