Port Adelaide defender Ella Heads has signed a four-year contract extension, securing her future at the club until the end of the 2030 AFLW season. 

The talented 23-year-old joined the Power during the 2024 AFLW Trade Period after crossing from the Sydney Swans, quickly establishing herself as a key member of Port Adelaide’s defensive unit. 

A Rising Star nominee in 2023, Heads has continued her development at Alberton, becoming a reliable and versatile contributor across half-back while embracing the opportunity to grow and learn off the experience and talent within the side’s list. 

In 2025, she averaged 13.8 disposals, 10 kicks, 4.2 tackles and 283 metres gained per game, highlighting her consistency and ability to provide drive and pressure from the back half. 

An impressive season on and off the field saw Heads recently elevated into the club’s leadership group for the first time in her career, fitting recognition for her maturity and consistency in all aspects of her game. 

Heads is a beloved member of the playing group who has recently been elevated to the leadership group, a testament to the strong voice she provides both on and off-field. Image: Brooke Bowering.

After committing her future to the club, Heads said she was excited by the direction of the program and the group’s potential moving forward. 

“I’m really excited to be a Port Adelaide player long term. I absolutely love this football club, and I’m invested in our growth and the opportunities ahead,” Heads said.  

“I've got so much growth left in me, and I’ve still got so much to learn. I love the group of players, coaches and staff, and to be able to learn off them for the next four years…it’s amazing. 

“This is our fifth season, and we have such an exciting, young group of girls, but also, we've got some experience now. We’ve moved away from being in that bracket of just a young team, we've got some depth, and it's just a really exciting group to go forward with.” 

Since arriving at Alberton, Heads has embraced her new leadership role within the playing group, learning from senior players while also helping foster the next generation. 

Heads' four-year contract extension comes off the back of an excellent 2025 season, where she played every game as a consistent figure down back. Image: Brooke Bowering.

“I've definitely just tried to learn off the players around me. I think coming into the program, having only started footy when I was 15, I had so much to learn. I'd obviously played other sports, but football's so different, and I had to get my footy IQ up pretty quickly. 

“Being able to learn off Juzzy (Justine Mules-Robinson), Borgy (Amelie Borg) and Sachi (Syme) has been valuable, and we've got such an exciting leadership group where there's so many different personalities and we all add something different.” 

Port Adelaide’s Head of AFLW Dan Merrett said securing Heads’ signature until the end of 2030 was an important part of the club’s continued growth and development. 

“Ella has become an important part of our program since arriving at Port Adelaide, and we’re really pleased she has committed her future to the club,” Merrett said. 

“She has shown a great ability to learn and adapt, and her growth as a player and leader over the past two seasons has been outstanding. 

“Ella’s competitiveness, football IQ and willingness to continue improving are qualities we value highly, and we’re excited to see her continue to develop alongside this group over the coming years.”