GLENELG’S huge win over Woodville-West Torrens in the penultimate round of South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s action has resulted in the Bays having a record-high five players in the Draft Central SANFL Women’s Team of the Week. They had one more than Norwood, and two more than fellow winners, South Adelaide and West Adelaide whilst Central District and North Adelaide were the best of the losers with three players apiece. Sturt (two) and Eagles (one) rounded out the 24-player squad.

Glenelg’s five players start with huge inclusion Ebony Marinoff, who not only starred with 30 touches and 10 clearances, but comes straight into the Team of the Week and was named captain for her efforts. She is joined in there by fellow midfielder Tessa Kohn, whilst youngster Brooke Tonon is at half-back, Meara Girvan slots into centre half-forward, and Ellie Kellock is on the half-forward flank. The sole Eagles’ representative from that match is Anastasia Falkenberg.

Norwood’s tight win over Central District earned the minor premiers the next most players in the Team of the Week with four. Lead by vice-captain of this week’s team Leah Cutting, the Redlegs also had Alison Ferrall in defence, and Najwa Allen and Sophie Armitstead in the side. The Bulldogs contributed three players this week, with captain Shelby Smith named in the centre, Chloe Scheer at half-forward and another State Academy member in Lauren Breguet on the interchange.

South Adelaide had an even spread of contributors across the board, with Nicole Campbell and Montana McKinnon making the Team of the Week yet again, while Jordann Hickey returned to the SANFL Women’s and slotted straight into the forward pocket. They managed to have a big win over Sturt who had two representatives, that being Kiera Mueller at half-back and Jaimee Wittervan on the bench. Both teams had an emergency for this week’s side, with Jorja Hooper (South) and Jess Good (Sturt) among the last to miss out mainly due to the strength in their respective positions.

West Adelaide had some familiar faces make the side, with 15-year-old Lauren Young back again, this time named in the forward pocket after playing a multitude of roles but slotting two majors. Alongside her is experienced AFLW tall Chelsea Biddell, while key defender Sharni Whiting was outstanding at centre half-back. Sarah Dargan was the 25th player this week, marginally missing out on the side. Among those who made the shortlist were South Adelaide’s Teah Charlton, Sturt’s Alex Ballard, North Adelaide’s debutant Monika Ney and Eagles’ Nicole Collie.

DRAFT CENTRAL’S SANFL WOMEN’S TEAM OF THE WEEK:

B: Lauren Gauci (NA) – Amber Ward (NA) – Alison Ferrall (NW)
HB: Kiera Mueller (ST) – Sharni Whiting (WA) – Brooke Tonon (GL)
C: Sophie Armitstead (NW) – Shelby Smith (CD) – Nicole Campbell (SA)
HF: Chloe Scheer (CD) – Meara Girvan (GL) – Ellie Kellock (GL)
F: Jordann Hickey (SA) – Chelsea Biddell (WA) – Lauren Young (WA)
R: Leah Cutting (NW) (vc) – Ebony Marinoff (GL) (c) – Tessa Kohn (GL)
INT: Najwa Allen (NW) – Lauren Breguet (CD) – Anastasia Falkenberg (WWT) – Montana McKinnon (SA) – Katelyn Pope (NA) – Jaimee Wittervan (ST)

EMG: Sarah Dargan (WA) – Jess Good (ST) – Jorja Hooper (SA)