OUR South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s Academy Watch is back for another year. We cast our eyes over the four League matches and took notes on each of the South Australian State Academy members to see how they fared across the board. This year we will also be tallying up votes for the Rookie Me Central SANFLW Academy Player of the Year.

Please note: All comments are the opinion of the author.

West Adelaide:

#8 Keeley Kustermann

The talented top-age AFLW Academy member had another solid overall game with some nice highlights. Though not dominant throughout, she was still among the better Bloods in the defeat, moving into the middle after a quiet start to the first term. Once in there, she won a clearance with a quick kick forward, then produced a nice spin out of trouble to hit-up Nicole Hooper inside 50. Her intercepting ability was on show once again in the match, and Kustermann spent more time in the midfield than Round 1. She held a high line when in defence, able to intercept at half-forward at times, but also found the going tougher when winning it in close with plenty of company ready to pounce. She laid an outstanding tackle on Natasha Holmes at half-forward in the second term, though her next kick was intercepted. She had a rushed kick in the final term and her shot on goal sailed out on the full. Overall another consistent performance, and was able to feel the pressure through the middle but still find her fair share of the ball and have an impact both with and without it. Kustermann recorded 15 disposals, seven tackles, three clearances and four inside 50s in the loss.

#12 Charlie Scutchings

Just does the job required of her, and after watching Ewings when she started to get off the chain last week, Scutchings was sent to the red-hot Goody in this match. With a few minutes left in the first half, Goody had won 18 touches in 37 minutes. Over the next 23, the Eagles ball-winner won just three, credit to Scutchings’ close checking. It loosened off a little in the fourth, but Scutchings proved she can nullify an opponent to help stem the momentum for an opposition player. Scutchings had the three touches, but laid five tackles.

#41 Lucy Boyd

Found her fair share of the ball around the ground and seemed to be more involved than the previous week. Boyd showed quick hands at half-back before getting involved shortly after at half-forward, taking a good mark. It was her ability to cover the ground well that stood out, and Boyd laid a strong tackle in the defensive side of the centre square, but was pinged for too high. She kept having a crack throughout the match, and was able to find space to mark the ball, often roaming between the arcs. Boyd amassed 12 disposals, two marks, seven tackles and two inside 50s.

Woodville-West Torrens:

#2 Jemma Whitington-Charity

Finding more space and being able to spread more to the outside than inside this week, Whitington-Charity worked her way into the game after a quieter first term. She used the ball well and can hit targets by hand or food, generally making the right decisions. She was also able take a mark from a lead when inside 50, and her vision when in play opened up the game for teammates. She dropped a mark at half-back eight minutes into the final term, but had another solid game, not wasting too may opportunities when they presented themselves. Whitington-Charity managed the 14 disposals, five marks and four rebound 50s in the game, doing well to get back and help the defence.

#9 Chloe Whitington-Charity

Like her sister, Whitington-Charity also made the most of her chances, seemingly more noticeable this week than Round 1, with her performance outweighing her stats in Round 2. Generally strong overhead, she still dropped a couple of chances, but was more consistent, generally able to intercept well and then kick it out of the danger zone to half-back. An eye-catching moment came in the first term where she dished off a quick handball on the wing as she was tackled, and though the handpass was intercepted, Whitington-Charity managed to smother the next possession whilst being on the ground, showing great determination. The defender recorded seven disposals and two marks in the match.

#20 Cher Waters

Really stepped up in Round 2 after a solid Round 1, playing a more consistent four-quarter performance. Though she started on Abbie Ballard and the Crows-listed player gave her a bit of a bath early, Waters worked into it with some nice clean touches under pressure. She is capable of cleverly evading opponents and not rushing her disposal, such as holding onto the ball a touch longer in the second term with opponents approaching just to dish off with the second option. Waters crumbed a play inside 50 – after initially getting it in there, but missed to the right. Her third term in particularly was quite impressive, and Waters is able to find space well and use it by hand effectively. Waters finished with an eye-catching 18 disposals, two marks, three tackles and five inside 50s.

#30 Marlie Fiegert

An unassuming player who is able to step up and played her role, Fiegert copped a lot of strong tackles in the game. She is fierce herself and able to burst out of the contest at one stage in the third term and kick it forward, and disposed of the ball under pressure 15 minutes into that term. Not a huge game by any means with the eight touches and three tackles, but still had highlights in the third term.

#34 Shineah Goody

An outstanding performance from the bottom-age AFLW Academy member, putting West Adelaide to the sword in the first half as she seemingly cloned herself to be in all thirds of the ground. Her running capacity set up a goal to Jessica Sedunary to start the game, and Goody consistently played ‘Catch me if you can’ throughout the nigh. She amassed 18 disposals in 37 minutes before Scutchings was sent to clamp down on her, but the amount of scoring opportunities Goody had already set up had done plenty of damage. Though generally a lovely kick with time and space, Goody occasionally would kick to an area rather than pinpoint passes which is a nitpicky point of view deliberately for a player of her quality. Few players have the ability to combine their vision and depth by hand like Goody, who turns the handball into an artform with 20m passes inboard to free teammates amongst congestion. So clean off the deck, and so strong overhead, the Round 2 match will not be the last time the Eagles star youngster attracts attention from the opposition. Just simply brilliant with 26 disposals, seven marks – two contested – and five rebound 50s in the win.

Central District:

#9 Charlotte Riggs

Rotating through the ruck to share the load with Isabelle Starmer, Riggs showed off her athletic leap. She worked hard to run back into defence and take a couple of good marks, and though raw at times, showed promising signs. Her kick in the second term after a strong mark was intercepted, but she was able to hit up McKee in the back pocket in the final term. She found enough of the ball around the ground to be an option outside the ruck stoppages, recording nine disposals, two marks, five hitouts and two rebound 50s in the match.

#21 Georgia McKee

Though she had a slow start in the first half, McKee brought her own football out after the main break, racking up a game-high 27 disposals as she tried to get her side over the line. In a performance symbolic to Central District’s own game, she came alive in the third term, racking up the ball with ease everywhere and pulling out all the tricks from her sleeve. Midway through the third quarters, McKee sold candy on the wing so well with a sidestep one way and then the other to get on her right and deliver inside 50. Though she is a right footer, McKee has remarkable precision with her non-preferred, able to hit targets off her left with enviable consistency. Quite often McKee would burst out of a stoppage on her left side, and not even contemplate worrying about getting on her right, able to kick long out of a stoppage. Her kicking technique is superb, and having that ambidexterity makes her so damaging by being able to swing onto either side. Despite being below 160cm, McKee is strong one-on-one and took a ridiculous contested mark at the top of 50 against a taller opponent. Her first game was good, this game was outstanding. If her first half had matched her second, who knows how much she could have influenced the game. Still, McKee managed seven marks, three clearances, eight inside 50s and two rebound 50s to accompany her 27 disposals.

#38 Dakota Williams

Unfortunately Williams’ day ended early after a few clean touches in the first term, coming off with leg tightness. Though not serious and more precautionary, Williams copped a number of knocks going hard at it around the stoppages, and was brought off after three disposals, two tackles and two clearances.

Norwood:

#4 Sachi Syme

The Norwood ball-winner found little time and space during the match, having to do everything the hard way across the four quarters. Syme was able to rack up plenty of the ball, and most of it was often under pressure, but she still produced a fairly strong effort in Round 2. Most of the time she won the ball she immediately felt the heat from opponents, but she gave it back as good as she got with some strong tackles, and when able to have the time to use the ball, she hit up targets inside 50, and at one stage lead to a Schwerdt goal. She attacked it hard each time she saw the opportunity to win the loose ball, and managed 18 disposals, two marks, five tackles, four clearances and five inside 50s to be among the better Redlegs on the day.

#18 Molly Brooksby

Raw but talented, Brooksby had some highlights and some lowlights during the game. When able to have time for decision making, Brooksby was able to cleanly dish off to a teammate on the run or kick long down the line. Occasionally she would rush a kick out of a stoppage or late in the second term she missed a target and it went out of bounds completely. Her quick shot on goal in the second term just missed to the right, but she remained involved throughout the game. Not a massive accumulator, Brooksby does the most damage in transition by hand and able to see the game ahead of her. She notched up 12 disposals, four tackles and two inside 50s in the win.

#41 Lana Schwerdt

Definitely showing some eye-catching traits, Schwerdt had an impressive performance in Round 1. Constantly applying pressure to the opposition around the ground, Schwerdt was able to spread well and find it on the wing, taking a strong mark in the air using her body well when opposed to a bigger opponent one-on-one. Often one to set up teammates with scoring opportunities, Schwerdt got on the end of one herself, snapping a goal with the final kick of the first half, with a brilliant kick across hr body to put her side up by 30 points and reward the Redlegs’ effort in the second term. Schwerdt showed off a nice sidestep midway through the third term and though at times she can bomb the ball forward, overall had an impact with her 14 disposals, two marks – one contested – four tackles, three clearances, two inside 50s and a goal.

South Adelaide:

#37 Brooke Boileau

After a first half she would rather forget – just one kick in an otherwise statless game – Boileau moved onto the wing in the second half and had some eye-catching moments. She laid a huge tackle on Katelyn Pope close to the line midway through the third term, but Boileau’s biggest moment came midway through the last term. After dropping an easy chest mark, Boileau showed character by not letting it worry her, immediately focusing on the task at hand, and receiving the handball off Archbold shortly after to run in and nail a goal at the nine-minute mark to get the South momentum going. A much-improved second half, Boileau recorded six disposals, two marks and a goal.

#38 Shae Archbold

Not quite as prolific as Round 1, most of Archbold’s best work was done in the opening half. She won a free kick early, nailing the set shot with deadly precision. She then took a nice mark a few minutes later and kicked inside 50 well, with a quick shot on goal 11 minutes into the opening term that just happened to be touched on the way through. In the second term, Archbold kicked another early goal, with her set shot routine simply outstanding. Her setup handball to Boileau in the fourth term really gave the Panthers a glimmer of hope, and then another attempts from 50m just fell short of the mark. Having four scoring shots and ending the game with a handy 13 disposals, three marks, five tackles and 2.2, Archbold showcased not only her offensive traits, but her defensive ones as well.

#49 Jemma Ellis

The backup South ruck has nice athleticism that allows her to find the pill around the ground, and she did so on a number of occasions. Often opting to kick long rather than handball – which is a little different for a ruck. Ellis chimed in from time to time, and was able to clear the ball from the stoppage on a couple of occasions. Ellis played her role and finished with eight touches, two tackles, seven hitouts, two clearances and two inside 50s.

North Adelaide:

#22 Amelie Borg

The rebounding defender definitely had one of her quieter games, where she had a couple of good defensive plays in the first term, but after three touches, did not find it again until the fourth quarter. Despite the lack of stats, Borg was still good one-on-one, and her attack on the ball was consistent. She laid a big tackle early in the fourth term, and then bought her side some time with the technical free to lock it up on the wing and be pinged for holding the ball, but was able to give the Roosters defence to get back after South tried to move it forward with quick transition. Borg finished with six disposals and three tackles.

#31 Hannah Ewings

Another performance you can set your watch to, Ewings was superb once again, spending more time in the midfield – including from the get-go – and doing plenty of damage in there. Her strength both inside the contested and aerially was on show in the win, able to amass the all across the ground. Though she had an uncharacteristic fumble in the first term when she ran towards goal, there was little else to fault about her game. She used the ball well and when tackled did not panic, picking the ball up cleanly when under pressure close to the line in the third term. Ewings was the one who set up a goal to Doreena Hansen in the third term, and produced a lovely weighted kick to Jade De Melo early in the game. She almost had a goal of her own after ankle-breaking a couple of opponents with her sidestep, but the kick just fell short and De Melo opted to try and mark rather than shepherd it through, and the South defence was able to impact the contest. In the fourth term, South sent Courtney Barry to lockdown on Ewings knowing what the teenager had done the week before in the last term, but the Rooster still managed to find the ball and even helped set up the sealer with her pressure. The frustration of getting tagged and close attention saw her concede a number of free kicks – six for the match – but her ball use, strength and sheer class made up for it in spade. Ewings headed home after another big performance of 25 disposals, three marks, four tackles, four clearances, seven inside 50s and two rebound 50s.

By: Michael Alvaro

Sturt:

#24 Lily Whitcombe

Whitcombe’s lone stat on Saturday was a tackle, as she again took up her place in Sturt’s defence. Although she did not get her hands on the ball herself, the bottom-ager was around the action during term four as Glenelg put Sturt’s backline under pressure, but the Blues held firm.

#29 India Rasheed

One who built into the game and ended up making a real impact, Rasheed brought her best traits to the fore. The under-ager’s left foot is a weapon of choice, and she often looked to wheel around onto that favoured side to pump Sturt inside 50. Rasheed also presented high up the ground, but looked a natural type when plucking overhead marks or crumbing front and centre. She had a hand in a couple of third term goals without hitting the scoreboard herself; firstly pressuring to create a turnover deep inside 50, and then kicking well over the back to assist an Alysha Healy major.

#40 Tahlia Walker

None of Sturt’s state academy members ticked into double digits for disposals, but each had their moments and Walker was no different. Featuring up forward alongside Rasheed, the top-ager was another who looked to present strongly on the lead and even when delivery fell short of her, she competed to keep Sturt rolling forward. One of Walker’s best plays was a double effort in the third term, where she impacted a one-on-one marking contest, then followed up with a tackle to lock up the loose ball. Overall, a solid shift from the forward.

Glenelg:

#6 Violet Patterson

The Collingwood father-daughter candidate for 2024 again got to cut her teeth in midfield, rotating through the centre bounces and building into the contest. She again showed the promise which has her involved in such a strong Bays squad at her young age, covering a good amount of ground and contributing in different ways. She had a couple of moments tackling, a couple marking, and a couple moving the ball inboard which pointed towards all-round potential for the under-ager.

#8 Piper Window

The bottom-aged jet was not as prolific as in her opening outing, but still spent time in the midfield and got busy in the forward half. Window was a touch unlucky in the early stages, standing up in a strong tackle but being pinged holding the ball, and then giving away a high free kick with her own tackle. There was plenty of pressure around the contest, which meant clean possession did not come easily, and it showed as Window was a touch rushed with a couple of kicks. She stood up well in the heat of battle though, lifting her side with a fierce holding the ball tackle in the final term.

#11 Sarah Goodwin

Goodwin was a standout for the Bays, not only in a SANFLW Academy sense, but overall. The speedy rebounder made her side look instantly better in possession, adding a bit of flair with her run out of defence and on the outside. She put speed on the ball and wasn’t afraid to attack it hard, putting Glenelg in constant forward motion when the whips were cracking. Her daring approach and propensity to take up aggressive positions meant each play was penetrative, albeit if the final disposal was a little skewed on the run. Goodwin’s start was perhaps better than her finish this time out, but she gave her side a huge boost on the uptake. It was great to watch such a young player back herself with each possession.

#20 Poppy Scholz

Again taking the field alongside her younger sister, Scholz took up her position on the wing in a game which gave little opportunities to outside types. Still, the bottom-ager competed well to try and snap up loose balls between the arcs, also using her size to have a say aerially. Scholz took two marks for the day, hitting up for one on the lead and plucking the other overhead late in the piece. She managed to get a rare glimpse of green ball in the third quarter too, but had her inside 50 kick pushed wide under pressure.

#28 Matilda Scholz

The standout ruck on the ground, Scholz leant on all her size and athleticism to win a whopping 33 hitouts. Her aerial aptitude did not stop there, with the 2006-born prospect also clunking two contested marks and looking a real prospect in that sense. Arguably the most promising side of Scholz’s game was her ability to follow up and display neat skills for a player of her build, winning a couple of clearances and proving efficient with her use by foot. Pending rules on under-age players, the South Australian Under 18 side could do with a ruck of her quality this year.

RM CENTRAL SANFLW ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE YEAR ROUND 2 VOTES:

8 – Hannah Ewings (North Adelaide)
8 – Sarah Goodwin (Glenelg)
8 – Shineah Goody (WWT Eagles)
8 – Georgia McKee (Central District)
7 – Matilda Scholz (Glenelg)
6 – Keeley Kustermann (West Adelaide)
5 – Cher Waters (WWT Eagles)
3 – Shae Archbold (South Adelaide)
2 – Sachi Syme (Norwood)
2 – Lana Schwerdt (Norwood)
1 – Chloe Whitington-Charity (WWT Eagles)
1 – India Rasheed (Sturt)
1 – Jemma Whitington-Charity (WWT Eagles)

In each edition of Academy Watch, 60 votes are distributed amongst the Academy talents rather than the traditional 5-4-3-2-1 per-game system used with the NAB League Girls. This way, players who go above and beyond are awarded additional votes, with no cap on a minimum amount from teams. In Round 2, seven of the eight teams are represented.