IN the most even Team of the Week spread yet, there were at least two representatives from each South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s team. Round 3 winners, Central District, Norwood and Sturt recorded the equal most, with other winner Glenelg, as well as the team the Bays narrowly beat in South Adelaide, receiving three. The other three losing sides – North Adelaide, West Adelaide and Woodville-West Torrens – had the two players apiece.

DEFENDERS

Holding down the fort at full-back is this week’s captain, Kristi Harvey. The North Adelaide co-skipper was phenomenal in keeping the Double Blues goalless for 75 of the 80 minutes, picking up 22 disposals, eight marks – four contested – and 12 rebound 50s. She is not the only current or past captain in this week’s back six, with Norwood skipper Alison Ferrall making the side for a third straight week after a 18-disposal, four-mark, nine rebound-50 game against the Eagles. Her teammate Morgan Johnston is locked into a back pocket after another fantastic game, collecting 14 disposals, nine marks – two contested – two inside 50s and six rebound 50s.

One half of the defensive third comes from the Double Blues, emphasising just how good Sturt was at keeping the Roosters at bay. Past captain Georgia Bevan (22 disposals, nine marks, four tackles, two clearances, three inside 50s and five rebound 50s) could be named anywhere, whilst permanent defenders Alex Ballard (16 disposals, seven marks – one contested – and three rebound 50s) and Kiera Mueller (17 disposals, five marks, two tackles and four rebound 50s) complete the six.

MIDFIELDERS

The midfield has a very different look to it this week, with just one player retaining her spot in it from last round. That was Central District captain Shelby Smith, who is alongside by a first-time Team of the Week teammate in Caitlin Wendland. Smith finished with 24 disposals, three marks – two contested – 10 tackles, five clearances, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s, whilst Wendland managed one of her best SANFLW games with an impressive 19 disposals, two marks, six tackles and eight clearances.

West Adelaide also has two contributions in the midfield, with Keeley Kustermann racking up a round-high 31 disposals, as well as three marks, nine tackles, three clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal, alongside teammate Abbie Ballard (20 disposals, two marks – one contested – 13 tackles, six clearances, five inside 50s and one goal). Another Crows-listed player in Nikki Gore made it onto the other wing, having picked up 27 disposals, seven marks, four clearances, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s in South’s loss to Glenelg. Her teammate and ruck Jemma Ellis earned her first Team of the Week nomination after the State Academy representative picked up 13 disposals and five clearances to go with 19 hitouts, three tackles and two inside 50s.

FORWARDS

The forwardline was a tricky one to pick this week with some low-scoring games and even spread of goalkickers. But a few stood out from the rest, such as Central District teenager Georgia McKee. The 15-year-old broke West Adelaide hearts with a three-goal last term – four all up – as well as 17 disposals, three marks – one contested – seven tackles, two clearances, three inside 50s and two rebounds. She equalled the league-best for the round, with South Adelaide’s Jess Waterhouse kicking all four of her side’s goals, also amassing 18 disposals, four marks – three contested – four tackles, six inside 50s and two rebound 50s.

Only two of the remaining four forwards kicked a goal, but they all worked hard up the ground and had plenty of influence. Best on ground in her side’s win on Friday night, Norwood’s Jade Halfpenny played predominantly through the midfield, but still provided a target up forward, recording 27 disposals, four marks – one contested – seven clearances and two rebound 50s. On Saturday, North Adelaide’s Cristie Castle marked her return to the SANFL Women’s with a strong marking display – 10 all up, three contested – as well as 15 disposals and four inside 50s. Completing the front six are a Glenelg duo Jessica Bates (24 disposals, four marks, seven tackles, four clearances, five inside 50s, two rebound 50s and a goal) and Samantha Franson (19 disposals, seven marks – three contested – eight tackles, four hitouts, three clearances, three inside 50s and a goal).

INTERCHANGE

The six-player interchange features two Eagles players in Ella Little and Charlotte Dolan. Little had another strong game in the midfield with 19 disposals, two marks – one contested – six tackles and nine inside 50s, whilst Dolan managed the 15 disposals, two marks – one contested – three tackles and five rebound 50s in defeat to the Redlegs. Also impressing in defence was another Sturt talent in Zoe Prowse – making it a total of four defenders in the side from the Double Blues – as she picked up 18 disposals, six marks – two contested – three tackles and four rebound 50s.

Norwood experienced midfielder Sophie Armitstead worked hard defensively to notch up 20 disposals, two marks, three tackles, eight clearances and three rebound 50s, whilst Central District’s Lauren Smith managed 15 disposals, three marks, four tackles, six clearances and five inside 50s. Rounding out the six-player bench is State Academy member Sarah Goodwin having another strong game. The Glenelg teenager managed 24 disposals, three marks, two tackles, three inside 50s and six rebound 50s.

OTHERS CONSIDERED …

There was plenty of depth in the midfield this week, with South Adelaide’s Tahlita Buethke and Central District’s Laitiah Huynh both named in the emergencies, alongside North Adelaide defender Jessica Edwards. Norwood duo Sachi Syme and Lana Schwerdt also had 20-plus disposal performances and were close to squeezing in, whilst experienced defenders Leah Kaslar and Madi Russell were the next in line for the back third of the ground. A couple of rucks also came close to making it in with Bulldogs’ Isabelle Starmer and Double Blues’ Jasmyn Hewett both having impressive games, whilst South Adelaide midfielder Nicole Campbell was the other player to come into consideration for the team this week.

SANFL WOMEN’S TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 3

B: Kiera Mueller (Sturt) – Kristi Harvey (North Adelaide) (c) – Morgan Johnston (Norwood)
HB: Georgia Bevan (Sturt) – Alex Ballard (Sturt) – Alison Ferrall (Norwood)
C: Nikki Gore (South Adelaide) – Shelby Smith (Central) – Keeley Kustermann (West Adelaide)
HF: Jade Halfpenny (Norwood) – Cristie Castle (North Adelaide) – Jessica Bates (Glenelg)
F: Georgia McKee (Central) (vc) – Jess Waterhouse (South Adelaide) – Sam Franson (Glenelg)
R: Jemma Ellis (South Adelaide) – Caitlin Wendland (Central) – Abbie Ballard (West Adelaide)
INT: Sophie Armitstead (Norwood) – Charlotte Dolan (WWT) – Sarah Goodwin (Glenelg) – Ella Little (WWT) – Zoe Prowse (Sturt) – Lauren Smith (Central)

EMG: Tahlita Buethke (South) – Jess Edwards (North Adelaide) – Laitiah Huynh (Central)