AFTER a huge win, North Adelaide has earned the equal-most players in the Rookie Me Central South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s Team of the Week for Round 6. The Roosters recorded five players in our team this week, the same as fellow winner Central District, two more than one more than fellow winners South Adelaide, Glenelg and narrow losers Sturt. Other losers West Adelaide and Woodville-West Torrens (two apiece) and Norwood (one) round out the 24-player team.

LEADERS:

In Round 6 our chosen captain was an actual SANFL Women’s captain in Central District’s Shelby Smith. The Bulldogs mentor was superb across four quarters in leading her side to an upset win over Sturt, picking up a match-high 24 disposals, eight marks and 11 tackles, as well as three inside 50s. Her vice-captain for the hypothetical side is Glenelg’s Jessica Bates (28 disposals, three marks, 11 tackles, six clearances and eight inside 50s) who stood up in the Bays’ victory over West Adelaide.

DEFENDERS:

The defence is a well-spread back six, with a virtually brand-new side with plenty of first-time entrants for 2022, all from different clubs. Coming back from the Crows’ AFL Women’s side, Madison Newman (25 disposals, six marks – three contested – five tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and eight rebound 50s) lines up at half-back, with another current Crow, Glenelg’s Dayna Cox (16 disposals, four marks, four tackles, two clearances and three rebound 50s) on the other flank. In the key position spot is State Academy member and top-age AFLW Draft prospect, North Adelaide’s Amelie Borg (15 disposals, five marks – one contested – two clearances, two inside 50s, four rebound 50s).

On the last line in defence, Sturt’s Hannah Prenzler (11 disposals, six marks, two tackles and five rebound 50s) has been named in the back pocket. On the other side is Central District tall Charlotte Riggs, whose impact on the game, far outweighed her nine disposals, four marks – two contested – two tackles and two hitouts, being a rock behind the ball. Rounding out the back six is Eagles defender Renee Forth who managed the 18 disposals, two marks, two inside 50s and three inside 50s in the victory.

MIDFIELDERS:

Moving into the midfield, two of the aforementioned players in Smith and Bates lineup, but rounding out the on-ball brigade is West Adelaide youngster Zoe Venning who amassed 18 disposals, two marks, seven tackles, six clearances, five inside 50s, two rebound 50s and a goal in the Bloods’ loss to Glenelg. On the wings are North Adelaide’s Jessica Edwards and Central District’s Laitiah Huynh. Edwards recorded an impressive 24 disposals, four marks, six inside 50s and a goal for the Roosters against Norwood, whilst Huynh played her most impactful game of the year, creating plenty of plays for the Bulldogs on her way to 22 disposals, two marks, two clearances and two inside 50s. Central District double up at the centre stoppages with Isabelle Starmer the starting ruck this week following her 14 disposals, three marks – one contested – five tackles, 25 hitouts, three clearances and two inside 50s.

FORWARDS:

Inside 50, South Adelaide’s dominant duo in competition leading goalkicker Shae Archbold and second placed Jess Waterhouse hold down the key position spots. Archbold slotted 3.1 from 10 touches and four marks – three contested – whilst Waterhouse recorded 18 disposals, two contested marks, three tackles, three clearances, seven inside 50s and 1.1. The leading goalkicker for Round 6 was actually midfielder-forward Hannah Ewings who spent most of her time inside 50, slotting four goals from 15 touches, four marks – one contested, three tackles, two clearances and two inside 50s.

Another Rooster named inside the forward 50 was Jade De Melo who looked dangerous every time she went near the ball. The talented excitement machine racked up 10 touches, two marks, two tackles, two clearances, three inside 50s and slotted two goals in the victory. At half-forward, Glenelg captain Ellie Kellock (21 disposals, four marks – two contested – four tackles, five clearances, three inside 50s, three rebound 50s and 2.2) has been named after periods inside 50 on the weekend. Completing the forwardline is Sturt’s Georgia Swan for a second consecutive week, after 17 disposals, eight marks, two tackles, six inside 50s and a goal.

INTERCHANGE:

Representatives from six different clubs are on the pine this week, with a midfield-feel to the bench. Sturt’s Georgia Bevan (19 disposals, five marks, three tackles, two clearances and six inside 50s), South Adelaide’s Nicole Campbell (23 disposals, five marks, eight tackles, two clearances, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s), Eagles’ Jessica Sedunary (16 disposals, three marks – two contested – three tackles, four clearances and two inside 50s) and North Adelaide’s Katelyn Pope (17 disposals, seven tackles, six inside 50s and a goal) are among the AFLW-experienced players. Also on the bench is Norwood’s sole representative in Lana Schwerdt (23 disposals, five marks, seven tackles and five clearances), as well as Central District’s Jovanka Zecevic (23 disposals, five tackles, seven clearances and three inside 50s).

EMERGENCIES / OTHERS TO CONSIDER:

The three emergencies this week are Eagles captain Annie Falkenberg, South Adelaide’s Esther Schirmer and Glenelg’s Piper Window. They just nudged out a number of potential inclusions who were Madison Lane and Lauren Breguet (Central District), Ellie Lynch and Alysha Healy (Sturt)and Jaslynne Smith and Courtney Barry (South Adelaide). Despite having five players in the side, the Roosters had plenty on the precipice with Megan Ryan, Erica Greet, Brianna Arthur, Cristie Castle and Kristi Harvey all on the shortlist for Round 6. Norwood’s Tesharna Maher and Morgan Johnston were thought of despite the Redlegs’ big loss, whilst Sarah Goodwin, Tessa Kohn and Madisyn Freeman (Glenelg) and Beatrice Devlyn, Abbie Ballard and Emma Kilpatrick (West Adelaide) were also in consideration.

2022 SANFL WOMEN’S TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 6

B: Charlotte Riggs (Central District) – Renee Forth (WWT Eagles) – Hannah Prenzler (Sturt)
HB: Madison Newman (West Adelaide) – Amelie Borg (North Adelaide) – Dayna Cox (Glenelg)
C: Laitiah Huynh (Central District) – Shelby Smith (Central District) (c) – Jess Edwards (North Adelaide)
HF: Ellie Kellock (Glenelg) – Jess Waterhouse (South Adelaide) – Georgia Swan (Sturt)
F: Hannah Ewings (North Adelaide) – Shae Archbold (South Adelaide) – Jade De Melo (North Adelaide)
R: Isabelle Starmer (Central District) – Zoe Venning (West Adelaide) – Jessica Bates (Glenelg) (vc)

INT: Georgia Bevan (Sturt) – Nicole Campbell (South Adelaide) -Katelyn Pope (North Adelaide) – Lana Schwerdt (Norwood) – Jess Sedunary (WWT Eagles) – Jovanka Zecevic (Central District)

EMG: Piper Window (Glenelg) – Esther Schirmer (South Adelaide) – Annie Falkenberg (WWT Eagles)