NORWOOD was the clear standout in our Rookie Me Central South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s Team of the Week for Round 10 with five representatives. The Redlegs were the only side to have more than three players make the cut, with each of the seven other teams having between two and three representatives for the weekend.

LEADERS:

Glenelg’s Jessica Bates has had a phenomenal season in 2022, and that continued on the weekend picking up 31 disposals, two marks – one contested – 12 tackles, eight clearances, four inside 50s and two rebound 50s to earn the captaincy in our Team of the Week for Round 10. Her deputy this round is West Adelaide defender Beatrice Devlyn who was the only player to eclipse Bates’ disposal tally for the weekend, picking up 32 touches, as well as two marks, four tackles, two clearances and 11 rebound 50s.

DEFENDERS

Alongside Devlyn in defence is her West Adelaide teammate and captain, Madi Russell. The Bloods leader recorded 18 disposals, six marks, four tackles and three rebound 50s, and she joined two other captains in the back six. Woodville-West Torrens mentor Annie Falkenberg recorded the 19 disposals, two marks – one contested – eight tackles, two clearances, three inside 50s and five rebounds 50s, while North Adelaide co-captain Kristi Harvey had the 12 disposals, two marks, two tackles and six rebound 50s to once again lock down the full-back spot.

Eagles utility Jordann Hickey had another strong defensive performance in Round 10 and picked up 14 touches, two marks, two tackles and five rebound 50s to slot into the back pocket, whilst South Adelaide’s Gypsy Schirmer rounded out the back six with 22 disposals, three marks, 13 tackles, three clearances and four rebound 50s.

MIDFIELDERS

Another stacked week of incredible midfield performances, Norwood boasts the entire followers line. Starting with ruck Leah Cutting, the St Kilda AFLW talent recorded a massive 53 hitouts in the win over West Adelaide, whilst finishing with 12 disposals, two marks – one contested, 15 tackles, two clearances and five inside 50s. Cutting roved it down to the likes of Sophie Armitstead and Tesharna Maher who both shone through the middle. Armitstead had 21 disposals, three marks, eight tackles, nine clearances, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s, whilst Maher managed 23 disposals, four marks, seven clearances and nine inside 50s.

Glenelg’s Bates is in the centre, with North Adelaide’s Jessica Edwards and South Adelaide’s Senna Gulden on the wings. Edwards continued her fine form picking up 27 disposals, five marks, nine tackles, three clearances, five inside 50s and two rebound 50s, whilst Gulden managed the 22 disposals, three marks, nine tackles, eight clearances and three inside 50s in her Panthers debut coming from AFL Sydney.

FORWARDS

Inside 50, Norwood has a couple of representatives in what was a low-scoring round for the competition. Jade Halfpenny and Alana Lishmund both feature in the Team of the Week forwardline, with Halfpenny taking seven marks – two contested – 17 disposals, two tackles and three inside 50s, whilst Lishmund booted 2.3 from 12 disposals, three marks – one contested – and five tackles. Woodville-West Torrens forward McKenzie Dowrick clunked two contested marks from her five, and also had 10 disposals, three tackles and slotted three goals.

The remaining three players in the forwardline do admittedly have some creative freedom. North Adelaide winger Erica Greet booted two goals from 15 disposals, three tackles, three clearances, two inside 50s and two rebound 50s, whilst Glenelg captain and hard nut Ellie Kellock managed 29 disposals, seven marks – one contested – two tackles, six clearances, three inside 50s, two rebound 50s and 1.2. Central District ruck Isabelle Starmer kicked a goal and was named in the forward pocket, also recording 14 disposals, four marks, 11 tackles 32 hitouts, five clearances and four inside 50s.

INTERCHANGE

Sturt dominates the interchange bench, with three of the six players from the Double Blues. In an unlucky circumstance, Sturt’s trio of Alisha Gepp, Kate Harris and Isobel Kuiper all just narrowly missed out on starting spots. Gepp recorded 22 disposals, two marks, five tackle, six clearances and two rebound 50s, Harris picked up 19 disposals, two marks, eight tackles, six clearances, four inside 50s and two rebound 50s, whilst Kuiper booted a goal from 18 disposals, four marks, two tackles, seven clearances and a goal.

Rounding out the squad of 24 starts with Central District captain Shelby Smith on the interchange again, alongside Cheyenne Hammond (South Adelaide) and Tessa Kohn (Glenelg). Smith picked up 18 disposals, four marks, eight tackles, five clearances and two rebound 50s, while Hammond (22 disposals, two marks, six tackles, seven clearances, seven inside 50s and two rebounds) and Kohn (25 disposals, three marks – one contested – seven tackles, five clearances, seven inside 50s and two rebound 50s) were both prolific ball-winners.

EMERGENCIES/OTHERS CONSIDERED

The three emergencies this week include two defenders in South Adelaide’s Jaslynne Smith and West Adelaide’s Madelyn Zacher, as well as North Adelaide ruck Megan Ryan. Two other defenders – Karissa Searle (Central District) and Alex Ballard (Sturt) – were considered, as well Sturt forward duo Georgia Swan and Amy Brooks-Birve, and Glenelg’s Lucy Armitage. From the midfield, West Adelaide duo Jess Macolino and Zoe Venning were among the next best considered, as were Central District’s Jovanka Zecevic, Glenelg’s Madisyn Freeman and Norwood’s Sarah Branford.

2022 ROOKIE ME CENTRAL SANFL WOMEN’S TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 10

B: Annie Falkenberg (WWT Eagles) – Kristi Harvey (North Adelaide) – Jordann Hickey (WWT Eagles)
HB: Beatrice Devlyn (West Adelaide) (vc) – Madi Russell (West Adelaide) – Gypsy Schirmer (South Adelaide)
C: Jess Edwards (North Adelaide) – Jessica Bates (Glenelg) (c) – Senna Gulden (South Adelaide)
HF: Erica Greet (North Adelaide) – Jade Halfpenny (Norwood) – Ellie Kellock (Glenelg)
F: Alana Lishmund (Norwood) – McKenzie Dowrick (WWT Eagles) – Isabelle Starmer (Central District)
R: Leah Cutting (Norwood) – Sophie Armitstead (Norwood) – Tesharna Maher (Norwood)
INT: Alisha Gepp (Sturt) – Cheyenne Hammond (South Adelaide) – Kate Harris (Sturt) – Tessa Kohn (Glenelg) – Isobel Kuiper (Sturt) – Shelby Smith (Central District)

EMG: Jaslynne Smith (South Adelaide) – Megan Ryan (North Adelaide) – Madelyn Zacher (West Adelaide)