A TOP of the table clash is set for Elizabeth tomorrow when Central District hosts Glenelg for top spot in the SANFL Women’s competition. The loser could slip down the ladder with South Adelaide capable of bouncing back into the top two, though injuries and suspensions across a number of sides threaten to impact the results.

FORM

West Adelaide started the season like a house on fire with back-to-back wins, but the Bloods have copped injury after injury the last few weeks, and now sit 2-2 from the season. Another three forced changes will take place for the home side in Round 4. The Eagles are in a much better spot from a medical standpoint, but on-field they are yet to claim any points in the 2023 season, so will be keen to win against an understrength West Adelaide team.

TEAMS

West Adelaide:

B: Millie Gentle (3), Jess Chyer (38)
HB: Grace McNicol (21), Illish Ross (60), Emma Kilpatrick (43)
C: Olivia Smith (22), Keeley Kustermann (8), Bec Hansen (10)
HF: Ruby Ballard (51), Gemma Houghton (67), Lily Johnson (33)
F: Tabby Saville (18), Kelly Barltrop (15)
R: Tess Huxtable (49), Zoe Venning (9), Lauren Young (30)

INT: Steph Walker (19), Astrid Powell (16), Ella Maxwell (45), Nicole Hooper (11), Asha Dufour (46), Charlie Scutchings (12), Tamika May (32), Chloe Tonkin (64)

Woodville-West Torrens:

B: Ella Little (22), Poppy Waterford (1)
HB: Shineah Goody (34), Leah Cutting (26), Brianna Walling (13)
C: Hannah Scholar (19), Grace Martin (7), Beatrice Devlyn (6)
HF: Bianca Portaro (3), Annie Falkenberg (8), Yasmin Duursma (60)
F: Sophie Whitwell (42), Abbey Dowrick (15)
R: Amie Blanden (12), Channy Mitchell (5), Sophie Zuill (24)

INT: Nikita McRostie (25), Jemma Charity (2), Ashley Baker (44), Marlie Fiegert (30), Audrey Holt (10), Olivia Evans (28), Brooklyn Kraft (33), Natasha Holmes (40)

CHANGES

West Adelaide added to its growing rehab group with Zoe Greer suffering a knee injury in last week’s game, and reliable defender Georgie Pater out with a hamstring. Throw in Lucy Boyd‘;s three-game suspension with the long-term injury to Madi Russell in Round 4 and the defensive 50 is looking very vulnerable. They have brought in the likes of ex-Eagle Stephanie Walker against her former side, as well as Ella Maxwell and Chloe Tonkin as potential debutants. Astrid Powell, Charlie Scutchings and Tamika May have been named as potentials to return to the lineup as part of an extended bench.

Woodville-West Torrens has had the luxury of making options changes, dropping back three recent inclusions to the Development League including State Academy member Chloe Charity, Chloe Newton and Neave Delaney. As part of a massive bench, young gun Grace Martin returns with last week’s late withdrawal Abbey Dowrick a huge inclusion. Brooklyn Kraft, Natasha Holmes, Sophie Whitwell and Ashley Baker are the others named in the extended side.

KEY PLAYERS

Midfield dynamo Zoe Venning will play her 50th game this week, and after Sturt took control of the midfield last week, coach Bruce Dawes has opted to throw Lauren Young on-ball, with Port Adelaide key forward Gemma Houghton providing Young’s presence inside 50. Iilish Ross has largely played midfield this season, but with so many out in the defence, expect the AFLW-experienced talent to spend a lot of time in the back half of the ground.

The Eagles have named Shineah Goody at half-back, though many will be keen to see if she enters a centre bounce with fellow top AFLW Draft prospect Young in there. Versatile utility Ella Little has been named in defence this week, while the likes of Yasmin Duursma and Abbey Dowrick provide the extra class for the Eagles.

PREDICTION

West Adelaide still has an array of stars on paper and is at home which will help, but the numbers mounting on the injury front are build up. If the Eagles were to strike against a genuine contender, this would be the week, with Woodville-West Torrens only getting stronger, while the Eagles’ opponent has continued to grow weaker.

FORM

A genuine rip-snorter of a contest, the ramifications for the loser will be tough, while conversely a win will put the successful side right into the early box seat for a finals spot. Norwood suffered three consecutive losses to start the season, albeit in narrow single-digit defeats, but got on the winners list with a commanding victory over the Eagles last weekend. Sturt has not quite found its consistent form yet with up and down performances, but look very impressive against the Bloods in Round 4.

TEAMS

Norwood:

B: Charlotte Nenke (44), Ashlee Gould (16)
HB: Sarah Branford (9), Emily Bartsch (27), Alison Ferrall (19)
C: Tahlita Buethke (2), Rosie Boon (46), Morgan Johnston (1)
HF: Coby Morgan (51), Lana Schwerdt (41), Shai Hiscock (13)
F: Georgie Jaques (61), Jade Halfpenny (22)
R: Sachi Syme (4), Ebony O’Dea (63), Tesharna Maher (14)

INT: Rosette Zerella (32), Najwa Allen (66), Georgina Birchall (37), Nicola Burns (23), Lauren Smith (24)

Sturt:

B: Monique Bessen (16), Lily Whitcombe (24)
HB: Hannah Prenzler (20), Alex Ballard (19), Jemma Valente (36)
C: Elsie Dawes (5), Alisha Gepp (15), Molly Fletcher (31)
HF: Georgia Swan (3), Amy Brooks-Birve (44), Georgia Bevan (7)
F: Tessa Doumanis (4), Millie McCarthy (1)
R: Alex Pearce (38), Kate Harris (23), Isobel Kuiper (18)

INT: Isabella Drew (28), Alysha Healy (10), Abbey Rigter (11), Sarah Wallace (37), India Rahseed (6), Ally Ladas (17), Zara Walsh (57), Claudia Edmonds (60)

CHANGES

Norwood has made just the one change with AFLW-experienced Hannah Dunn missing due to personal reasons, but the Redlegs regain speedster Tahlita Buethke.

Sturt will be without captain Maya Rigter due to concussion following the clash with Boyd last round, while Lucy Earl (knee) and Jaimee Wittervan (work) are both out of the side. The Double Blues do regain important midfielder Kate Harris, as well as a host of five others including top-age talent Zara Walsh and dangerous forward Ally Ladas added to an extended bench.

KEY PLAYERS

Norwood’s AFLW talents in Ebony O’Dea, Najwa Allen and Jade Halfpenny are a class above when they are on, and Sachi Syme was a valuable addition to the side last round. With that level of talent running around, the likes of Tesharna Maher and Lana Schwerdt can benefit with less focus on trying to quell their influence.

Sturt’s on-ball brigade looked so much stronger with Isobel Kuiper coming back to join Georgia Bevan and Alisha Gepp. Harris adds to that strength and expect her to try and limit O’Dea’s influence around the stoppages, while Monique Bessen has been named as the replacement for Rigter in defence after impressing at half-forward so far this season.

PREDICTION

Both these teams are capable of playing finals at their best, and Norwood has the class to get the job done, especially at home. Sturt was able to get its midfield humming last week and though the season has been a little up and down, the team looks as strong as ever. The Double Blues in a thriller, though it would not be a surprise in the slightest if Norwood caused an upset.

FORM

A tantalising top-of-the-table clash sees two of the three 3-1 sides this season go head-to-head at The Ponderosa, with Central District hosting Glenelg. Trailing Norwood at three quarter time back in Round 3, the Bulldogs have starred since then, winning both matches and getting on a hot streak. Since a forgettable Round 1 loss to West Adelaide, Glenelg has fired on all cylinders and is aiming for a fourth consecutive win in Round 5.

TEAMS

Central District:

B: Jessica Allan (35), Shannon Murphy (10)
HB: Caitlen Teague (17), Madison Lane (40), Laitiah Huynh (41)
C: Dakota Williams (38), Shelby Smith (1), Julia Teakle (6)
HF: Jasmine Evans (27), Tess Gerhardy (33), Elaine Grigg (8)
F: Karissa Searle (22), Lauren Breguet (28)
R: Olivia Levicki (13), Georgia Madigan (7), Sophie Eaton (12)

INT: Caitlin Wendland (42), Katelyn Rosenzweig (2), Georgia Avery (18), Chantel Reynolds (30), Shelby Raven (36), Jovanka Zecevic (23), Demi Sonneman (60)

Glenelg:

B: Poppy Scholz (20), Marie Martino (15)
HB: Ellen Tyminski (18), Alex Walker (35), Matilda Scholz (28)
C: Violet Patterson (6), Madisyn Freeman (2), Brooke Tonon (40)
HF: Matilda Wilmore (19), Lucy Armitage (14), Chelsea Packer (26)
F: Ella Boag (43), Piper Window (8)
R: Shay’Lee Dayman (4), Ellie Kellock (5), Alice Bradley (21)

INT: Tessa Kohn (13), Caitlyn Swanson (9), Jordan Horne (51), Sarah Goodwin (11), Tamsyn Morriss (12)

CHANGES

Central District has made just the one change thus far, with the suspended Charlotte Riggs coming out, and a number of players being named on an extended bench. Among those coming back in are ruck Georgia Avery, utility Demi Sonneman and Tess Gerhardy who has been named up forward.

Glenelg suffered two season-ending injuries in the Round 4 win over North Adelaide, with Serena Waters and Shae Partington out, along with Laura Chigwidden as the Bays counted the cost of last week’s victory.

KEY PLAYERS

The importance of wingers, Elaine Grigg and Laitiah Huynh was evident last week, and the potential battle with Violet Patterson and Brooke Tonon this week will be a fascinating one. The other aspect within the game is Glenelg’s AFLW draftee Matilda Scholz will go head-to-head against the player she will competing for a spot in Port Adelaide’s side with, Central District’s Olivia Levicki.

The Bulldogs’ forwardline will test the Bays, particularly now the visitors have lost Waters who had been impressive back there, with Poppy Scholz to play a key role, potentially on Julia Teakle or Katelyn Rosenzweig. Central District needs to find a way to limit the influence of Piper Window as no one has found that answer so far, but the head-to-head of respective captains Shelby Smith and Ellie Kellock will be one for the footy purists with neither taking a backwards step and thriving on the contested ball.

PREDICTION

Arguably the two most exciting teams this season in terms of their speed on the outside and ability to win the contested ball, there is a reason the teams are ranked first and second in the league. Glenelg has been a touch better for longer over the past few weeks and are the tip in this one, though undoubtedly the key is to get on top in the midfield, and if the Bulldogs can do that, then they are every chance to continue their brilliant form of the last five quarters.

FORM

Two of the title favourites coming into the season will be keen to bounce back from Round 4 losses, with the sides equally impacted by injuries or departures. Both teams will yet again have crucial players missing, which provides younger talents with the chance to step up and make their mark on the season.

TEAMS

South Adelaide:

B: Jaslynne Smith (35), Esther Schirmer (23)
HB: Sam Pratt (22), Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap (18), Indy Tahau (10)
C: Elise Barwick (24), Brooke Boileau (37), Holly Ifould (2)
HF: Cheyenne Hammond (29), Nicole Mark (16), Laqouia Cockatoo-Motlap (17)
F: Jorja Hooper (38), Kyanne Campbell (60)
R: Soriah Moon (32), Senna Gulden (25), Nicole Campbell (9)

INT: Lily Baxter (56), Tiffany Copley (14), Czenya Cavouras (11), Caitlin Couch (8), Mel Anderson (52), Bella Rigby (1), Caitlin Radbone (34)

North Adelaide:

B: Jamie Parish (19), Lauren Gauci (35)
HB: Amelie Borg (22), Ella Quinn (14), Kalani Bates (16)
C: Katelyn Pope (13), Julia Clark (33), Jayde Visser (30)
HF: Doreena Hansen (41), Sky Jensen (50), Brittany Perry (19)
F: Sarch Taylor (52), Hannah Ewings (31)
R: Isabelle Starmer (11), Chelsea Farr (28), Jessica Edwards (2)

INT: Erin Sundstrom (34), Ebony Miller (59), Laela Ebert (9), Aprille Crooks (10), Amber Ward (25), Lauren Hoffmann (45), Sarah Steele-Park (36)

CHANGES

South Adelaide will be without Jordann Hickey (concussion), while Taylah Levy and Lucy Northcott are unavailable for the Round 5 match. They regain some AFLW talent in Indy Tahau and Cheyenne Hammond however, as well as some exciting youngsters in Bella Rigby and Melissa Anderson, the latter in line to make her long-awaited League debut after injury ruined her bottom-age year last season.

North Adelaide will have to contain the Panthers minus co-captain Kristi Harvey who will miss due to suspension, while Mattea Breed (concussion) is also out. Coming into the team are a couple of State Academy members in Sarcha Taylor and Jayde Visser, while Ebony Miller and Lauren Hoffman are potential debutants.

KEY PLAYERS

In the absence of Harvey, the defence will be crucial for the Roosters, with Erin Sundstrom to add that composure alongside Lauren Gauci and Amelie Borg. AFLW Rising Star Hannah Ewings will lead an electric forwardline that could do plenty of damage once the ball hits the deck, while Julia Clark is in terrific form this season.

South Adelaide like the Roosters is far from full strength, though the inclusions of Hammond and Tahau are important. Jorja Hooper played her best game since returning from an anterior crucial ligament (ACL) injury last week, while Senna Gulden and Brooke Boileau have been as consistent as anyone this year. Anderson will add to that grunt on-ball.

PREDICTION

The loss of Harvey is as critical as any player on any list, so North will need to reshuffle in order to try and replace her leadership and voice in defence. Her likely opponent on the day in Hickey being out means matchup wise it will not change a great deal, but the team that wins the midfield will be the one to really get on the front foot. South Adelaide has been more consistent this season, so will be the favourites here, especially at Noarlunga.