THREE of the four SANFL Women’s clashes for Round 7 are done and dusted, but there is still one more to be completed in a standalone Saturday match with West Adelaide hosting Central District tomorrow from midday.

FORM

West Adelaide will host Central District at Hisense Stadium in a bid to repeat the Bloods’ win over the Bulldogs in preseason. Since then though, the Dogs have been able to rise to third on the table, winning four out of six games, including three of the last four. West Adelaide started so promisingly by winning its first two games, but then a mounting injury toll has seen the Bloods drop their past four and slip to seventh on the table. Luckily for them, the tightness of the competition means they are just one win and percentage outside the four, with enough time to turn it around. Though a loss here would make things very difficult.

TEAMS

West Adelaide:

B: Emma Kilpatrick (43), Millie Gentle (3)
HB: Grace McNicol (21), Jess Chyer (38), Lily Johnson (33)
C: Olivia Smith (22), Keeley Kustermann (8), Asha Dufour (46)
HF: Ruby Ballard (51), Lucy Boyd (2), Lauren Young (30)
F: Steph Walker (19), Kelly Barltrop (15)
R: Tess Huxtable (49), Zoe Venning (9), Illish Ross (60)

INT: Saraid Kustermann (6), Bec Hansen (10), Steph Tredwell (42), Charlie Scutchings (12), Tiana Fernandez (20)

Central District:

B: Laitiah Huynh (41), Charlotte Riggs (9)
HB: Caitlen Teague (17), Jess Allan (35), Madison Lane (40)
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: Georgia Avery (18), Maria Moloney (66), Sophie Eaton (12)

INT: Caitlin Wendland (42), Katelyn Rosenzweig (2), Georgia Madigan (7), Chantel Reynolds (30), Shelby Raven (36), Jovanka Zecevic (23)

CHANGES

West Adelaide will regain Lucy Boyd from suspension, with the defender joined in the team by Tiana Fernandez. They replace the injured Nicole Hooper, while Astrid Powell drops back to Development level.

Central District has been able to bring in a State Academy member of its own from suspension, with tall Charlotte Riggs also returning to provide much needed support to the defensive half of the ground, replacing Demi Sonneman.

KEY PLAYERS

West Adelaide is missing a plethora of its best 21, with a defence that at times has been decimated, but the return of Boyd will be some immediate relief. Despite the loss to Norwood last week, West Adelaide dominated the clearances with Zoe Venning, Iilish Ross and Keeley Kustermann getting that aspect of the game done easily, but the Bloods unable to capitalise up forward. Interestingly, Boyd has been named inside 50 this week alongside fellow top AFLW draft prospect Lauren Young and bottom-ager Ruby Ballard. In defence, Milli Gentle and Emma Kilpatrick are holding up the fought well.

For Central District to win, the clearances are crucial as the midfield is one area where the Bloods are still very strong. If the Bulldogs can get on top in that facet – which they are very good at – then they might have too much depth around the ground. Shelby Smith and Maria Moloney provide that inside hardness, with Laitiah Huynh, Elaine Grigg and Caitlin Wendland rolling through outside or inside positions. Last week Jasmine Evans and Julia Teakle both kicked three goals as crucial players inside 50.

PREDICTION

West Adelaide won in the preseason, but the teams are very different looking now, with Central District firing on all cylinders. The Bulldogs would not want to risk that first quarter of last week where they trailed by 28 points at the first break, but if Central District can start strongly and win the midfield battle, the depth up forward and extra experience should be too much for the Bloods. In saying that, the West Adelaide midfielders gave their forwards plenty of chances last week, and if the home side can capitalise on those chances this week, then the Westies are every chance.