NORWOOD and Central District have recorded an impressive five players in our Team of the Week for Round 7 in the SANFL Women’s, with the round’s four victors making up 17 of the 24 players.

Along with the Redlegs and Bulldogs, South Adelaide had four, with Sturt and Round 7 losers North Adelaide having three apiece. The remaining three sides – Woodville-West Torrens, Glenelg and West Adelaide – combined for five players.

Central District midfielder Maria Moloney was handed the captaincy for Round 7 after a huge 26 disposals, three marks, five tackles, 11 clearances, two inside 50s and two rebound 50s to do a bit of everything for the Dogs.

Her vice-captain in the team was Port Adelaide teammate and Sturt defender, Alex Ballard who launched a long-range goal in the second term, but did her best work in defence with 22 disposals, six marks, two tackles and nine rebound 50s.

The defence in this week’s team is generally undersized with North Adelaide’s Ella Quinn racking up a round-high 30 disposals bravely defending the back 50, Standing at 170cm, Quinn will slot into centre half-back due to the strength of the medium sized defenders over the key position players.

Joining her at half-back defence are Norwood’s Tahlita Buethke and South Adelaide’s Caitlin Couch who could easily be named on a wing but also did their best work behind centre.

Rounding out the defence is another Panther in Samantha Pratt who was crucial in South Adelaide’s tight win over Woodville-West Torrens, while Glenelg half-back Brooke Tonon was a shining light in a disappointing display from the Bays; her side’s only nomination.

Joining Moloney in midfield is Central captain Shelby Smith who was again terrific, providing a one-two punch inside with Moloney. Her performance pushed Abbey Dowrick out to a wing, with the Woodville-West Torrens midfielder a standout for her side.

On the other wing is an actual winger in Katelyn Pope who has owned that role in our Team of the Week. Norwood onballer Sachi Syme slots into the rover position, with South’s Soriah Moon the starting ruck.

Looking to attack, a couple of hard-running Sturt talents sit on half-forward flanks. India Rasheed spent more time in midfield but got forward to kick two goals at each end of the game, while Georgia Swan clunked a round-high 11 marks to be on the other flank. In between them is Port Adelaide key forward Julia Teakle who continued her wonderful form for Central District with three majors.

Teakle’s teammate Elaine Grigg kicked the first three goals of the game and finds herself in a forward pocket, while on the other side, North Adelaide’s Hannah Ewings looked ever-dangerous. The Port Adelaide Rising Star booted 2.2 from 15 disposals and seven clearances to be named in the other pocket. Rounding out the starting lineup is Norwood’s Najwa Allen who booted three goals in the Redlegs’ impressive win over Glenelg.

Looking to the bench and Norwood has a couple of players which is a result of the strong midfield across the competition. Ebony O’Dea and Lana Schwerdt both made the side on the pine, joined by fellow inside midfielders, Brooke Boileau and Marlie Fiegert for South Adelaide and Woodville-West Torrens respectively. West Adelaide midfielder Keeley Kustermann and Central District forward Katelyn Rosenzweig complete the 24-player squad.

Looking to the emergencies and a couple of midfielders fill out two of the three positions with Jessica Edwards and Zoe Venning alongside Central defender Madison Lane.

2023 SANFLW TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 7

B: Samantha Pratt (South Adelaide) – Alex Ballard (Sturt) (vc) – Brooke Tonon (Glenelg)
HB: Tahlita Buethke (Norwood) – Ella Quinn (North Adelaide) – Caitlin Couch (South Adelaide)
C: Katelyn Pope (North Adelaide) – Shelby Smith (Central District) – Abbey Dowrick (WWT Eagles)
HF: India Rasheed (Sturt) – Julia Teakle (Central District) – Georgia Swan (Sturt)
F: Hannah Ewings (North Adelaide) – Najwa Allen (Norwood) – Elaine Grigg (Central District)
R: Soriah Moon (South Adelaide) – Maria Moloney (Central District) (c) – Sachi Syme (Norwood)
INT: Brooke Boileau (South Adelaide) – Marlie Fiegert (WWT Eagles) – Keeley Kustermann (West Adelaide) – Ebony O’Dea (Norwood) – Katelyn Rosenzweig (Central District) – Lana Schwerdt (Norwood)

EMG: Jess Edwards (North Adelaide) – Madison Lane (Central District) – Zoe Venning (East Adelaide)