A TRIPLE treat of SANFL Women’s action greets fans for Round 3 of the competition that kicks off tomorrow. A top of the table clash between the unbeaten Central District and Glenelg headlines the round, while South Adelaide and North Adelaide – two powerhouses in the history of the league – search for their first win, and West Adelaide and Sturt do battle in what promises to be a beauty.

FORM

Both these teams enter Round 3 undefeated with Central District knocking off Norwood in a thriller, and then taking care of Woodville-West Torrens with a fast start. The Bays defeated North Adelaide in Round 1, before shaking off Sturt last weekend.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Central District: 0
Glenelg: 7

Incredibly despite Central District’s recent success, the Bulldogs have never beaten Glenelg. In their premiership season last year, the Bulldogs went down both times they faced Glenelg, and now the Bays have won their first seven encounters.

TEAMS

Central District:

B: Georgia Madigan (7), Laitiah Huynh (14)
HB: Lauren Breguet (28), Shelby Raven (36), Tess Gerhardy (33)
C: Tessa Doumanis (8), Caitlen Teague (17), Jasmine Evans (27)
HF: Jovanka Zecevic (23), Miyu Endersby (3), Dakota Williams (38)
F: Julia Teakle (6), Katelyn Rosenzweig (2)
R: Charlotte Riggs (9), Sophie Eaton (12), Caitlin Wendland (42)
INT: Demi Sonneman (20), Tiarna Grovermann (45), Kasey Wendland (48), Tarly Borgas (16), Karissa Searle (22), Emma Keys (5), Mikayla Antony (54), Kyesha Christensen (25)

Glenelg:

B: Alex Walker (24), Tamsyn Morriss (12)
HB: Ellen Tyminski (18), Jorja Eldridge (28), Lauren Edwards (34)
C: Ella Boag (43), Piper Window (45), Violet Patterson (6)
HF: Grace Duffy (10), Shay’Lee Dayman (4), Brooke Tonon (40)
F: Sam Franson (5), Jess Searle (23)
R: Alex Pearce (30), Jasmin Stewart (48), Jess Bates (29)
INT: Mel Hinge (17), Marie Martino (15), Ash Dyer (1), Ellie Kellock (8), Eloise Mackereth (9)

CHANGES

Central District will be without skipper Shelby Smith for the clash after Smith injured her shoulder in the final term of the Dogs’ win over the Eagles. She along with defender Liz Wilson (absent) both miss out against the Bays, but they regain Laitiah Huynh from suspension, as well as former Port Adelaide AFLW and Sturt forward, Tessa Doumanis.

Glenelg lose a couple of key players in Sarah Goodwin and Poppy Scholz to Port Adelaide AFLW and netball commitments respectively, while Mel Hinge makes her debut out of Morphettville Park. Hinge comes into the lineup alongside Shay’Lee Dayman and Alexandra Walker who provide a bit of height in the Bays’ lineup.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Central District has a stack of AFLW Draft prospects over the next few seasons, with top-age AFLW Academy members Jasmine Evans and Charlotte Riggs set to be up the pointy end of draft boards, while Sophie Eaton and Miyu Endersby and two young stars on the rise for the 2025 and 2026 AFLW Drafts.

Glenelg might be minus Scholz, but still have talented winger Violet Patterson, while bottom-age forward Eloise Mackereth is a high-upside scoring machine. Both players will provide plenty of highlights throughout the 2024 SANFLW season.

KEY MATCHUP

Katelyn Rosenzweig (Central District) vs. Jorja Eldridge (Glenelg)

Rosenzweig is on fire early in the SANFLW season and the all-time competition goalkicker is one who can win a match off her own boot. Given her contested marking ability, Rosenzweig is difficult to contain, but with Eldridge named in defence this week, she could present a like-for-like matchup as a strong marking opponent.

STATS THAT MATTER

Glenelg is simply dominating at the moment, on top in just about every scoring area both offensively and defensively. Central District marginally pips the Bays in total points per game (44.5 to 43), but Glenelg’s scoring differential (24 to 12) is miles ahead of anyone else. Right now Glenelg is also on top of the clearances with 32 per match, while Central ranks sixth (25). The Dogs are marginally ahead in the tackle count though and will be sure to bring the pressure.

PREDICTION

Deservedly match of the round between two powerhouses, this could go either way and will likely go down to the wire. Though Smith is a massive loss for the Dogs, their depth is outstanding, and the net loss compared to Glenelg missing Goodwin and Scholz means the tip leans towards the Dogs, though expect it to be a single-digit margin.

FORM

The two most successful teams in SANFLW history with two flags apiece find themselves at an unusual 0-2 to start the 2024 season. That will change here as they search for their first win, with both losing to West Adelaide in the opening fortnight, while the Panthers also went down to Norwood, while the Roosters suffered defeat at the hands of Glenelg.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

South Adelaide: 4
North Adelaide: 8

It is no surprise that these two teams have faced off plenty of times over the years dating back to 20018. They went one win apiece last season though since 2020, North Adelaide has only lost to South once – Round 5 last year – picking up seven wins and a draw in that timespan.

TEAMS

South Adelaide:

B: Jaslynne Smith (35), Esther Schirmer (23)
HB: Sam Pratt (22), Tiffany King (14), Lauren Clifton (41)
C: Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap (11), Emma Charlton (25), Morgan Johnston (1)
HF: Jess Waterhouse (8), Lily Baxter (56), Emily Brockhurst (13)
F: Mel Anderson (6), Jordann Hickey (4)
R: Soriah Moon (32), Brooke Boileau (37), Nikki Nield (2)
INT: Chelsea Farr (21), Sarah Wright (5), Layla Visgaudis (20), Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap (15), Bonnie Dodds (40), Shae Archbold (17), Raina Shelford (43), Eqxelle Evans (49)

North Adelaide:

B: Jemma Charity (7), Indi Buckskin-James (19)
HB: Ella Quinn (14), Lauren Hoffmann (45), Katelyn Pope (13)
C: Brianna Arthur (18), Amelie Borg (22), Jess Edwards (2)
HF: Julia Clark (33), Lauren Gauci (35), Laela Ebert (9)
F: Cristie Castle (1), Maddy Guerin (51)
R: Sarah Steele-Park (36), Laura Niejalke (16), Jamie Parish (20)
INT: Amalie Innes (11), Aprille Crooks (10), Sarcha Taylor (52), Brooke Wilson (60), Djimila Totham (30), Lucy Reddaway (47), Zara Molloy (12)

CHANGES

South Adelaide is keeping its cards close to its chest with regards to selection, as midfielder Caitlin Couch (unavailable) and Nicole Mark (concussion) are both out of the side. Luckily for the Panthers, Soriah Moon returns to the ruck role, with the three other ruck choices in Brianna Cleggett, Jacinda Schunselaar and now Mark all out injured. They also have named Shae Archbold on the bench to potentially make her return from an ACL injury, while Emma Charlton is one of two potential debutants for the Panthers.

North Adelaide also has a potential debutant in the works with Orroroo’s Lucy Reddaway anmed on the extended bench. She joins some more experience including Brianna Arthur – who like Archbold also returns from injury – and Jamie Parish. They will miss Kristi Harvey who is out due to suspension, while Tamara Henry heads back to the Crows.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

If Charlton plays as expect the double bottom-ager is one to watch. The sister of Adelaide’s Teah impressed as a bottom-ager at the Under 16s carnival last year, and has plenty of potential for the future. From a top-age perspective, defender Esther Schirmer and forward Archbold are others, while Lily Baxter and Layla Vizgaudis are names to remember for the future.

North Adelaide defender Laela Ebert has been very impressive for the Roosters this year, while Jemma Charity has proven herself on all three lines. Small forward Sarcha Taylor is another name to remember for next year as well.

KEY MATCHUP

Cristie Castle (North Adelaide) vs. Jaslynne Smith (South Adelaide)

Castle plays her 50th match in the contest, and the crafty forward is one never to take lightly. She can push up and impact further afield, but does a lot of damage inside 50, even if it is just setting others up. A potential opponent is SANFLW games record holder Smith who is as reliable as they come both offensively and defensively.

STATS THAT MATTER

Put simply, North Adelaide needs to find a way to score. The Roosters have struggled in the first two weeks with an average of 12 points per game, and just 4.5 scoring shots. Though defensively they rank inside the top four, they are still 20 points behind on the differential, and will need to up the scoring if they are to overcome the Panthers, who are also a strong defensive team, but have lack a little bit of punch on offence so far.

PREDICTION

South Adelaide does not lose many consistently, and the Roosters are building but still gelling as a side. Expect it to be a low-scoring slog given the defensive prowess of both sides, but the Panthers at home should have the upper hand.

FORM

West Adelaide has the potential to capitalise on the other two undefeated sides facing off, and add Sturt to its scalps of South Adelaide and North Adelaide in season 2024. The Double Blues started the season with a win over Woodville-West Torrens, but went down to Glenelg last week after the Bays capitalised on the breeze in the final term.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

West Adelaide: 5
Sturt: 5

There is nothing to split the two teams with five wins apiece from their past 10 games. However in a unique element, West Adelaide won the first five meetings between the teams, but Sturt has collected the last five victories. Three of those were by seven goals or more, having not lost to the Bloods since 2020, though last season produced a couple of thrillers with a combined margin of eight points from two games.

TEAMS

West Adelaide:

B: Madi Russell (1), Tiana Fernandez (20)
HB: Brooke Smith (12), Lucy Boyd (2), Grace McNicol (21)
C: Emma Kilpatrick (27), Keeley Kustermann (8), Paige Allan (35)
HF: Ruby Ballard (22), Nicole Hooper (11), Lauren Young (30)
F: Ella Maxwell (29), Chloe Tonkin (14)
R: Jemma Ellis (19), Zoe Venning (9), Hannah Button (7)
INT: Olivia Smith (6), Emily Mableson (44), Tess Huxtable (25), Asha Dufour (15), Georgie Pater (26), Nicola Biagi (40), Jess Chyer (18), Phillippa Worthley (56)

Sturt:

B: Lily Whitcombe (24), Sarah Wallace (37)
HB: Sophie Thredgold (17), Winnie Thornquest (25), Tahlia Walker (18)
C: Summer Ross (42), India Rasheed (6), Molly Fletcher (31)
HF: Alysha Healy (10), Georgia Swan (3), Alisha Gepp (15)
F: Zara Walsh (14), Millie McCarthy (1)
R: Jasmin Fejo (36), Kate Harris (23), Isobel Kuiper (2)
INT: Claudia Edmonds (22), Monique Bessen (16), Georgia King (55), Grace Powell (11), Isabella Drew (28), Abby Pengelly (7), Ruby Cunningham (5)

CHANGES

West Adelaide has not made any forced changes at this stage, instead bringing back Olivia Smith after she missed Round 2 due to injury, with Jessica Chyer the one making way back to the Development League. Sturt is in a similar boat, naming Mitcham’s Grace Powell for a potential debut in her second season on the list, without confirming an omission yet.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Sturt boasts a couple of the top prospects over the next two seasons with reigning AFLW Under 18 Championships MVP India Rasheed, and bottom-ager Monique Bessen both classy individuals. They will rotate between forward and midfield, while the defensive pairing of Sophie Thredgold and Edwina Thornquest has been rock solid for the Double Blues.

West Adelaide has a stack of State Academy members, with Asha Dufour, Emma Kilpatrick, Lucy Boyd and Ruby Ballard all top-age talents, while Chloe Tonkin has impressed as a bottom-age marking forward. Emily Mableson is a double bottom-age defender in her third game of SANFLW football.

KEY MATCHUP

Lauren Young (West Adelaide) vs. Tahlia Walker / Lily Whitcombe (Sturt)

It will be a fascinating watch to see which defender goes to Young, and whether or not the Double Blues opt for former State Academy teammate Whitcombe or the slightly older fellow state representative Walker. Both are good on the lead and can lockdown, though one can never stop Young, only try to limit her influence. She will likely have multiple opponents throughout the day.

STATS THAT MATTER

Sturt has a young defence, but it will be looking to tighten up on its season thus far, allowing the most scoring shots per game (15) as well as the second most points conceded on average (52.5). West has been strong defensively, only allowing nine scoring shots per game (ranked second overall), while conceding an average of 31.5 points (third).

PREDICTION

West Adelaide is in great form, and while the Bloods were 2-0 last season before injuries derailed the year, the side looks in great nick and while it will not be easy, should get up in a tight one.