GLENELG’s impressive victory over Central District and South Adelaide’s breakthrough win against North Adelaide saw the two sides combined for 10 players in our Rookie Me Central 2024 SANFL Women’s Team of the Week for Round 3.

The Bays notched up half a dozen players in the Team of the Week following a dominant 48-1 first half, including four players from the middle. Port Adelaide listed midfielder Jasmin Stewart notched up the captaincy for Round 3 following a sizzling performance against the Dogs, picking up 28 disposals, three marks, five clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s.

Though squeezed out to the wing due to the incredible depth of pure inside ball-winners this week, on the other wing was Violet Patterson who was the subject of our SANFL Women’s Player Focus for Round 3.

On-ball, ruck Shay’Lee Dayman was outstanding with 20 touches, 21 hitouts and a goal to be the clear ruck of the week, while Jessica Bates continued her form with another 34 touches in a dominant ball-winning display.

The remaining two Bays came in the form of AFLW-listed Brooke Tonon who converted 2.3 from 20 disposals and seven marks up forward, while skipper Samantha Franson kicked a couple of majors from 13 touches, four marks and five tackles.

South Adelaide had the second most amount of players in the Team of the Week, and also produced this round’s vice-captain. Nikki Nield amassed 26 disposals, six marks, six tackles, 11 clearances and six inside 50s, doing just about everything through the midfield for the Panthers.

Nield was joined in the side this week by fellow midfielder Brooke Boileau who provided a greater outside presence in Round 3, as well as dangerous forwards Jess Waterhouse (16 disposals, eight tackles, 10 inside 50s and a goal) and Emily Brockhurst (15 disposals, three marks and three goals).

Notching up their first win of the season, Woodville-West Torrens managed three players in the Team of the Week. Impressive defender Christina Leuzzi slotted into half-back after 17 disposals, eight marks, five inside 50s and five rebound 50s, while forward McKenzie Dowrick slotted three majors in the win. Star midfielder Shineah Goody was outstanding all over the ground and earned a place on the bench.

West Adelaide’s undefeated streak moved to three after the weekend, the same number of players making Team of the Week. Forward Emma Kilpatrick kicked a couple of goals just a fortnight after slotting the match-winner in Round 1 and was named at half-forward, while first-year player Emily Mableson and consistent midfielder Zoe Venning also made the side.

The only losing team to record three players in the Team of the Week this week was North Adelaide. The Roosters had a pair of defenders who caught the eye in the form of a couple of AFLW-listed players in Maddy Guerin (24 disposals, two contested marks, five tackles and six rebound 50s) and Amelie Borg (23 disposals, six marks – two contested – five tackles and eight rebound 50s), the latter of whom had a great battle with Brockhurst. Midfielder Julia Clark also earned a spot again, this time on the bench.

Sturt defender Sarah Wallace deserved a spot at full-back after performing well against star Bloods forward, Lauren Young, with the Double Blues back having 11 disposals, two marks, eight tackles and four rebound 50s in the loss to West Adelaide. Midfielder/forward India Rasheed was the standout ball-winner in her match, picking up 24 touches, nine tackles and seven clearances to be named in the centre.

Central District still managed two players in the Team of the Week despite a big loss to Glenelg. Strong defender Georgia Madigan was named in the back pocket after 15 disposals, six marks, four tackles and eight rebound 50s, while bottom-age forward Sophie Eaton booted four goals in a quarter up the other end of the field.

Norwood had an even contribution across the field, with the talented Najwa Allen the sole representative this week in a tough squad to select. The remaining three players who made it in as emergencies were South Adelaide’s Lauren Clifton, North Adelaide’s Katelyn Pope and Woodville-West Torrens’ Poppy Waterford.

2024 SANFL WOMEN’S ROUND 3 TEAM OF THE WEEK:

B: Georgia Madigan (Central District) – Sarah Wallace (Sturt) – Amelie Borg (North Adelaide)
HB: Madeleine Guerin (North Adelaide) – Najwa Allen (Norwood) – Christina Leuzzi (WWT Eagles)
C: Violet Patterson (Glenelg) – India Rasheed (Sturt) – Jasmin Stewart (Glenelg) (c)
HF: Emma Kilpatrick (West Adelaide) – Brooke Tonon (Glenelg) – Jess Waterhouse (South Adelaide)
F: Emily Brockhurst (South Adelaide) – McKenzie Dowrick (WWT Eagles) – Sophie Eaton (Central District)
R: Shay’Lee Dayman (Glenelg) – Jess Bates (Glenelg) – Nikki Nield (South Adelaide) (vc)
INT: Brooke Boileau (South Adelaide) – Julia Clark (North Adelaide) – Sam Franson (Glenelg) – Shineah Goody (WWT Eagles) – Emily Mableson (West Adelaide) – Zoe Venning (West Adelaide)

EMG: Lauren Clifton (South Adelaide) – Katelyn Pope (North Adelaide) – Poppy Waterford (WWT Eagles)