IN the first of a split Good Friday preview for the SANFL Women’s Round 5 matches, we take a look at the first two games up between North Adelaide and Central District, and Sturt and Norwood. In tomorrow’s preview, we will focus on the remaining two matches.

FORM

Both these teams are in a little bit of a slump, North Adelaide more so at 0-4 to start the season. The Roosters will be keen to get on the board against a quality contender in the final round of access to AFL Women’s players, while the Bulldogs will not want to head into the bye with three consecutive losses. A huge pressure release for the winner.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

North Adelaide: 6
Central District: 3

North Adelaide has the wood over Central District historically, but in recent times the Dogs have started to catch up in the head-to-head. Both wins by last year’s premiers were within in a kick during the regular season, and the last three meetings between the teams have been a combined seven points. Prior to that, just one match was decided by less than seven goals with North winning five of those six.

TEAMS

North Adelaide:

B: Ella Quinn (14), Teagan Robins (54)
HB: Jess Edwards (2), Lauren Gauci (35), Katelyn Pope (13)
C: Tayla Gordon (23), Amelie Borg (22), Laura Niejalke (16)
HF: Julia Clark (33), Sarah Steele-Park (36), Neveah Ebert (31)
F: Cristie Castle (1), Aprille Crooks (10)
R: Lauren Hoffman (45), Laela Ebert (9), Djimila Totham (30)
INT: Sasha Hardin (38), Kristi Harvey (5), Brianna Arthur (18), Indi Buckskin-James (19), Tiara Hatchard (41), Jamie Parish (20), Charlie Price-Smith (56)

Central District:

B: Georgia Madigan (7), Shelby Smith (1)
HB: Lauren Breguet (28), Jovanka Zecevic (23), Miyu Endersby (3)
C: Tessa Doumanis (8), Caitlen Teague (17), Jasmine Evans (27)
HF: Laitiah Huynh (41), Julia Teakle (6), Caitlin Wendland (42)
F: Charlotte Riggs (9), Katelyn Rosenzweig (2)
R: Olivia Levicki (13), Sophie Eaton (12), Tess Gerhady (33)
INT: Mikayla Antony (54), Tiarna Grovermann (45), Kasey Wendland (48), Tarly Borgas (16), Karissa Searle (22), Dakota Williams (38), Liz Wilson (14), Tara Lord (32)

CHANGES

North Adelaide will be excited to welcome by full-back Kristi Harvey for the match, with the reliable defender returning from suspension as part of an extended bench. She is joined in the side by a couple of potential debutants in Tiara Hatchard and Charlie Price-Smith, as well as Tayla Gordon. Youngsters Lucy Reddaway and Sarcha Taylor are the two out of the side.

Central District has kept its cards close to its chest in regards to selection, with only experienced defender Liz Wilson named as returning, at this stage, though talented Under 16s prospect Tara Lord remains close as part of an extended bench.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Laela Ebert has been a shining light this season for the Roosters and is one of the most naturally skilled players running around. She will likely see more midfield time as the season goes on, and will be one to watch alongside second-gamer and namesake Nevaeh Ebert. From a mature-age perspective, Aprille Crooks and Julia Clark are some names to remember.

Central District has allowed Georgia McKee a second game in the Development League coming off an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, while the trio of Charlotte Riggs, Jasmine Evans and Sophie Eaton continue to have big moments. Double bottom-ager Miyu Endersby is developing nicely as a versatile tall, while young bottom-age defensive duo Mikaylah Antony and Tarly Borgas have been outstanding finds.

STATS THAT MATTER

As it stands, North Adelaide’s forwardline has struggled to impact, averaging just 12.3 points per match this season compared to Central District’s 41.0. However the Bulldogs have also conceded the most score of any side with an average of 53.0 points, which means it could come down to whether the Roosters forwardline can click, or the Dogs put on enough of a score to get the job done. On a positive not, Central is ranked first for forward efficiency, while North Adelaide is top of the table for defensive efficiency, so up the other end of the ground there is plenty to watch as well.

PREDICTION

Central District has not been at its best in recent weeks, but its firepower should be too much here. North Adelaide has gradually got better throughout the season and looked incredibly dangerous in the first half last week, but will need to piece together four quarters in order to grab its first win of the season.

FORM

Sturt and Norwood have split their season ledger so far at two wins and two losses apiece, with neither able to string together consistent form as of yet. The Redlegs are ahead on percentage and were unlucky to fall short of Central District in Round 1, but Sturt’s final term domination of the Bulldogs last week will give it great confidence returning home for this match.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Sturt: 3
Norwood: 7

Norwood has the comfortable lead over the Double Blues in their head-to-head, and with the exception of Sturt’s grand final season – 2022 – have won seven out of nine matches.

TEAMS

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), Monique Bessen (16)
F: Zara Walsh (14), Georgia King (55)
R: Millie McCarthy (1), Alisha Gepp (15), Isobel Kuiper (2)
INT: Claudia Edmonds (22), Kate Harris (23), Amy Brooks-Birve (44), Grace Powell (11), Isabella Drew (28), Abby Pengelly (7), Ruby Cunningham (5), Jasmin Fejo (36)

Norwood:

B: Emily Bartsch (27), Rosie Boon (46)
HB: Molly Brooksby (18), Charli Hazelhurst (39), Najwa Allen (66)
C: Coby Morgan (2), Kate Alexander (61), Tahlita Buethke (1)
HF: Jade Halfpenny (22), Shai Hiscock (13), Amelia Rusden (10)
F: Lana Schwerdt (41), Adrienne Davies (8)
R: Sachi Syme (4), Stephanie Simmonds (17), Sarah Branford (9)
INT: Elle Linage (50), Kiana Lee (28), Candice Belbin (26), Charlotte Nenke (44), Tesharna Maher (14)

CHANGES

Both sides have made minimal changes to the lineup, with Sturt ruck Jasmin Fejo the only confirmed inclusion as part of an extended bench at this point. Norwood has been able to recall Steph Simmonds and Candice Belbin, with the duo of Nicola Burns and Georgina Birchall the two unlucky ones to make way to emphasise the impressive depth of the Redlegs.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Sturt’s damaging duo of India Rasheed and Monique Bessen are sure to be amongst Norwood’s planning given how much they influenced last week’s game, while defenders Sophie Thredgold and Edwina Thornquest will have some more big matchups this week.

Norwood winger Coby Morgan will add the pace to the side to try and break down the Sturt defence, while Charli Hazelhurst and Kate Alexander are playing important key position roles. Elle Lineage and Emily Bartsch are two mature-age names to keep in mind.

STATS THAT MATTER

Both these sides are low possession winners, with Sturt and Norwood ranked seventh and eighth respectively. They generally use it efficiently going forward – ranked third and fourth in converting inside 50s to shots – while also being ranked in the top three for clearances per game.

PREDICTION

This game is literally a flip of the coin. Norwood has been a little better across the first month, but Sturt’s performance against Central District last week was phenomenal. If Rasheed and Bessen let loose again then it is hard to see Sturt losing, but if Norwood can posses the football and keep it inside its forward half, then the Redlegs will go a long way to winning.