IN the second of a split Good Friday preview for the SANFL Women’s Round 5 matches, we take a look at the last two games between Woodville-West Torrens and West Adelaide, and Glenelg and South Adelaide which take place over the next few hours.

>> 2024 SANFLW Round 4: Friday preview | Part I

FORM

These two sides have had opposite win-loss ledgers this season, with Woodville-West Torrens losing to South Adelaide last week following a breakthrough win over Norwood and are now 1-3, while West Adelaide went down to Glenelg in a tight defeat, the first of the Bloods’ 3-1 season.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Woodville-West Torrens: 3
West Adelaide: 4
Draw: 1

It has been a fairly even battle between the two sides, with West Adelaide winning the first four encounters between the teams, before the Eagles won the next three, all by more than five goals. After Woodville-West Torrens triumphed by 37 points in Round 5 last season, the sides played four rounds later only for it to be a 3.3 (21)-apiece draw.

TEAMS

Woodville-West Torrens:

B: Audrey Holt (10), Marlie Fiegert (30)
HB: Shineah Goody (34), Annie Falkenberg (8), Leah Cutting (26)
C: Olivia Evans (28), Sophie Zuill (24), Poppy Waterford (1)
HF: McKenzie Dowrick (23), Lucy Moore (15), Imogen Trengove (22)
F: Klaudia O’Neill (18), Taylah Levy (60)
R: Lily Tarlinton (49), Brianna Walling (13), Bianca Portaro (3)
INT: Christina Leuzzi (19), Ashley Baker (44), Madi Turner (11), Popi Gikas (2), Amie Blanden (12), Renee Forth (27), Julia Watson (51)

West Adelaide:

B: Tiana Fernandez (21), Jess Chyer (18)
HB: Brooke Smith (12), Madi Russell (1), Lucy Boyd (2)
C: Emma Kilpatrick (27), Keeley Kustermann (8), Paige Allan (35)
HF: Ruby Ballard (22), Nicole Hooper (11), Hannah Button (7)
F: Ella Maxwell (29), Chloe Tonkin (14)
R: Tess Huxtable (25), Zoe Venning (9), Lauren Young (30)
INT: Olivia Smith (6), Asha Dufour (15), Emily Mableson (44), Georgie Pater (26), Grace McNicol (21), Kendell Saffin (31)

CHANGES

The Eagles will miss the suspended Rosette Zerella as the only confirmed change thus far, but they do regain Taylah Levy alongside a potential debutant in Julia Watson, and two others in Madison Turner and Lucy Moore. West Adelaide has not needed to make any forced changes with the potential inclusion being Kendell Saffin after a best on ground in last week’s Development League.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

On debut last week, Imogen Trengove showed some great signs, while Bianca Portaro – who has been developing into a midfielder in the absence of Grace Martin – and Klaudia O’Neill have both produced some great football. For the Bloods, Lucy Boyd was outstanding last week, while Emma Kilpatrick, Ruby Ballard and Asha Dufour have all become dangerous players both in the mid and forward thirds of the ground. Chloe Tonkin has showed her versatility as a tall which is promising or the future too.

STATS THAT MATTER

Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Sophie Zuill joins skipper Annie Falkenberg on 50 games albeit a week later, providing more celebrations for the home side. Eagles ruck Leah Cutting leads all-comers when it comes to hitouts with 107 this season (26.8 per match), with the club ranked first in the competition in the stat with 41.8 per game. West Adelaide concedes the second most hitouts (27.8), but the Bloods still find a way to win games, finding plenty of the footy and generally winning clearances.

PREDICTION

West Adelaide was just a kick off remaining undefeated this season so it is hard not to lean towards the Bloods, and while the second placed side has not been thrashing teams, it has been tracking nicely after a rough 2023 season. The Eagles will look to push them though, and love to run which can cause headaches for opposition sides.

FORM

Glenelg has been the benchmark team in the 2024 SANFL Women’s season, and in the last week of AFL Women’s players being available, the Bays will be looking to inflict more damage and extend their unbeaten streak to five. The sleeping giant that is South Adelaide has awoken though, and now has two wins on the trot after a pair of losses to start the season, culminating in a ripping Round 5 contest at the Bay.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Glenelg: 5
South Adelaide: 7

Unsurprisingly South Adelaide won five of its first six clashes against Glenelg in the early years when the teams were at opposite ends of the scale, before Glenelg strung together four consecutive victories, including the only clash they have played in a finals series, the 2022 semi-final. Last year the Panthers won both of their matches, by a point and 13 points respectively.

TEAMS

Glenelg:

B: Renee Wurfel (3), Poppy Scholz (20)
HB: Ellen Tyminski (18), Chloe Harding (26), Lauren Edwards (34)
C: Ella Boag (43), Piper Window (45), Violet Patterson (6)
HF: Grace Duffy (10), Jorja Eldridge (28), Shaylee Dayman (4)
F: Sam Franson (5), Jess Searle (23)
R: Alex Pearce (30), Ash Dyer (1), Jess Bates (29)
INT: Mel Hinge (17), Matilda Wilmore (19), Tamsyn Morriss (12), Marie Martino (15), Lucy Armitage (14)

South Adelaide:

B: Jaslynne Smith (35), Esther Schirmer (23)
HB: Sam Pratt (22), Tiffany King (14), Lily Baxter (56)
C: Emma Charlton (25), Chelsea Farr (21), Morgan Johnston (1)
HF: Jess Waterhouse (8), Mel Anderson (6), Emily Brockhurst (13)
F: Jordann Hickey (4), Layla Vizgaudis (20)
R: Soriah Moon (32), Brooke Boileau (37), Nikki Nield (2)
INT: Caitlin Radbone (34), Sarah Wright (5), Nicole Mark (15), Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap (15), Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap (11), Nicole Campbell (9), Bri Cleggett (27), Jorja Hooper (38)

CHANGES

South Adelaide has been forced to make at least two changes with Caitlin Couch unavailable again and Lauren Clifton out with a wrist injury after some great form. A group of five return include skipper Brianna Cleggett, midfielder Chelsea Farr and young gun Lily Baxter, as has Jorja Hooper and Caitlin Radbone who have all been named on an extended interchange.

Glenelg on the other hand has wheeled out the changes including a couple of forced ones in former captain Ellie Kellock injuring her ankle early inn last week’s win over West Adelaide, while Brooke Tonon is also out with a lower leg injury. Alexandra Walker, Jordan Horne and Alice Bradley were the otehrs to make way. Coming into the side are a host o players including the crucial Tamsyn Morriss and Marie Martino who have played some key roles this season, as well as Chloe Harding, Renee Wurfel and Lucy Armitage.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

The top-age stars of Poppy Scholz and Violet Patterson have been sensational this season, while Matilda Wilmore always injects some pace and fierce defensive pressure. The Panthers have the forward pairing of Layla Vizgaudis and Emma Charlton who were dangerous last week, while the return of Baxter will provide some run for the reigning grand finalists. Top-age defender Esther Schirmer always plays a key role.

STATS THAT MATTER

South Adelaide is yet to lost a first or third quarter this season, while Glenelg has won all of its fourth quarters, setting up a huge contest. Despite Glenelg’s extra two wins, South has won an additional quarter to the unbeaten Bays, with 11 won quarters, four lost and one drawn to Glenelg’s 10 won and six lost. South Adelaide forward Emily Brockhurst currently leads the goalkicking with seven goals, while Glenelg star Jessica Bates is 31 disposals clear of her nearest rival, averaging 31.8 touches per game this season.

PREDICTION

This projects as a ripping contest and potentially a battle between offence and defence. West Adelaide’s defence took it up to an inaccurate Glenelg last week, so how the Bays respond – despite winning – will be fascinating against the benchmark team for that area over the last few seasons. The Panthers are up and about and are third on the table, with second up or grabs if they win and West Adelaide go down. Due to the Bays losing some firepower up forward, South are tipped for the win, but it could go either way.