A TRIPLE treat of concurrent matches take place in the SANFL Women’s tomorrow afternoon, as the league recommences following the bye for the SANFLW All-Stars match last weekend. We preview the three matches with the Saturday night contest between Sturt and South Adelaide to come tomorrow.

FORM

Glenelg enters the match coming off its first loss of the season, when the Bays went goalless against a red-hot South Adelaide outfit. They still sit on top of the ladder, but have more crucial outs as they look to overcome Norwood. The Redlegs lose a stack of key players as well, with their depth to be tested in the match.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Glenelg: 3
Norwood: 8

These two sides have a famed history, having gone head-to-head 11 times. Though Norwood has the upper hand with eight wins in that time – including the past two – Glenelg won the only finals encounter between the pair back in 2021. Just one match in the past four seasons has been decided by less than 20 points, with the Bays winning by an incredible 73 points in Round 1 of the 2022 season.

TEAMS

Glenelg:

B: Renee Wurfel (3), Alex Walker (24)
HB: Jo Miller (32), Shay’Lee Dayman (4), Lauren Edwards (34)
C: Marie Martino (15), Shae Partington (27), Violet Patterson (6)
HF: Madi Freeman (2), Jorja Eldridge (28), Jordan Horne (11)
F: Sam Franson (5), Jess Searle (23)
R: Alex Pearce (30), Ash Dyer (1), Jess Bates (29)
INT: Mel Hinge (17), Alice Bradley (21), Lucy Armitage (14), Tamsyn Morriss (12), Eloise Mackereth (9)

Norwood:

B: Lauren Smith (24), Rosie Boon (46)
HB: Sarah Branford (9), Emily Bartsch (24), Charlotte Nenke (44)
C: Coby Morgan (2), Jade Halfpenny (22), Tahlita Buethke (1)
HF: Amelia Rusden (10), Mykaela Walker (35), Shai Hiscock (13)
F: Lana Schwerdt (41), Adrienne Davies (8)
R: Elle Lineage (50), Stephanie Simmonds (17), Candice Belbin (26)
INT: Nicola Burns (23), Kiana Lee (28), Goergina Birchall (37), Emma Clark (7), Tesharna Maher (14)

CHANGES

Glenelg has lost AFLW players Piper Window and Ella Boag, as well as being without Poppy Scholz and Grace Duffy for the clash. The Bays will debut ex-Coorparoo mature-ager Jo Miller in the match, with youngsters Eloise Mackereth (suspension) and Jordan Horne returning, as does Shae Partington after her knee injury last year, and 50th gamer Madisyn Freeman cracks back into the side.

Norwood loses the AFLW talent of Najwa Allen, Sachi Syme and Molly Brooksby, as well as talented youngsters Kate Alexander and Charli Hazelhurst. Able to test their depth, the Redlegs bring in ex-Glenelg forward Mykaela Walker, as well as defenders Lauren Smith and Nicola Burns, and the likes of Georgina Birchall and Emma Clark.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Glenelg winger Violet Patterson has been in ripping form the past three weeks, picking up 25 touches in each game. She, along with dangerous forward Mackereth and defensive pressure specialist Horne are State Academy members in the team. Norwood also has a state representative on the wing in Coby Morgan, while Birchall is the sole over-ager in the State Academy.

STATS THAT MATTER

Norwood took the pole position of top scorer after Glenelg’s four behinds on the weekend, with the Bays slipping all the way down to fifth on average. That is not a true indication of the Bays’ scoring potential, though now minus the AFLW talent, both sides will be looking to their depth. Glenelg is ranked first for possessions and Norwood concedes the most disposals, so the Redlegs will just need to get their hands on the ball to stop the Bays dictating the match.

PREDICTION

With so much change between the sides, it is hard to try and pick and winner. Arguably four to five of the best players of each side have departed in the past fortnight, so this game will be a great indication of what to expect for the rest of the season. Norwood is coming off an enormously impressive bounce-back win over Sturt, so the Redlegs have the form and will be keen to draw level with top spot.

FORM

Central District won its third game before the break, narrowly avoiding a third straight loss. The Dogs still sit outside the top four though, with West Adelaide’s percentage the difference between the sides. The Bloods have dropped the past two though and are perilously close to dropping out, with the winner of this game to rise as high as second, while the loser could incredibly drop as low as seventh.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Central District: 5
West Adelaide: 4

Central District holds the upper hand marginally in these clashes, having had the wood over the Bloods the last couple of years. The last time the Westies beat Central District it was en route to a grand final in 2021, with the Bulldogs winning the past four head-to-heads, with the last three by an average of 40.3 points.

TEAMS

Central District:

B: Shelby Smith (3), Georgia Madigan (7)
HB: Lauren Breguet (28), Jovanka Zecevic (23), Caitlen Teague (17)
C: Elizabeth Wilson (14), Georgia McKee (21), Jasmine Evans (27)
HF: Laitiah Huynh (41), Georgia Avery (18), Caitlin Wendland (42)
F: Dakota Williams (38), Charlotte Riggs (9)
R: Katelyn Rosenzweig (2), Sophie Eaton (12), Tess Gerhardy (33)
INT: Mikayla Antony (54), Tiarna Grovermann (45), Kasey Wendland (48), Tarly Borgas (16), Karissa Searle (22)

West Adelaide:

B: Lucy Boyd (2), Georgie Pater (26)
HB: Grace McNicol (21), Madi Russell (1), Tiana Fernandez (20)
C: Emma Kilpatrick (27), Zoe Venning (9), Olivia Smith (6)
HF: Ruby Ballard (22), Nicole Hooper (11), Ella Maxwell (29)
F: Kendall Saffin (31), Chloe Tonkin (14)
R: Tess Huxtable (25), Hannah Button (7), Asha Dufour (15)
INT: Molly Petersen (28), Lucy Waye (50), Emma Chapman (23), Paige Allan (35), Jess Chyer (18), Philippa Worthley (56)

CHANGES

The much anticipated return of Georgia McKee is finally here, with the top-ager named for her first SANFLW match since 2022. She returns alongside ruck Georgia Avery, and young defenders Tarly Borgas and Mikaylah Antony. AFLW talls Julia Teakle and Olivia Levicki head back to preseason, Miyu Endersby is representing her state on Sunday, and Tessa Doumanis is unavailable.

West Adelaide will unveil bottom-ager Lucy Waye for the match, with the 2007-born talent making her debut. She is joined in the side by crucial midfielder Hannah Button among at least four inclusions. AFLW players Keeley Kustermann, Brooke Smith and Lauren Young depart the program, the latter of course suffering a devastating knee injury last round. Under 16s defender Emily Mableson will also miss the match due to the national carnival.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

The return of McKee means for the first time ever, the dangerous and elite skilled trio of McKee, Jasmine Evans and Sophie Eaton will play together. Those three, along with tall defender Charlotte Riggs are stars in the making, while both Antony and Borgas are names to remember for the future. For the Bloods, top-agers Asha Dufour, Emma Kilpatrick, Lucy Boyd and Ruby Ballard are all crucial contributors, while Chloe Tonkin provides a marking target inside 50.

STATS THAT MATTER

Central District is ranked second for scoring, but last for defending when it comes to sheer points on the board. West Adelaide is the opposite, with just 31.2 points per game, but also only conceding the 33.6 points. If the Bloods can hold up defensively, that will be key, while it will be whether or not the Bulldogs can have enough forward half possession.

PREDICTION

Central District looks stronger on paper now with the inclusion of McKee, with that forwardline a potent threat for any defence. West Adelaide’s defence has held up pretty well this season and would be a good shot, but the Dogs will want to bank more wins on Elizabeth while they can and are tipped to win in a tight one.

FORM

Woodville-West Torrens will be buoyed by the big win over West Adelaide in Round 5, with it marking the Eagles’ second win in three rounds. They have a good chance to make it three out of four up against a North Adelaide side that is still yet to win in season 2024. This match seems as good of a time as any, and it is clear the Roosters have improved each week, just fading late against reigning premiers Central District last round.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Woodville-West Torrens: 1
North Adelaide: 7

Woodville-West Torrens broke through for its first ever win over North Adelaide last year, defeating the Roosters by eight points at Prospect Oval in Round 12. It was a remarkable turnaround from the 62-point shellacking they copped back in Round 3, and will be hoping for more here. The Eagles are yet to win at home against the Roosters, so will be looking for more history in this one.

TEAMS

Woodville-West Torrens:

B: Audrey Holt (10), Marlie Fiegert (30)
HB: Annie Falkenberg (8), Leah Cutting (26), Grace Martin (7)
C: Olivia Evans (28), Sophie Zuill (24), Poppy Waterford (1)
HF: Imogen Trengove (22), Rosette Zerella (32), Chantelle Mitchell (5)
F: Klaudia O’Neill (18), Cher Waters (20)
R: McKenzie Dowrick (23), Brianna Walling (13), Bianca Portaro (3)

INT: Christina Leuzzi (19), Sophie Whitwell (42), Madi Turner (11), Popi Gikas (2), Amie Blanden (12), Georgie Blades (39), Julia Watson (51), Erini Gikas (6)

North Adelaide:

B: Julia Clark (33), Kristi Harvey (5)
HB: Tayla Gordon (23), Indi Buckskin-James (19), Brianna Arthur (18)
C: Djimila Totham (30), Sasha Hardin (38), Jess Edwards (2)
HF: Zara Molloy (12), Sarah Steele-Park (36), Ella Quinn (14)
F: Amber Ward (24), Aprille Crooks (10)
R: Lauren Hoffmann (45), Laela Ebert (9), Lauren Gauci (35)
INT: Cristie Castle (1), Tiara Hatchard (41), Laura Niejalke (16), Bailey Murray (3), Charlie Price-Smith (55), Jamie Parish (20), Teagan Robins (54)

CHANGES

The Eagles will lose a trio of AFLW talents for the match with Shineah Goody, Lily Tarlinton and Taylah Levy all back for preseason, while Lucy Moore is representing South Australia in the AFLW Under 16s Championships. They will bring back the likes of Grace Martin after her 21-day concussion protocol, as well as Chantelle Mitchell, Rosette Zerella and Sophie Whitwell.

North Adelaide loses AFLW players Amelie Borg and Katelyn Pope as well as double bottom-ager Nevaeh Ebert, but bring back a pair of defenders in Amber Ward and Jamie Parish amongst an extended bench of inclusions. Bailey Murray and Charlie Price-Smith are potential debutants.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Martin is one of a number of players to watch out for alongside fellow top-agers Bianca Portaro and Klaudia O’Neill who have been consistent in the back half of the ground. Imogen Trengove is one for next year, while Roosters top-ager Laela Ebert is enjoying a strong start to the season.

STATS THAT MATTER

Both of these sides have struggled to score at times this year, but Round 5 seemed to be a turnaround with the teams posting their highest scores of the season. Woodville-West Torrens kicked 8.9 (57) against West Adelaide, while North Adelaide put up 6.6 (42) after only kicking 6.13 in the first four rounds. The Roosters find plenty of the ball, it will be a case of getting it to the right targets and then converting, while the Eagles look to run-and-gun down the field.

PREDICTION

Woodville-West Eagles has better form over the past few games, but North Adelaide’s last match started to click for the Roosters, and if they can replicate that form, then they are a huge shot. A clash that should go down to the wire on paper.