THREE impressive winners shared the spoils in our SANFL Women’s Round 6 Team of the Week with four players apiece in the side. Central District, South Adelaide and Woodville-West Torrens all recorded a quartet of talents, while fellow winner Glenelg, along with West Adelaide had the three. Losing sides Norwood, Sturt and North Adelaide finished with two each.

Glenelg might have had the least players of the winning sides, but the Bays did have the stiffest challenge of the weekend. This week’s captain was an easy choice though, with Jessica Bates suffering leather poisoning again, racking up 35 disposals, eight marks – two contested – 23 tackles, three clearances and a goal. The match-winner from the game – forward Eloise Mackereth made it in following three majors, as did her fellow bottom-ager Jordan Horne (two).

Though Sturt lost on the weekend, talented midfielder/forward Monique Bessen picked up vice-captain in this hypothetical team to go with her Breakthrough Player nomination after 32 disposals, eight marks – one contested – seven tackles, five clearances and two inside 50s. She was joined in the side by teammate and captain, Kate Harris.

Woodville-West Torrens enjoyed a big win over North Adelaide, with ruck Leah Cutting headlining the performances there. The AFLW-experienced tall had 20 disposals, eight marks – one contested – eight tackles, 30 hitouts, four clearances and four inside 50s in the win. Her skipper Annie Falkenberg, midfielder Grace Martin and forward McKenzie Dowrick – who kicked three goals in the final term – were the other Eagles in the side.

South Adelaide also had a ruck in the team with Soriah Moon unlucky to be on the bench, only just edged out by Cutting following a strong 15 disposals, five marks – one contested – six tackles, five clearances and massive 46 hitouts. Her trio of teammates in Esther Schirmer, Jordann Hickey and Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap all started on the ground.

The other big winner of the weekend was Central District, with forwards Georgia McKee (four goals), Katelyn Rosenzweig (21 disposals, six marks, five inside 50s and a goal) and Jasmine Evans (15 disposals, two goals) making the cut. Skipper Shelby Smith was back to her best with 25 touches, seven marks, 11 tackles, eight clearances and three inside 50s, named in the centre.

On the losing side of the equation, West Adelaide managed three players in the 24-strong squad, with captain Madison Russell named at centre half-back, with defender-turned-wing Emma Kilpatrick squeezed to the half-back flank. On the bench is ball-winning tenacious midfielder, Hannah Button.

Norwood and North Adelaide both had the two representatives this week with the Redlegs having crucial goalkickers Steph Simmonds and Kiana Lee making the team, while up the other end, a pair of Roosters in Kristi Harvey and Laela Ebert round out the starting squad.

This week’s three emergencies are Glenelg ruck Shay’Lee Dayman, Norwood utility Jade Halfpenny and Central District midfielder Caitlin Wendland.

2024 SANFL WOMEN’S ROUND 6 TEAM OF THE WEEK:

B: Laela Ebert (North Adelaide) – Kristi Harvey (North Adelaide) – Esther Schirmer (South Adelaide)
HB: Annie Falkenberg (WWT Eagles) – Madi Russell (West Adelaide) – Emma Kilpatrick (West Adelaide)
C: Steph Simmonds (Norwood) – Shelby Smith (Central District) – Monique Bessen (Sturt) (vc)
HF: Jordann Hickey (South Adelaide) – Katelyn Rosenzweig (Central District) – Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap (South Adelaide)
F: Georgia McKee (Central District) – Eloise Mackereth (Glenelg) – McKenzie Dowrick (WWT Eagles)
R: Leah Cutting (WWT Eagles) – Jess Bates (Glenelg) (c) – Grace Martin (WWT Eagles)
INT: Hannah Button (West Adelaide) – Jasmine Evans (Central District) – Jordan Horne (Glenelg) – Kiana Lee (Norwood) – Soriah Moon (South Adelaide) – Kate Harris (Sturt)

EMG: Shay’Lee Dayman (Glenelg) – Jade Halfpenny (Norwood) – Caitlin Wendland (Central District)