THE remaining two SANFLW matches for Round 9 sees Woodville-West Torrens up against South Adelaide and West Adelaide challenging ladder leaders Glenelg. We preview both matches ahead of the big games tonight.

FORM

Woodville-West Torrens is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Central District last week, but is enjoying a nice season, and just one win away from a club-high four wins in a season. South Adelaide was red-hot with five straight wins coming into Round 8, before a disappointing loss to Norwood under lights.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Woodville-West Torrens: 0
South Adelaide: 6

The Eagles are yet to beat South Australia in six attempts, with two losses at home, and four losses down in Noarlunga. The clash between the pair earlier this year went 35 points the way of the Panthers, though the previous four over the last four years have been within two goals.

TEAMS

Woodville-West Torrens:

B: Marlie Fiegert (30), Audrey Holt (10)
HB: Annie Falkenberg (8), Amie Blanden (12), Brooklyn Kraft (33)
C: Grace Martin (7), Sophie Zuill (24), Poppy Waterford (1)
HF: Imogen Trengove (22), Cher Waters (20), Chantelle Mitchell (5)
F: Klaudia O’Neill (18), Rosette Zerella (32)
R: Leah Cutting (26), Brianna Walling (13), Bianca Portaro (3)
INT: Christina Leuzzi (19), Lucy Moore (15), Ashleigh Forbes (40), Popi Gikas (2), Julia Watson (51), Erini Gikas (6), Ashley Baker (44), Sophie Whitwell (42)

South Adelaide:

B: Tiffany King (14), Sam Pratt (22)
HB: Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap (15), Esther Schirmer (23), Jaslynne Smith (35)
C: Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap (11), Mel Anderson (6), Chelsea Farr (21)
HF: Emma Charlton (25), Doreena Hansen (26), Emily Brockhurst (13)
F: Jordann Hickey (4), Lily Baxter (56)
R: Soriah Moon (32), Nicole Campbell (9), Nikki Nield (2)
INT: Abby Woodward (57), Seraphina Moon (46), Shae Archbold (17), Layla Vizguadis (20), Zoe Flesfadar (29), Carly Milsom (45), Morgan Johnston (1), Eqxelle Evans (49)

CHANGES

The Eagles have made at least two confirmed changes with Madison Turner (wrist) and Olivia Evans (ankle) both missing, while two players could be in line for their debuts. Ash Forbes and Julia Watson are a part of an extended bench with Ashley Baker and Sophie Whitwell.

For the Panthers, Caitlin Couch is unavailable and both Jorja Hooper (arm) and Sarah Wright (ribs) will miss through injury. They have added an extended bench with three potential debutants including State Academy defender Carly Milsom, Seraphina Moon and Abby Woodward. Doreena Hansen and Zoe Flesfader are among other inclusions

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Grace Martin and Bianca Portaro have both been named through the middle as wing and rover respectively, while top-ager Klaudia O’Neill has been named forward after playing the season in defence. Also in the side is bottom-ager Imogen Trengove who is impressing as a forward-mid rotation.

Milsom is one of a number of State Academy Panthers in the side, with Shae Archbold and Layla Vizgaudis named on the bench and can provide a spark. Esther Schirmer has been rock solid in defence, while both Lily Baxter and Emma Charlton have the potential to be deployed in multiple roles.

STATS THAT MATTER

South Adelaide is outstanding at restricting opponents from scoring, which might be key given the Eagles actually have the second most inside 50s and are the most accurate team in the competition.However Woodville-West Torrens will look to work on converting more inside 50s into shots – ranked sixth in the league – while the Panthers are ranked second overall, and lead the competition in kicks.

PREDICTION

It is hard to look past South with the Panthers no doubt stewing on the loss a fortnight ago and hungry and make amends here. The Eagles have been very good this year, but continue to just fall short on occasions, so will need to play four quarters to get the job done.

FORM

Glenelg moved two wins clear on top of the ladder from the chasing pack which features last year’s grand finalists. The Bays are the one team you can pencil in for finals at this stage, and will be looking to make it 8-1 after this round. The Bloods are building momentum coming off three straight losses, winning back-to-back games and are percentage off second spot.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Glenelg: 7
West Adelaide: 4

Glenelg holds the better of the head-to-heads, having won four of the last five encounters between the sides. The only time they met in a final was of course the 2021 decider, where the Bays came out on top to win by 23 points. West Adelaide has only won once since 2020 – Round 1 last year – so will be looking to change that stat here.

TEAMS

Glenelg:

B: Poppy Scholz (20), Alex Walker (24)
HB: Ellen Tyminski (18), Renee Wurfel (3), Lauren Edwards (34)
C: Sam Franson (5), Lucy Armitage (14), Mel Hinge (17)
HF: Madi Freeman (2), Grace Duffy (10), Jordan Horne (11)
F: Shay’Lee Dayman (4), Eloise Mackereth (9)
R: Alex Pearce (30), Demi McCarthy (33), Jess Bates (29)
INT: Jo Miller (32), Marie Martino (15), Tamsyn Morriss (12), Kayla Robran (60), Kiahni Russell (54)

West Adelaide:

B: Emily Mableson (44), Jess Chyer (18)
HB: Lucy Boyd (2), Madi Russell (1), Tiana Fernandez (20)
C: Emma Kilpatrick (27), Zoe Venning (9), Bec Hansen (10)
HF: Emma Chapman (23), Nicole Hooper (11), Ella Maxwell (29)
F: Lucy Waye (50), Chloe Tonkin (14)
R: Tess Huxtable (25), Olivia Smith (6), Asha Dufour (15)
INT: Paige Allan (35), Molly Petersen (28), Kendell Saffin (31), Grace McNicol (21), Ruby Ballard (22), Sienna Aldridge (38), Milli Gentle (3), Nicola Biagi (40)

CHANGES

Glenelg will unveil two debutants in light of a number of forced changes, with talls, Kayla Robran and Kiahni Russell donning the yellow and black. Robran is a defender out of Norwood and Russell came from the Panthers and will provide a target up forward. They come into the lineup alongside Demi McCarthy. The Bays are without key midfielder/wing Violet Patterson (hand injury), while Jorja Eldridge is unwell and Jess Searle is serving a suspension.

West Adelaide only has one forced change with Hannah Button unavailable, so the Bloods have kept their options open with an extended bench. The four players named there are Tiana Fernandez, Sienna Aldridge, Milli Gentle and Nicola Biagi.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Without Patterson, all eyes will be on AFLW Academy member Poppy Scholz in the Glenelg side, while talented forwards Eloise Mackereth and Jordan Horne are ones to watch for next year. For the Bloods, Emma Kilpatrick, Lucy Boyd, Ruby Ballard and Asha Dufour provide key moments and plenty of run, while Under 16s MVP Emily Mableson has composure off half-back, and Chloe Tonkin is a powerful contested mark inside 50.

STATS THAT MATTER

Glenelg is ranked second in denying teams shots once the ball goes inside 50 with converting inside 50s to scores an issue for the Bloods as is. West Adelaide ranks highly when it comes to limiting opposition scoring, but the Bays are better in just about each area. However West Adelaide is more accurate, and also uses the ball well, ranked third in the competition for disposal efficiency.

PREDICTION

Glenelg is top of the reason for a ladder, but this looms as a danger game given Patterson has been outstanding and Eldridge has put on scoreboard pressure of late. The Bays should get it done at home, but the visitors have the players on paper to really worry the opposition.