A FEW late withdrawals, injury niggles and precautionary rests meant a number of South Australian State Academy members did not turn out in Round 10 of the SANFLW. However, despite those few omissions, there were still plenty of impressive performances, as we took note of those players in the final 30-strong squad – and Under 16s representatives – with all notes the opinion of the individual author.

North Adelaide:

#9 Laela Ebert (Defender/Midfielder)

Stats: 25 disposals, 6 marks, 1 tackle, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The top-age talent was one of the best on, finding plenty of the ball across the ground. Her work rate was on display in the second term where two minutes in, she had a dash from half-back not receiving it at first, but eventually getting her hands on it at half-forward and putting it to a teammate’s advantage for a goal. Strong overhead and able to intercept, Ebert is such as skilled player and can weight her kicks well both under pressure and in space.

#52 Sarcha Taylor (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 8 disposals, 3 tackles, 1 clearance

The tenacious bottom-ager did not win a lot of it, but showed some speed and dare through the middle of the ground. She was often tackled almost immediately each time she won it or forced to rush, but did apply her own pressure at the same time.

Woodville-West Torrens:

#3 Bianca Portaro (Midfielder/Defender)

Stats: 8 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 2 rebound 50s

A quieter game from Portaro who even when not winning a lot of it, makes her presence felt. She cracks in hard at each contest and her repeat contest work is superb. At one stage early in the fourth quarter she charged off half-back to get up to half-forward and impact the marking ocntest to bring it to ground.

#7 Grace Martin (Utility)

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

Martin is currently filling holes left, right and centre. Starting in defence, she also had stints through the middle and even snuck forward for a shot on goal – for one behind – and showed off her versatility. She did not win a stack of it, but seemed to have a high impact-per-possession with her footballing nous on full display.

#15 Lucy Moore (Forward)

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 behind

The Under 16s talent looked lively in the front half and pushed up to add an extra number to contests at times pushing higher up. Her defensive pressure was strong and she was clean at ground level. Moore did not have a lot of space to work with so only registered the one behind, but continues to develop at senior level.

#18 Klaudia O’Neill (Defender)

Stats: 8 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 1 hitout

O’Neill had some eye-catching moments through the game including a number of booming kicks from defence to the wing. Early in the third term, O’Neill charged out of the back half and had a nice sidestep in transition, while also clunking an intercept mark on the defensive side in the middle of the ground.

#22 Imogen Trengove (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 9 disposals, 8 tackles, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Found the going a lot tougher through midfield this week, with Trengove often second to the ball and applying some great pressure. She reads the game well and utilises those smarts to get the ball forward, and while she was quieter than past weeks, did what she could when she ha her moments.

South Adelaide:

#17 Shae Archbold (Forward)

Stats: 4 disposals, 3 marks (1 contested), 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 1 behind

Archbold provided a marking target inside 50 taking some good grabs on the lead and unsettling the opposition defence with her ability to kick long. Though of her two set shots she missed to the left and then another fell short, she still looked dangerous in presenting.

#20 Layla Vizgaudis (Wing/Forward)

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Vizgaudis had a mixed bag this week, zipping around and providing an option going forward and looking dangerous. She did drop mark and was often under pressure at times, but it is evident the moment she is given any time and space she can cut up the opposition with deft and well-weighted passes going forward in transition.

#23 Esther Schirmer (Defender)

Stats: 16 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s

One of the better Panthers on the day, Schirmer was a intercepting force but not as deep as usual. She played far higher and often clunked errant Sturt kicks down the line, getting into the right spots to mark. She competes hard one-on-one and forced turnovers with her pressure, usually bringing it to ground if she can’t mark. One player who has come along in leaps and bounds this season.

#25 Emma Charlton (Forward/Wing)

Stats: 15 disposals, 1 mark (1 contested), 1 tackle, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

The clever forward looked lively in attack and after working hard up the ground and even finding it off half-back, Charlton got forward and was rewarded for her running by slotting a set shot goal. She knows where to find space and is able to create separation on her opponent with some nice speed, getting into dangerous spots not just open paddock.

#56 Lily Baxter (Wing)

Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50

There was a lot of unrewarded running for Baxter in the game who did not win a lot of it, but was often found helping out in defence as an extra number. She had a nice pass into Vizgaudis early in the fourth term after marking on the wing, and though she turned over a few of her longer kicks, was clean and ran hard all game.

Sturt:

#17 Sophie Thredgold (Defender)

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 4 rebound 50s

The sole State Academy member in the match after India Rasheed’s late withdrawal, Thredgold is a bottom-ager who takes the game on and provides run and carry. Her pressure was very good when the heat was on, and she always looked to nullify contests. At one stage she tried to fend off an opponent, but could not get it away cleanly, though she followed up on the wing well.

West Adelaide:

#2 Lucy Boyd (Defender)

Stats: 19 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

A standout in defeat, Boyd was rock solid in the air, taking plenty of intercept marks and holding a strong line behind the ball. She competes not just overhead, but once the ball hits the deck, with her aggressive edge really on show this season. She was able to create run and carry down the ground, got back to assist in the defence and often bombed it long to clear the danger. While she can turn it over by foot at times, she is someone who can do a lot of damage with the distance on her kicks.

#14 Chloe Tonkin (Forward)

Stats: 6 disposals, 1 mark (1 contested), 2 tackles, 5 hitouts, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50

A quieter day out for the bottom-age full-forward who kept presenting but hd the tall and athletic Endersby for company. She set up a goal to Lucy Waye early by standing up in a tackle and was able to set up another score with a long kick to the goalsquare late in the second term.

#15 Asha Dufour (Midfielder)

Stats: 20 disposals, 7 marks, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

Dufour entered the fray after a few minutes and went straight into the middle, and while she had a slower start, started to track up the ball through the second term. She would end hte hald with nine touches and have 15 by the final break as she won a lot of touches in congestion. Despite that, Dufour is so good at finding space around the ground, and while her composure and polish could improve, she shows great courage and strength.

#22 Ruby Ballard (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 1 behind

Another player who was under pressure for the most part, but Ballard still helped herself to 13 disposals, while laying four tackles. She worked up the ground to enter some stoppages, and while unable to get too much easy ball there, kept cracking in. She a couple f shots on goal with one missing completely and another behind, but it was her clean hands at ground level and competitive nature that stood out.

#27 Emma Kilpatrick (Wing)

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Alongside Boyd was one of West Adelaide’s standouts, being a prominent bal-winner through each of the four quarters. Kilpatrick started on a wing and worked into defence to help out at times, often looking to gain distance on her kicks. At times she can get caught out adding an extra. number to a stoppage while her opponent held a firm line, but Kilpatrick’s contest-to-contest work and pressure both at ground level and in the air showed she remained switched on.

#44 Emily Mableson (Defender)

Stats: 8 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles

The super-clean South Australian Under 16s MVP was composed with great vision in defence, standing up in the heat of battle. She has been consistent all season and that continued in Round 10, doing well one-on-one and also peeled off to be an option to switch or run forward.

Central District:

#3 Miyu Endersby (Defender)

Stats: 15 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 1 hitout, 1 clearance, 2 rebound 50s

It was an impressive performance from the double bottom-ager who has found her home in defence. With Riggs taking the ruck work, Endersby was free to lock down the role and showcase her intercept marking ability. With a nice vertical leap, strong hands and a penetrating kick, Endersby did well one-on-one against the strong Tonkin, and often forced a spoil. She found plenty of the ball and contributed in turning defence into offence.

#9 Charlotte Riggs (Ruck/Forward)

Stats: 18 disposals, 3 marks (2 contested), 2 tackles, 17 hitouts, 7 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

Starting in the ruck then rotating forward, Riggs was phenomenal across the match, and best on ground in the win. She was able to not just compete in the ruck, but used her slick foot skills around the ground to impact the game. Riggs is the subject of our player focus which provides in-depth detail on her performance, so keep an eye out for that.

#12 Sophie Eaton (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 10 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Not a huge game by any stretch, but as has been the case with Eaton, she just needs a handful of touches to make an impact. She was clean at ground level and effective by hand, and though she got worked under the ball in a marking contest against Boyd, buzzed around the forward half of the ground.

#27 Jasmine Evans (Forward)

Stats: 8 disposals, 3 marks, 2 inside 50s, 2 behinds

Playing deeper forward, the usually pinpoint Evans missed a couple of chances he would normally nail, but still had a stack of influential plays. She continued to present inside 50 and while she was spoiled doing just that late in the second term, the ball spilt allowing Katelyn Rosenzweig to goal. Her field kicking was sublime and though she had limited chances still showed her class.

#31 Tara Lord (Defender)

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 2 rebound 50s

The Under 16s prospect had her moments in the game and added some rebound from the back 50. She took a number of strong marks and was effective by foot, picking the right options when given the chance. At one stage four minutes into the second term when Lord missed a short kick after an uncontested mark, she followed up to win a handball back and deliver a more effective kick to a teammate.

#54 Mikaylah Antony (Defender)

Stats: 16 disposals, 7 marks (1 contested), 1 clearance, 3 rebound 50s

It was a promising breakout performance from the recently added Under 18s State Academy member, with Antony becoming a crucial cog in the Central District transition. She took a number of great marks and drove it forward, and while she was limited onto her right side, she has some nice tricks with that boot, able to weight her kicks and dispose of it effectively.