ALL FOUR SANFL Women’s Round 11 matches take place tomorrow and we have split up the previews to look at the three games earlier in the afternoon. That includes a must-win contest between Sturt and Eagles, while South and West Adelaide go at it, as does Glenelg and North Adelaide in a top-against-bottom battle.

FORM

South Adelaide has won two matches on the trot since going down to Norwood prior to the league-wide bye with coach Rick Watts officially surpassing the all-time record for most SANFLW wins as head coach. The Panthers lost to West Adelaide in Round 1, and though the Panthers have been travelling better since, the Bloods to stay in touch with the top four, sitting one point outside the eight.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

South Adelaide: 10
West Adelaide: 4

West Adelaide’s win earlier this season brought the head-to-head record back to 4-10, but South’s early season dominance – the first seven encounters went the way of the Panthers – still have them firming in control. South is also 4-1 at Noarlunga which always helps.

TEAMS

South Adelaide:

B: Tiffany King (14), Morgan Johnston (1)
HB: Nicole Campbell (9), Esther Schirmer (23), Carly Milsom (45)
C: Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap (11), Mel Anderson (6), Layla Vizguadis (20)
HF: Emma Charlton (25), Jorja Hooper (38), Emily Brockhurst (13)
F: Jordann Hickey (4), Doreena Hansen (26)
R: Soriah Moon (32), Chelsea Farr (21), Nikki Nield (2)
INT: Lily Baxter (56), Shae Archbold (17), Sarah Wright (5), Taya Maxwell (19), Zoe Flesfadar (29), Eqxelle Evans (49), Jaslynne Smith (35), Bri Cleggett (27)

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), Olivia Smith (6)
HF: Molly Petersen (28), Nicole Hooper (11), Ella Maxwell (29)
F: Illish Ross (60), Lucy Waye (50)
R: Chloe Tonkin (14), Asha Dufour (15), Jess Macolino (13)
INT: Grace McNicol (21), Kendell Saffin (31), Paige Allan (35), Emma Chapman (23), Ruby Ballard (22), Milli Gentle (3), Nicola Biagi (40), Sarah Campbell (47)

CHANGES

South Adelaide has been forced to make three changes, with Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap out with suspension, Caitlin Couch unavailable and Samantha Pratt missing due to a leg injury. Panthers skipper Brianna Cleggett returns to the squad as part of an extended bench with Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap and Sarah Wright. A trio of youngsters also come into the side with Zoe Flesfader joining potential debutants Carly Milsom and Taya Maxwell making it in as well.

West Adelaide has even more critical outs with Bec Hansen (knee), Tess Huxtable (hamstring), Hannah Button (calf) joining Georgie Pater who is out suspended. Coming into the side is winger Paige Allan, defender Milli Gentle, forward Kendell Saffin, and for her first game of the year, star midfielder Iilish Ross.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Defender Esther Schirmer has been strong for the Panthers this season rebounding off half-back, while Layla Vizgaudis and Emma Charlton provide some dare and dash around the ground. Shae Archbold adds a marking target inside 50, while Lily Baxter has shown she can cover the ground with ease, often from a wing.

West Adelaide’s top-age duo of Lucy Boyd and Emma Kilpatrick continued their strong 2024 season form last week, while Asha Dufour and Ruby Ballard add heat around the ball. Chloe Tonkin is one of the premier contested markers in the competition, while Emily Mableson provides a steady head in defence.

STATS THAT MATTER

South Adelaide is the best defensive team in the competition, conceding the lowest scores and scoring shots, while leading the way in defensive efficiency. The Panthers are also ranked second in forward efficiency, while for the Bloods, they are mostly ranked mid-table across most statistics, though are second with disposal efficiency.

PREDICTION

South Adelaide is back in business the last couple of weeks, and while there is still improvement to come, is incredibly hard to beat at Noarlunga. West Adelaide should keep it tight, and expect it to go down to the wire with some terrific head-to-heads.

FORM

Two sides at opposite ends of the ladder, Glenelg was forced to share the points with Norwood last week, only the second time the Bays have dropped any points this season. Meanwhile North Adelaide finally broke through for its first win of the season, knocking off Woodville-West Torrens.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

North Adelaide: 9
Glenelg: 5

After North Adelaide dominated winning eight of the first nine encounters against the Bays, Glenelg has edged closer in the head-to-head, winning four of the past five to make it five wins overall, including in their only two previous matches at Prospect Oval.

TEAMS

North Adelaide:

B: Lara Harding (27), Kristi Harvey (5)
HB: Jamie Parish (20), Ella Metcalfe (40), Sarah Steele-Park (36)
C: Sasha Hardin (38), Julia Clark (33), Jess Edwards (2)
HF: Lauren Hoffmann (45), Brianna Arthur (18), Tayla Gordon (23)
F: Ella Quinn (14), Indi Buckskin-James (19)
R: Amber Ward (24), Aprille Crooks (10), Djimila Totham (30)
INT: Jasmine Dallimore (53), Sarcha Taylor (52), Laura Niejalke (16), Zoe Perry (44), Bailey Murray (3), Dakota Kendall (57), Chloe Charity (6)

Glenelg:

B: Alice Bradley (21), Alex Walker (24)
HB: Ellen Tyminski (18), Marie Martino (15), Tamsyn Morriss (12)
C: Eloise Mackereth (9), Lucy Armitage (14), Mel Hinge (17)
HF: Sam Franson (5), Matilda Wilmore (19) Madi Freeman (2)
F: Shay’Lee Dayman (4), Jess Searle (23)
R: Alex Pearce (30), Jo Miller (32), Jess Bates (29)
INT: Renee Wurfel (3), Grace Duffy (10), Jorja Eldridge (33), Alana Baker (25), Demi McCarthy (33), Kiahni Russell (54), Georgie Fielder (59), Lucy Weatherald (42)

CHANGES

The Roosters have lost star top-ager Laela Ebert after the defender/midfielder entered concussion protocols. She is out of the side along with Lauren Gauci (knee). Coming in is crucial experience in Brianna Arthur and Ella Metcalfe, while Chloe Charity could make her North Adelaide debut, and Dakota Kendall is in line for her SANFLW debut out of Broadview.

Glenelg will be without gun youngster Poppy Scholz for another week after she was a late withdrawal in Round 10, while Jordan Horne has school commitments, and Lauren Edwards is out with an ankle injury. As part of an extended bench, three players have come in with Madisyn Freeman, Jorja Eldridge and Alana Baker named.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Without Ebert, attention turns to Sarcha Taylor for the Roosters, who will provide some dash and defensive pressure. Mature-age speedster Aprille Crooks has been in great form, as has Laura Niejalke.

Minus Scholz and Violet Patterson, Glenelg has bottom-agers to look at with Eloise Mackereth and Matilda Wilmore able to impact on the scoreboard both directly and indirectly.

STATS THAT MATTER

North Adelaide has struggled to generate scoring chances this season, ranked last in scoring, accuracy and inside 50s, while Glenelg is ranked first for both scoring shots and inside 50s. The Bays win plenty of the ball and are able to create scoring shots with it, while the Roosters are the best in the comp at marking, as well as using the ball efficiently.

PREDICTION

In a top-against-bottom clash it is fairly clear cut who to go for. The Roosters have been building this season and it all came together last week, but Glenelg has been a different beast this season. It will be a great test for the Roosters, with both sides missing key players.

FORM

Two sides that sit at three wins from 10 matches, it is an understatement to suggest the two points are needed here. For the loser, it is essentially elimination from finals, while for the winner, it is a case of being able to hold onto a glimmer of hope in the run home. The last time these sides played, Sturt won by just seven points down in Ottoway after the Eagles looked home through the first half.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Sturt: 6
Woodville-West Torrens: 2

The two sides have played just the eight times, and in fact it is the first season since 2021 where they have faced off twice in a year. Sine the Eagles won back-to-back matches in 2020-21, the Double Blues have not lost, recording four straight victories against Woodville-West Torrens.

TEAMS

Sturt:

B: Lily Whitcombe (24), Sarah Wallace (37)
HB: Sophie Thredgold (17), Hannah Prenzler (20), Isabella Drew (28)
C: Claudia Edmonds (22), Kate Harris (23), Molly Fletcher (31)
HF: Georgia Swan (3), Millie McCarthy (1), Tahlia Walker (18)
F: Summer Ross (42), Georgia King (55)
R: Jasmin Fejo (36), Alisha Gepp (15), Isobel Kuiper (2)
INT: Grace Powell (11), Jaimee Wittervan (35), Amy Brooks-Birve (44), India Rasheed (6), Abby Pengelly (7), Winnie Thornquest (25), Gemma Grivell (13), Natasha Christophers (57)

Woodville-West Torrens:

B: Audrey Holt (10), Amie Blanden (12)
HB: Annie Falkenberg (8), Cher Waters (20), Julia Watson (51)
C: Grace Martin (7), Sophie Zuill (24), Poppy Waterford (1)
HF: Imogen Trengove (22), Marlie Fiegert (30), 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), Mikayla Cavallaro (4), Zahlia Niemann (38), Ashley Baker (44), Sophie Whitwell (42), Astrid Gooley (21)

CHANGES

Sturt will be excited by bringing back star India Rasheed for the must-win clash after she was a late withdrawal last week. She is joined in the side by defender Edwina Thornquest and a couple of potential debutants in Gemma Grivell and Natasha Christophers. At this stage, Ruby Cunningham (suspension) is the only confirmed out.

The Eagles have not made any definite changes as of yet, instead opting to recall four players to an extended squad. A key in is Brianna Walling, while Zahlia Niemann, Mikayla Cavallaro and Cher Waters have also been named.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

The return of Rasheed is crucial for Sturt to add that extra X-Factor and skill going inside 50, not to mention around the clearance. Along with the talented top five pick, defensive duo Sophie Thredgold and Thornquest are the other State Academy members.

Woodville-West Torrens top-agers Grace Martin and Bianca Portaro have been important in a variety of roles across the season. Klaudia O’Neill has settled into full-back with aplomb, while Imogen Trengove and Lucy Moore are ones to watch for the future.

STATS THAT MATTER

Despite only the three wins, the Eagles rank second in the inside 50s count, and Sturt sits in fourth. Unfortunately the former have struggled with their forward efficiency, creating a shot just 30.4 per cent of the time. Sturt struggles in just winning the ball (eighth in the competition), but rank in the top three for clearances.

PREDICTION

A tough match to predict with both sides more than capable of taking it out. Expect a single-digit margin between the sides, with Sturt edging ahead as favourites purely for the homeground advantage over at Unley.