A MASSIVE top of the table clash with finals ramifications, while third placed Central District hosts a rejuvenated North Adelaide in the penultimate round of SANFL Women’s action later on this afternoon.

FORM

After being a picture of consistency this season only losing one game up until a few weeks back, Glenelg has since dropped two and drawn once to slip from top spot into second. The team that took pole position was South Adelaide, after the Panthers ended the two-game winning streak of North Adelaide, one of the sides that rolled Glenelg in the process. Glenelg was level with Central District last week, but conceded seven goals in the final term to go down heavily.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

South Adelaide: 8
Glenelg: 5

South Adelaide has won the last three encounters against Glenelg, including an impressive 22-point win over the Bays earlier this year, their first loss of the season. That was the largest result between the pair since 2019, with most of the game being three goals or less. The Panthers hold a 3-1 record at Noarlunga too.

TEAMS

South Adelaide:

B: Tiffany King (14), Jaslynne Smith (35)
HB: Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap (15), Esther Schirmer (23), Carly Milsom (45)
C: Emma Charlton (25), Mel Anderson (6), Layla Vizgaudis (20)
HF: Lily Baxter (56), Lucy Northcott (12), Emily Brockhurst (13)
F: Jordann Hickey (4), Doreena Hansen (26)
R: Soriah Moon (32), Morgan Johnston (1), Nikki Nield (2)
INT: Chelsea Farr (21), Lauren Clifton (41), Shae Archbold (17), Taya Maxwell (19), Sam Pratt (22), Caitlin Radbone (34), Charlotte Dolan (28), Bri Cleggett (27)

Glenelg:

B: Alice Bradley (21), Alex Walker (24)
HB: Ellen Tyminski (18), Marie Martino (15), Tamsyn Morriss (12)
C: Georgie Fielder (59), Madi Freeman (2), Mel Hinge (17)
HF: Sam Franson (5), Jordan Horne (11), Grace Duffy (10)
F: Matilda Wilmore (19), Jess Searle (23)
R: Alex Pearce (30), Jo Miller (32), Lucy Armitage (14)
INT: Renee Wurfel (3), Kayla Robran (60), Jorja Eldridge (33), Alana Baker (25), Kiahni Russell (54)

CHANGES

Glenelg is in a spot of bother in terms of an availability crisis, losing star midfielders Jessica Bates and Violet Patterson this week, along with starting ruck Shay’Lee Dayman and young gun forward Eloise Mackereth. It gives the Bays next tier to step up, with Kayla Robran, Jorja Eldridge, Lucy Armitage and Mel Hinge coming into the side.

South Adelaide has also been forced to make a few changes with the suspended Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap and unavailable pair Caitlin Couch and Sarah Wright all out. Coming into the side as part of an extended bench is captain Brianna Cleggett, along with young gun Lily Baxter, as well as Charlotte Dolan, Lauren Clifton, Chelsea Farr and Caitlin Radbone.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

South Adelaide defender Esther Schirmer has hardly missed a beat this season, while forward Shae Archbold is growing in confidence with each passing week. Under 16s talents Layla Vizgaudis and Emma Charlton have received back-to-back Breakthrough Player nominations, while Taya Maxwell and Baxter also have eye-catching talent. Leading goalkicker Emily Brockhurst is a mature-age option to watch in this game.

For the Bays, tackling forward Matilda Wilmore and Under 16s jet Georgie Fielder are two keys to watch, while Jordan Horne is another bottom-ager who will only get better with time.

STATS THAT MATTER

South Adelaide has won seven more quarters than any other team and rank first in every one. The Panthers have struggled a touch in clearances ranking sixth (26.3 per game) with Glenelg leading the competition in both that area (30.3) and tackles (87.6). South’s defensive efficiency is the best in the league, not conceding shots once the ball is inside the defensive 50, while also the two sides are ranked first and second in overall possessions won.

PREDICTION

Looking at the changes, it will be a tough ask for Glenelg to get up given the amount of quality unavailable. The Panthers are also missing a few key players, but the Bays are really looking to their next tier. Given the loss of experience in midfield and their starting ruck against the best ruck in the competition in Soriah Moon, it would be quite the victory for the Bays. Have to go with South Adelaide in this one.

FORM

Reigning premiers Central District had been doing enough to get the chocolates in recent weeks up until a wake up call during a loss to Norwood in Round 11. The Bulldogs responded with one of, if not the, greatest SANFLW quarter in history last round when they piled on seven goals to nil in the last quarter in an ominous message over the then-top of the table Bays. North Adelaide had knocked off Glenelg the week before as part of a resurgence in recent weeks, but was well beaten in the second half by the Panthers.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Central District: 4
North Adelaide: 6

North Adelaide still holds a positive win-loss record against Central District, even though the Bulldogs have won the last three encounters between the pair. The Roosters won by a point in their premiership-winning year of 2022 back in Round 10, with the past three matches since being five, one and 10 points in favour of the Bulldogs. North actually holds a 2-1 record over Central at Elizabeth however.

TEAMS

Central District:

B: Jovanka Zecevic (23), Lauren Breguet (28)
HB: Liz Wilson (14), Tara Lord (31), Dakota Williams (38)
C: Sophie Eaton (12), Shelby Smith (1), Tess Gerhardy (33)
HF: Laitiah Huynh (41), Mikaylah Antony (57), Maddy Lane (40)
F: Katelyn Rosenzweig (2), Tarly Borgas (16)
R: Miyu Endersby (3), Tessa Doumanis (8), Georgia Madigan (7)
INT: Tiarna Grovermann (45), Caitlen Teague (17), Shelby Raven (33), Ella Sergi (37), Karissa Searle (22), Erica Rowe (19), Georgia Avery (18), Demi Sonneman (20)

North Adelaide:

B: Lara Harding (27), Kristi Harvey (5)
HB: Sarah Steele-Park (36), Ella Metcalfe (40), Lauren Gauci (35)
C: Sasha Hardin (38), Julia Clark (33), Jess Edwards (2)
HF: Lauren Hoffmann (45), Brianna Arthur (18), Tayla Gordon (23)
F: Ella Quinn (14), Amber Ward (24)
R: Indi Buckskin-James (19), Aprille Crooks (10), Djimila Totham (30)
INT: Jasmine Dallimore (53), Dakota Kendall (57), Laura Niejalke (16), Zoe Perry (44), Bailey Murray (3), Amalie Innes (11), Ruby Hancock (58)

CHANGES

Central District’s depth will be tested against the Roosters with some serious firepower missing due to the AFLW Academy game. Forwards Georgia McKee and Jasmine Evans as well as marking utility Charlotte Riggs will all miss the game, though the Bulldogs do regain some defensive power in Georgia Madigan. Experienced forward Tessa Doumanis, Demi Sonneman and Ella Sergi are among the other inclusions.

North Adelaide has only been forced into once change with State Academy member Sarcha Taylor missing, but the Roosters may hand out a debut or two with Dakota Kendall and Ruby Hancock both named on an extended bench with Amalie Innes a third inclusion.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Central District might missing three of its top young stars, but still has the classy Sophie Eaton as well as Under 16s rising talent Miyu Endersby. Defenders Tara Lord and Mikaylah Antony are other State Academy members in the side, while for North Adelaide, the loss of Taylor means no State Academy members, but Aprille Crooks and Tayla Gordon are a couple of mature-agers who catch the eye.

STATS THAT MATTER

Prior to last week, Central District was the best first quarter team in the competition, but now slipped to second after conceding two majors to quarter time. They are the worst in the second term, but the key is in the first half, being the only side to collect the full two points on every occasion they have led at half-time. In the same vein, North has won on both occasions it has led at three quarter time, but lost the other 10 when trailing.

PREDICTION

Central District should get up despite the loss of key stars, but it is a lineball call. The Bulldogs play South in the final round, so must win this if they are to be the best chance of finishing top two. North Adelaide can no longer catch the Eagles and will cop the wooden spoon this season, but at least can deny the Bulldogs an opportunity at a double chance.