A NUMBER of State Academy members were unavailable for Round 13 of the SANFL Women’s, but there were still a host of players who fronted up for their respective state league sides with finals just around the corner. North Adelaide was the only side without a State Academy member. As always, we took note of those players in the State Academy with all notes the opinion of the individual author.

West Adelaide:

#15 Asha Dufour (Midfielder)

Stats: 25 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Brought her own ball to the game and racked up more touches than anyone else on the field. She covers the ground incredibly well and gets into all the right spots to win it. When having time and space she can hit targets down the ground, and the next step is about limiting the rushed kicks while under pressure. Still, Dufour has a nice sidestep and reads it well off the ruck taps, able to be a first or second possession winner for the Bloods through the midfield which is incredibly valuable.

#22 Ruby Ballard (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance

Ballard’s efficiency was a little bit down on her usual output but that was largely due to the pressure around her. She still cracked in, had a go and when winning it by hand was able to dispose of it quickly, even if she got pinged for holding the ball once. So clean at ground level, Ballard is one who with any space can do maximum damage.

#27 Emma Kilpatrick (Wing)

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Kilpatrick had some seriously important moments in the context of the game, starting with the opening goal when she ran hard forward and soccered the ball off the deck in the goalsquare. Late in the match she also set up Sarah Campbell for the match-winning goal at the nine minute mark of the final term, and had a critical intercept on the forward side of the wing in the dying minutes. She goes for all or nothing passes that can result in turnovers, but has a terrific understanding of the game and almost kicked a second goal in the second term weaving around for a handball receive and taking a flying shot just inside the boundary but it hit the post.

#44 Emily Mableson (Defender)

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 marks, 2 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

The South Australian Under 16s MVP is such a calm and composed user in defence and it shows even against senior opposition. She assesses most situations accurately and is able to gather cleanly at ground level. Mableson had a great moment in the second term where against two opponents was so clean she took it at ground level and stepped between them to burst away and kicked it clear. She was able to win plenty of the ball at ground level and use it as a springboard to start the transition from defence into offence.

Woodville-West Torrens:

#3 Bianca Portaro (Midfielder)

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Portaro did not take a backwards step all game, and though her polish and execution is an area of improvement, she showed great courage and unrelenting pressure. Her work rate predominantly playing through the midfield was outstanding, and she was more of a full-time mid rather than a 50/50 split in defence. She did well to cover the ground and produced a four-quarter effort.

#15 Lucy Moore (Midfielder)

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 10 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

It was a terrific game from Moore who has steadily developed throughout the last month. She played on some quality opponents such as Zoe Venning and won her fair share of the ball at times. She was shrugged off occasionally, but still kept at it, laying double digit tackles. With ball-in-hand, Moore was clean and able to dish off well showing nice vision and strong decision making.

#18 Klaudia O’Neill (Forward)

Stats: 4 disposals, 2 marks (2 contested), 5 tackles, 2 goals

Played the ultimate full-forward’s game and contributed two goals in the first half. She clunked two contested marks straight in front and went back and nailed both set shots without fuss. Though she did not win much of it outside of that, O’Neill still applied great pressure to the opposition and was not afraid to get her hands dirty.

#22 Imogen Trengove (Defender)

Stats: 7 disposals, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 1 rebound 50

Mopped up in defence on a number of occasions, and while the bottom-ager did not win a lot of it, still got involved when she had to. Quite often she was looking for the quick dish off and pushing up the ground, winning it between the wing and the back 50.

South Adelaide:

#17 Shae Archbold (Forward)

Stats: 8 disposals, 3 marks (2 contested), 4 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 goals, 1 behind

Her game looked like the Archbold of 2022 the way she was confidently leading out and competing time and time again. Deserved a third goal after pushing a set shot wide, but kicked the two, including a great turn and snap off her preferred left. Her kicking is outstanding for a tall and gave a glimpse into what she is capable of. Has enormous potential.

#19 Taya Maxwell (Forward/Ruck)

Stats: 6 disposals 13 hitouts, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50

The Under 16s tall played forward and was a backup ruck as she has been since making her debut. She held her own at the stoppages with her tap ruck and was able to clear the ball forward. Though she did not win a lot of it outside the stoppage, did win a free kick at one stage and set up Lucy Northcott for a goal with a nice kick.

#20 Layla Vizgaudis (Wing/Forward)

Stats: 18 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

One of the best on ground, particularly in the first half, Vizgaudis started like a house on fire racking up the ball at will. Her second and third efforts were noticeable, she was quick to dispose of it by hand, and if given any time and space, could be a high-impact user. Her ability to create her own space also came in handy while under pressure, and she showed great football smarts to tap the ball in teammates direction when she knew she couldn’t take clean possession.

#23 Esther Schirmer (Defender)

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks (1 contested), 4 tackles, 1 inside 50

Saw less of it than some weeks due to the ball being up the other end, particularly in the second half. However when called upon to make an effort, Schirmer stepped up and was able to provide an intercepting force. Composed with ball-in-hand and clean with her disposal, the defender continued her sensational season form.

#25 Emma Charlton (Forward/Wing)

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 2 inside 50s

Charlton bobbed up for her moments at times and was able to make an impact, setting up a couple of scoring chances including a goal to Mel Anderson inside 50. She has incredible football smarts, thinks through her disposals and makes good decisions with perfectly weighted passes both by hand or foot. When she consistently finds more of the football she will be a huge danger to opposition sides.

#56 Lily Baxter (Wing/Forward)

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 marks (2 contested), 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

Baxter returned to the side and was lively throughout four quarters, hitting the scoreboard late in the game with a terrific running goal. She had a couple of other chances – including from a long-range set shot then on the run that copped an errant bounce in the goalsquare. She remained vigilant throughout the match and was able to clunk a series of strong marks, and worked hard to find space both in the forward half, and when running defensively into the backline.

Glenelg:

#19 Matilda Wilmore (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 rebound 50s

Spent more time on-ball in the absence of Jess Bates and Violet Patterson, and held her own winning a number of clearances, including centre clearances. Her defensive pressure was high, and though she could be fumbly under the pressure at ground level, kept cracking in with terrific second and third efforts.

#59 Georgie Fielder (Forward/Wing)

Stats: 7 disposals, 3 tackles, 1 goal

Fielder is going to be a special player when she fully develops, with the Under 16s All-Australian showing some class in the big loss. Her hands were elite at ground level and one-touch always, while looking to take the game on whenever she got the chance. Her goal in the opening minute of the second term off a handball receive was an incredible finish.

By: Liam Badkin

Central District:

#3 Miyu Endersby (Defender)

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 5 hitouts, 3 inside 50s

The tall defender made her presence felt again with another rock solid performance behind the play as the Dogs thwarted plenty of North Adelaide’s attacking plays. Looking to make her presence felt in the air, Endersby looked to bring the ball to ground at the very least wherever she could, often flying third up to create an outnumber in the marking contest. She also took the ruck contests in defensive 50, and her hitouts were well placed and found her teammates in helpful spots.

#12 Sophie Eaton (Forward/Wing)

Stats: 2 disposals, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

Worked hard around the ground to try and get involved ahead of the ball, and although she did not find much of the footy, she had a moment to remember in the second quarter. Eaton swooped on a loose ball on the ground and the top of the 50m arc and used her long boot to slam home a major on the run and give the Dogs the lead again in a crucial moment in the context of the game.

#31 Tara Lord (Forward)

Stats: 16 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

Stationed ahead of the ball in a change to last week, Lord provided an excellent option up forward, pushing high up the ground to provide an option out of kickouts, and was strong overhead on several occasions to hold on to some tough marks. She was relentless in attacking the ball, and looked a chance of breaking free with ball in hand whenever the footy was trapped in congestion. Although her lone shot on goal was wayward, Lord looked extremely dangerous in her new role and helped add another dynamic to Central District ahead of the ball.

#54 Mikaylah Antony (Defender)

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle

Anthony played to her strengths as a running defender in the Round 13 win over North Adelaide, finding her fair share of the footy and remaining composed more often than not. She evaded would-be tacklers and was clever with her decision making with ball-in-hand. Although she would bite off more than she could chew on occasion, she was overall damaging with her disposals, and her presence on the outside of contests in defence was a crucial weapon for the Dogs. She even took a nice intercept mark in the fourth quarter to demonstrate her willingness to beat her opponent in one on one contests.

North Adelaide:

* – North Adelaide did not field any State Academy members.

Sturt:

#16 Monique Bessen (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 8 disposals, 6 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 rebound 50

It was a quieter week from Bessen who got into the right positions, but was often quickly apprehended by her Norwood opposition to stop her getting time and space. She did well in a couple of instances with a class kick to Millie McCarthy on the goal line early in the third term and applied enormous defensive pressure on the opposition to give as good as she got.

#17 Sophie Thredgold (Defender)

Stats: 4 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackle, 1 rebound 50

Often under pressure, Thredgold did not win a lot of it but took a couple of good steadying marks including one in the 18th minute of the final term. Though she turned the kick over down the ground, she bought time with the Double Blues needed it.

#25 Edwina Thornquest (Forward)

Stats: 4 disposals, 2 tackles

Worked hard around the 50 and pushing up the ground for little personal reward, but still played her role. She set up a goal to Molly Fletcher in the second term and presented as a marking target even if she did not end up clunking one.

Norwood:

#2 Coby Morgan (Wing)

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 2 rebound 50s

Morgan provided some great dash down the kick and had a clever kick out of a forward stoppage to find Kiana Lee in space and set up a goal. In the third term Morgan did well on the wing to get rid of a would-be tackler and deliver cleanly by foot. She was still rushed at times, but worked hard and found her fair share of the ball.

#39 Charli Hazelhurst (Defender)

Stats: 5 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50

Played on a few different opponents through rotations and though one-on-one Amy Brooks-Birve took a strong mark against her in a pack, when up the field Hazelhurst grabbed front position and was too athletic in the air, bringing it down. She took a great intercept mark on the goal line early in the third term which was impressive.

#61 Kate Alexander (Ruck)

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 tackles, 18 hitouts, 1 clearance, 1 rebound 50

Had a tough day out against the athletic Jasmin Fejo who dominated through the ruck. She did well when up against the Double Blues’ backup rucks, and did get involved in some transitional play as well. She showed clever ruck work when able to get her hands to it and bounced back from a couple of heavy tackles just before half-time.