A TRIPLE treat of Saturday matches takes place tomorrow as Round 2 of the SANFL Women’s kicks off in what should ideally be much better conditions than the extreme heat that day one of the season offered a week ago. We take a look at the six teams going head-to-head across the matches tomorrow in this preview, with the Sunday game previewed tomorrow.

FORM

Central District showed last week that preseason results meant very little when bursting out of the blocks to put away Glenelg. The Dogs always looked in control of that game, and will come up against a Sturt side that was gallant in defeat, but ultimately could not match it with the red-hot Eagles for four quarters.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Central District: 5
Sturt: 5

Delicately balanced at five wins apiece from the two sides’ clashes, the teams have never won more than two on the trot. Last year the teams did just that with Sturt winning this corresponding fixture in Round 4 by five goals, before Central got one back on the Double Blues with a seven-point victory at the home of the Double Blues.

TEAMS

Central District:

B: Georgia Madigan – Elizabeth Wilson
HB: Madison Lane – Miyu Endersby – Tess Gerhardy
C: Karissa Searle – Caitlen Teague – Laitiah Huynh
HF: Lauren Breguet – Dakota Williams – Tesharna Maher
F: Alysha Healy – Katelyn Rosenzweig
R: Erica Rowe – Sophie Eaton – Jovanka Zecevic
INT: Amy Gaedtke – Tiarna Grovermann – Tara Lord – Shelby Raven – Demi Sonneman

Sturt:

B: Gypsy Schirmer – Lily Whitcombe
HB: Imogen Szegedi – Isabella Drew – Alexandra Ballard
C: Lily Smart – Alisha Gepp – Claudia Edmonds
HF: Ruby Cunningham – Millie McCarthy – Georgia Swan
F: Zara Walsh – Georgia King
R: Jasmin Fejo – Isobel Kuiper – Sophie Thredgold
INT: Monique Bessen – Molly Fletcher – Grace Powell – Hannah Prenzler – Summer Ross

CHANGES

Central District has opted for an unchanged lineup and it is easy to see why after such an impressive victory in Round 1. Sturt on the other hand has opted for a little more speed while still maintaining height, bringing in Millie McCarthy and the explosive Zara Walsh for Amy Brooks-Birve and Eqxelle Evans. Walsh is playing her first SANFLW game since tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) 12 months ago.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

National Academy members Sophie Eaton and Monique Bessen will undoubtedly cross paths through the mdifield with both capable of spending time forward and having an impact there. Miyu Endersby played a key role in defence last week and should be in a similar role again for the Bulldogs, while Tara Lord showed promising signs in a number of roles.

Sturt has a stack of State Academy members with Summer Ross and Lily Smart both hard-running wingers though the former played up forward in Round 1. Sophie Thredgold will provide depth between the defence and midfield, while Walsh has the draftable traits once she can get some continuity into her game.

DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

The strength of the Central lineup means Under 16s prospect Charlotte Maurits will again headline the side, while Edwina Thornquest remains in the Development side further adapting to life back as a forward for the Double Blues. Roxanna Tyler and Zina Hunt are other top-agers to keep an eye on.

PREDICTION

Central District’s first up win was incredible and the speed the Dogs placed in transition really set them apart. The Double Blues have opted for more movement in the front half of the ground to deal with the more athletic Dogs defenders, and should take it right up to them. On form, Central looked a dangerous proposition and will be favourites at home.

FORM

Both these sides enter the contest coming off tight games for the most part, but the difference being the last term. While South Adelaide kicked away from Norwood to win down at Noarlunga, West Adelaide fought back to kick the last couple of goals and get over the top of North Adelaide in a thriller.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Norwood: 11
West Adelaide: 5
Draw: 1

West Adelaide snapped Norwood’s four-game winning streak over the Bloods in Round 7 last year in a nine-point contest, before Norwood returned serve in an equally tight outing to close out the season. That win for the Redlegs secured them finals – and denied the Bloods fourth spot – which as history showed proved a blessing with Norwood going on to reach the grand final. Tomorrow’s game also marks Norwood’s 100th SANFLW match.

TEAMS

Norwood:

B: Nicola Burns – Ashlee Gould
HB: Charlee Brooksby – Emily Bartsch, Sophie Arkun
C: Kiana Lee – Sophie Armitstead – Sarah Branford
HF: Charli Hazelhurst – Jiarna Zerella – Jade Halfpenny
F: Grace Whittaker – Mykaela Walker
R: Kate Alexander – Stephanie Simmonds – Georgina Birchall
INT: Candice Belbin – Emma Clark – Jazmine Egan – Elle Lineage – Lana Schwerdt

West Adelaide:

B: Niamh Davis – Grace Sim
HB: Philippa Worthley – Emma Chapman – Tiana Fernandez
C: Ella Maxwell – Hannah Button – Emma Kilpatrick
HF: Georgie Pater – Chloe Tonkin – Lucy Waye
F: Alana Lishmund – Chelsea Newitt
R: Tess Huxtable – Zoe Venning – Ruby Ballard
INT: Sarah Campbell – Jemma Ellis – Emily Mableson – Grace McNicol – Olivia Smith

CHANGES

Three players across both sides will sit out a couple of matches following concussion symptoms, including Emma Daley, and West skipper Madison Russell whose day ended early in Round 1. Redlegs tall Georgie Jaques is the other concussion victim, with Coby Morgan (calf) another one injured early in Round 1. Three youngsters including top-age talent Charli Hazelhurst and bottom-age debutant Charlee Brooksby come in for the Redlegs for the match.

Brooksby is the younger sister of Port Adelaide’s Molly and bears similar traits with her dual-sided kicking and class around the ground. Hazelhurst can play on any line, while Jazmine Egan is the other inclusion in Sarah Branford;s 50th match. For West Adelaide, Paige Allan was omitted to be the other out alongside Russell, while Emma Chapman and Niamh Davis both slot into defence, while Grace McNicol has also been named in the team.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Hazelhurst and Brooksby add some eye-catching talent to Norwood with ruck Kate Alexander now having a massive job without Jaques in the side. West Adelaide tall Chloe Tonkin has shaken off some soreness from Round 1 to be right for the match, while Lucy Waye and Emily Mableson both impressing across the ground in the victory over North last round.

DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

West Adelaide forward duo Steph Tredwell and Sarah Deed are a couple of names to watch in the earlier game, while Norwood has the likes of Elke Cameron and Lottie Almond as State Academy members running through the midfield.

PREDICTION

The clash looms as a huge one with Norwood playing pretty well despite the loss, and West Adelaide having some passages of brilliance but also room for improvement. Expect the Redlegs to come out firing, with last year’s grand finalists really solid across the board though West Adelaide’s midfield is ultra-strong.

FORM

Woodville-West Torrens broke new ground last week by winning in the opening match of the season, and coming off a couple of trial match victories, it provides fans with the hope that 2025 could be the year the Eagles finally break the finals drought. Glenelg on the other hand struggled in the first half against Central District, and though the Bays got going late, will need time to adjust to all the fresh faces in the lineup.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Woodville-West Torrens: 3
Glenelg: 9

Glenelg holds the wood over the Eagles across history, having won six of the past seven encounters, and collecting both sets of points last season. The one-point triumph over the Eagles in Round 14 was the Bays’ last victory and now they will search for a first win under new coach Talia Radan, while Woodville-West Torrens looks to go 2-0 for the first time in club history, having only once being 1-1 after the first fortnight.

TEAMS

Woodville-West Torrens:

B: Leah Cutting – Audrey Holt
HB: Maia Freemantle – Zahlia Niemann – Christina Leuzzi
C: Sophie Zuill – Marlie Fiegert – Amie Blanden
HF: Rosette Zerella – Klaudia O’Neill – Ashley Baker
F: Lucy Moore – Annie Falkenberg
R: Ruby Lynch – Poppy Waterford – Brianna Walling
INT: Olivia Evans – Popi Gikas – Bianca Portaro – Imogen Trengove – Cheryllee Waters

Glenelg:

B: Lauren Edwards – Mackenzie O’Dea
HB: Ash Dyer-Pietsch – Tessa Davis – Marie Martino
C: Madisyn Freeman – Ellie Kellock – Samantha Franson
HF: Eloise Mackereth – Ellen Tyminski – Asha Dufour
F: Kiahni Russell – Astrid Gooley
R: Shaylee Dayman – Jessica Bates – Georgie Fielder
INT: Jordan Horne – Elizabeth Johnson – Tamsyn Morriss – Ella Quinn – Lucy Weatherald

CHANGES

Glenelg has bolstered its experience for the clash, bringing back a trio of readymade talents to slot into the side. Premiership skipper Ellie Kellock is a huge addition, as is the hard-running Ash Dyer-Pietsch and reliable Ellen Tyminski. They replace a trio of omissions in Matilda Wilmore, Jayde Hickey and Mel Hinge. The trio of changes for coach Talia Radan‘s second game is contrast to Narelle Smith‘s side which has remained the same from its victory over Sturt.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Eagles debutant Maia Freemantle looked comfortable last week and has been named at half-back for Round 2, while Imogen Trengove and Lucy Moore also had some big moments throughout the course of the Round 1 win and will play key roles again. Glenelg started to get going in the second half last week so expect a big impact from Eloise Mackereth, while Georgie Fielder and now second-gamer Tessa Davis both outstanding in that contest.

DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

Wilmore returning to the Development League to return to form will be a big watch for the Bays in a fairly experienced forwardline. Mia Smith is a classy Eagles forward who is just waiting for her opportunity at SANFLW level as well.

PREDICTION

It is hard to deny the Eagles with the form they are in, even with the Glenelg team on paper looking incredibly strong. It will be a case of when it all clicks for the Bays they could be a major contender, though the Eagles will hope it is not this week that happens. Woodville-West Torrens has shown enough to suggest it could be the year, and banking early wins is crucial in a 14-round season.