LAST year’s top against bottom go head-to-head in a standalone Sunday clash tomorrow with South Adelaide playing host to North Adelaide. The Panthers won first up in the grand final rematch and hope to extend that to two by the end of Sunday, while the Roosters are searching for their first senior coach win under Kelly Barltrop.

FORM

South Adelaide ensured it did not have a repeat slow start of last year with a Round 1 win in the grand final rematch over Norwood at Noarlunga. Back at home for a second successive week, the Panthers take on reigning wooden spooners North Adelaide who looked pretty good in a gallant loss to West Adelaide

HEAD-TO-HEAD

South Adelaide: 6
North Adelaide: 8
Draw: 1

These two sides have met a whopping 15 times over the years, including in successive grand finals between 2019 and 2020 where they split the different. While North had won six out of seven to close out the Roosters’ premiership year of 2022, the Panthers have since won three of the past four, including thrashings of 42 and 51 points last season as they went on to win the flag.

TEAMS

South Adelaide:

B: Tiffany King, Carly Milsom
HB: Samantha Pratt, Jaslynne Smith, Esther Schirmer
C: Melissa Anderson, Caitlin Couch, Emma Charlton
HF: Lily Baxter, Tamika May, Shae Archbold
F: Lauren Clifton, Emily Brockhurst
R: Soriah Moon, Jordann Hickey, Layla Vizgaudis
INT: Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap, Doreena Hansen, Molly Jenkins, Brylee Kerrin, Taya Maxwell, Marley Tape, Hope Taylor, Abby Woodward

North Adelaide:

B: Lara Harding, Jamie Parish
HB: Lauren Hoffmann, Ella Metcalfe, Laela Ebert
C: Lauren Gauci, Djimila Totham, Erin Sundstrom
HF: Amber Ward, Julia Clark, Aprille Crooks
F: Polly Turner, Iris Newman
R: Brooke Wilson, Ashleigh George, Zara Molloy
INT: Anja Bancevic, Imogen Cunningham, Sasha Hardin, Caitlin Hardin, Tiara Hatchard, Bailey Murray, Lucy Reddaway, Libby Taylor

CHANGES

South Adekaude has named an extended bench for the match, with the Panthers bringing in potential State Academy member debutant Hope Taylor as well as Molly Jenkins and Abby Woodward. The Roosters on the other hand will have to make at least one change with Sky Jensen‘s suspension opening the door for League debutant Ash George.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

There is a stack of talent for next year and beyond in this game, with Taya Maxwell, Layla Vizgaudis and Emma Charlton all having eye-catching Round 1 matches. North forward Polly Turner and Under 16s tenacious Rooster Iris Newman are other future prospects to remember, while National Academy member Lily Baxter is the top-age prospect in the game.

DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

Both these sides have some good young talent as well as a stack of experience through the reserves, particularly the regigning Development League champions, South Adelaide. Jaidee-Lee Shortridge is a long-term talent who was still named on the senior list, while Macy Philpott is a top-age Rooster who will look to crack in for a senior opportunity.,

PREDICTION

It is hard to look past South Adelaide in this one with the Panthers really hitting their straps when the pressure went up against Norwood last round. North Adelaide showed improvement on last season and will be one that can stick around for a while, but the Panthers look to have the experience edge here, as well as homeground advantage.