A PAIR of massive games take place in the SANFL Women’s competition with Sturt and West Adelaide first-up on Sunday before a rematch of the 2023 SANFLW decider between South Adelaide and Central District. We preview both matches.

FORM

Sturt finally got on the board last round after a couple of losses in the opening two rounds, showing improvement by the week to defeat fellow winless side Glenelg. The Double Blues have a tough stretch of games coming up, as does West Adelaide who knocked off North Adelaide and Norwood in the first fortnight before going down to South Adelaide in Round 3.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Sturt: 6
West Adelaide: 6

Delicately poised at six wins apiece from their encounters, Sturt won at Unley in Round 12 last season, and has won the past three at the venue. West Adelaide actually won the first five matches against the Double Blues in the side’s history since 2018, before Sturt roared to life with six of the past seven. The last four matches have been under two goals the difference.

TEAMS

Sturt:

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

West Adelaide:

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

CHANGES

A couple of huge inclusions mark the clash for both sides, with Monique Bessen and Jasmin Fejo both in for Sturt, while West skipper Madison Russell and tall Chloe Tonkin return for the Bloods. The Double Blues have not committed to any changes as of yet with the duo and Skout Young named as oart of an extended team, while West Adelaide is without ruck Tess Huxtable (hamstring) and has dropped defender Gracie Sim.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

The return of Bessen and Tonkin will headline the must-watch draft prospects from the respective sides, while both Sophie Thredgold and Emily Mableson have been in ripping form rotating between midfield and defence. Summer Ross adds great pressure in attack, while up the other end, Lucy Waye‘s ability to transition from defence to offence is great.

PREDICTION

Another tough one to pick with Sturt getting better by the week and West not disgraced in Round 3 and in a strong position thus far. Given the history at Unley, Sturt gets the tip but expect it go down to the wire with either side more than capable of winning the clash.

FORM

After a surprise loss to North Adelaide in Round 2, South Adelaide bounced back to defeat the unbeaten West Adelaide by 14 points in Round 3. The Panthers enter Round 4 with the same win-loss record as Central 2-1 after the Dogs were smashed by the Eagles down in Ottoway following two good wins in the opening fortnight.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

South Adelaide: 9
Central District: 2

South Adelaide has definitely had the wood over Central District long-term, though the 2023 season is unlikely to ever be forgotten by Dogs fans where they beat the Panthers twice, including in the dying seconds on SANFLW Grand Final day. South Adelaide won both encounters last year comfortably however.

TEAMS

South Adelaide:

B: Tiffany King – Cassie Coombe
HB: Samantha Pratt – Jaslynne Smith – Esther Schirmer
C: Melissa Anderson – Caitlin Couch – Emma Charlton
HF: Lily Baxter – Tamika May – Shae Archbold
F: Caitlin Ross – Emily Brockhurst
R: Soriah Moon – Brylee Kerrin – Layla Vizgaudis
INT: Lauren Clifton – Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap – Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap – Charlotte Dolan – Zoe Flesfadar – Molly Jenkins – Taya Maxwell – Abby Woodward

Central District:

B: Georgia Madigan – Elizabeth Wilson
HB: Madison Lane – Miyu Endersby – Tess Gerhardy
C: Shelby Raven – Caitlen Teague – Laitiah Huynh
HF: Lauren Breguet – Dakota Williams – Tesharna Maher
F: Alysha Healy – Katelyn Rosenzweig
R: Erica Rowe – Sophie Eaton – Jovanka Zecevic
INT: Tashayla Corfield – Tessa Doumanis – Tiarna Grovermann – Demi Sonneman – Holly Tralaggan

CHANGES

South Adelaide has named an extended bench for the clash, with the Cockatoo-Motlap sisters in Litonya and Laquoiya returning after a Development League stint. Cassie Coombe and Caitlin Ross have also gone straight into the starting 16, while Jordann Hickey is unavailable for the clash and Marley Tape will don the tri-colours in the National Development Championships.

Central District will be without both Karissa Searle (personal) and Tara Lord (concussion) for the match, with Tessa Doumanis making her return to the League side along with Tashayla Corfield and Tiarna Grovermann.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

A couple of National Academy members will cross paths at different points in Sophie Eaton and Lily Baxter, as well bottom-age talls Miyu Endersby and Taya Maxwell. Emma Charlton has been in as good of form as any player in the competition, while Layla Vizgaudis is a third talented South bottom-ager who can play in a variety of positions.

PREDICTION

South Adelaide at home is a strong proposition, and while the loss to North a fortnight ago was a bit of a shock, the Panthers have recent history against the Dogs and will be up for the fight early. Both teams have enormous potential and both are without some key players, though leaning the way of the home side in this one.