PANTHER pride is in full force throughout our SANFL Women’s Round 5 Team of the Week, with South Adelaide recording a league-high six players in the squad. South and North Adelaide (five) provide almost one half of the team, while other winners Woodville-West Torrens and Sturt, and loser West Adelaide have three.

>> MOTR: Sturt vs. Norwood | Round 5 RECAP

Leading from the front this week is actually Sturt onballer Isobel Kuiper who won the Ellen Maple Medal for her performance of 28 disposals, five marks (one contested), 15 tackles, 12 clearances, three inside 50s, four rebound 50s and a goal in the Double Blues’ victory over Norwood. Her deputy for Round 5 is North Adelaide’s Julia Clark who was sensational on her way to 32 disposals, eight marks, two tackles, six clearances, four inside 50s, three rebound 50s and two goals.

Clark had plenty of teammates in the 24-strong squad as well with Jamie Parish anchoring the team at full-back, with rebounding talent Ella Metcalfe a line up. Clark was edged out to half-forward given her ability to get to the outside and kick a couple of goals in North’s victory over Central District, with Aprille Crooks on the other flank. Midfielder Djimila Totham also earned her spot courtesy of a strong performance around the ground.

However while North produced five players, South topped that by one with half a dozen representatives. The Panthers had to fight but eventually put away Glenelg, with defenders Jaslynne Smith and Gypsy Schirmer working tirelessly amongst a back five on the day. In attack, the newly married Jordann Rugless (nee Hickey) slotted three goals, while Melissa Anderson kicked two and is beside her in the Team of the Week.

Almost reserving a spot each round, Soriah Moon is once again the starting ruck despite stiff competition from across the league, while Taya Maxwell found her place on the bench. Fellow bottom-ager Georgie Fielder was named on a wing in the Round 5 team, while another player who takes up real estate in our Team of the Week in Jess Bates had another typical 34-disposal performance.

Woodville-West Torrens is flying high on top of the table at the moment, though despite a strong win over West Adelaide, had an even team performance. The Eagles managed three representatives with red-hot midfielder Christina Leuzzi joined in the side by Marlie Fiegert who kicked a couple of goals up forward, and Klaudia O’Neill on the bench who also converted a couple of majors.

West Adelaide was gallant in defeat with three representatives of its own. Skipper Madi Russell takes up a key defensive post with Emily Mableson flanking her, while tackling machine Ruby Ballard was sensational in the loss, slotting onto the bench. Also on the interchange is Sturt’s Saskia Reynolds who kicked two majors from the midfield, while wing Claudia Edmonds also converting two goals and the pair joined Kuiper as Double Blues representatives in the squad.

The two remaining sides both had even performances and despite being on the losing end of the spectrum were a touch unlucky to only have one representative. Karissa Searle (Central District) adds some versatility to the bench so made the squad after a strong performance, while it was impossible to leave out Norwood star and near match-winner Kiana Lee from the side. There could easily have been a few more Redlegs, but were just pipped for their respective positions by other players.

The three emergencies chosen this week were North Adelaide tall forward Polly Turner, Central District midfielder Dakota Williams and West Adelaide ball-winner Zoe Venning.

2025 SANFLW TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 5

B: Esther Schirmer (South Adelaide) – Jamie Parish (North Adelaide) – Jaslynne Smith (South Adelaide)
HB: Ella Metcalf (North Adelaide) – Madi Russell (West Adelaide) – Emily Mableson (West Adelaide)
C: Claudia Edmonds (Sturt) – Cristina Leuzzi (WWT Eagles) – Georgie Fielder (Glenelg)
HF: Aprille Crooks (North Adelaide) – Kiana Lee (Norwood) – Julia Clark (North Adelaide) (vc)
F: Marlie Fiegert (WWT Eagles) – Jordann Rugless (South Adelaide) – Mel Anderson (South Adelaide)
R: Soriah Moon (South Adelaide) – Isobel Kuiper (Sturt) (c) – Jess Bates (Glenelg)
INT: Ruby Ballard (West Adelaide) – Klaudia O’Neill (WWT Eagles) – Taya Maxwell (South Adelaide) – Saskia Reynolds (Sturt) – Karissa Searle (Central District) – Djimila Totham (North Adelaide) 

EMG: Polly Turner (North Adelaide) – Dakota Williams (Central District) – Zoe Venning (West Adelaide)