A REMATCH of the 2023 SANFLW Grand Final – that saw just one point separate the sides when they last played in Round 4 – as well as two teams keen to chase that fourth spot as part of a mid-table log-jam do battle when SANFLW action returns for Round 7 tomorrow.

FORM

West Adelaide is hungry for a win after dropping the past four games since being 2-0 to open the year. The Bloods are in with a good shot against a Sturt side that had gained some form in the way of three straight victories, but a humbling defeat to South Adelaide last round made it an even win-loss record and just two points clear of their opponents.

TEAMS

West Adelaide:

B: Madi Russell, Niamh Davis
HB: Philippa Worthley, Emma Chapman, Tiana Fernandez
C: Olivia Smith, Hannah Button, Emma Kilpatrick
HF: Alana Lishmund, Georgie Pater, Lucy Waye
F: Nicole Hooper, Sarah Campbell
R: Chloe Tonkin, Ruby Ballard, Zoe Venning
INT: Tess Huxtable, Emily Mableson, Ella Maxwell, Kayla Mudge, Molly Petersen

Sturt:

B: Gypsy Schirmer, Lily Whitcombe
HB: Imogen Szegedi, Isabella Drew, Tahlia Walker
C: Lily Smart, Saskia Reynolds, Claudia Edmonds
HF: Zara Walsh, Georgia King, Molly Fletcher
F: Summer Ross, Ruby Cunningham
R: Millie McCarthy, Isobel Kuiper, Sophie Thredgold
INT: Monique Bessen, Amy Brooks-Birve, Zina Hunt, Grace Powell, Hannah Prenzler, Georgia Swan, Edwina Thornquest, Lily Whiteman

CHANGES

West Adelaide will be without Rachelle Martin who heads back to the Crows for their preseason, while Grace McNicol is the other omission. Coming into the team is debutant Kayla Mudge alongside Molly Petersen. Sturt on the other hand has kept its options open, losing star ruck Jasmin Fejo to suspension, so have brought in Amy Brooks-Birve alongside a trio of youngsters in Zina Hunt, Lily Smart and Lily Whiteman.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Sturt’s top-age midfield pairing of Monique Bessen and Sophie Thredgold will look to shark the taller and more experienced West Adelaide rucks, with Smart and Summer Ross providing hard running on the outside. Speaking of hard running, Lucy Waye has enjoyed another strong season thus far, and will be crucial in the front half of the ground. Chloe Tonkin should take control through the ruck, while Emily Mableson has that smooth-moving ability to extract the ball under pressure and hit targets down the field.

PREDICTION

Losing Fejo is massive for the Double Blues because Tonkin and Tess Huxtable will tag team against the likes of Millie McCarthy and Brooks-Birve who are strong marking forwards, but more second rucks. If the Bloods can get first hands to their experienced mids, they will get more than a few opportunities inside 50 so they get the prediction, though if Sturt can get on top of the midfield, that will be crucial to a road win.

FORM

Last time these two sides met was back in Round 4 and it was arguably the match of the season when an inaccurate South Adelaide came from behind to run over the top of Central District in a one-point thriller, 6.12 (48) to 7.5 (47) after being down by two goals with five minutes left. South has remained undefeated since then to be 5-1, while Central District had a forgettable loss against North Adelaide before regaining some experience and making the most of its chances against West Adelaide.

TEAMS

Central District:

B: Elizabeth Wilson, Georgia Madigan
HB: Mikaylah Antony, Holly Tralaggan, Madison Lane
C: Karissa Searle, Jovanka Zecevic, Sophie Eaton
HF: Charlotte Maurits, Katelyn Rosenzweig, Tesharna Maher
F: Lauren Breguet, Alysha Healy
R: Miyu Endersby, Laitiah Huynh, Dakota Williams
INT: Tashayla Corfield, Tara Lord, Shannon Murphy, Shelby Raven, Caitlen Teague

South Adelaide:

B: Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap, Esther Schirmer
HB: Marley Tape, Jaslynne Smith, Samantha Pratt
C: Lauren Clifton, Melissa Anderson, Emma Charlton
HF: Abby Woodward, Lily Baxter, Shae Archbold
F: Hope Taylor, Doreena Hansen
R: Soriah Moon, Caitlin Couch, Layla Vizgaudis
INT: Emily Brockhurst, Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap, Casie Coombe, Charlotte Dolan, Taya Maxwell, Tamika May, Tabitha Prosser, Caitlin Ross

CHANGES

Central District has not needed to make any forced changes, with a switch of defenders as Shannon Murphy comes in for the omitted Tess Gerhardy. South Adelaide on the other hand has been forced to make three changes with three-goal forward Lucy Northcott and star key defender Tiffany King both missing due to leg and ankle injuries respectively, while top-age forward Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn is unavailable. The Panthers have recalled goalkicker Emily Brockhurst as well as they likes of Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap, Charlotte Dolan and Samantha Pratt as part of an extended bench.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

The home side likes to run plenty of plays through the classy Sophie Eaton when she is firing, while Charlotte Maurits is adapting to life at League level up forward, and the likes of Miyu Endersby and Tara Lord have proven their versatility as athletic utilities. South has no shortage of draftable talent as well, with top-age National Academy member Lily Baxter headlining that for 2025, while bottom-age trio Emma Charlton, Layla Vizgaudis and Taya Maxwell are key players, and Hope Taylor and Marley Tape possess eye-catching traits.

PREDICTION

Central District should take advantage of the homeground advantage and without King makes life difficult for the Panthers trying to contain Katelyn Rosenzweig. However in saying that, South Adelaide tends to have the slight edge on the Bulldogs when they play bar that game Panthers will try and forget, so it should be a rip-snorting contest. Expect it to be similarly close to the Round 4 encounter between the teams.