A STANDALONE Sunday game closes out Round 8 of the SANFL Women’s and the stakes just got higher for Sturt with Central District losing today. It opens the door for a four-point gap inside the finals places should the Double Blues topple the Panthers, though South need to win to stop the impending challenge from North Adelaide and the Double Blues for its top two spot.

FORM

South Adelaide has won five on the trot in the SANFL Women’s and is looking for its second win over Sturt in three rounds when it hosts the Double Blues at Strathalbyn. Both sides are coming off hard-fought wins in Round 7, though in Jaslynne Smith‘s 100th game it was one-way traffic in the second half for the Panthers to record a memorable 41-point win at Unley.

TEAMS

South Adelaide:

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

Sturt:

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

CHANGES

Both these sides have made minimal changes from their Round 7 wins with just one confirmed out between the two teams. That is Sturt’s Grace Powell, with a quartet of Double Blues coming in as part of an extended bench. Ruck Jasmin Fejo returns from a suspension she received from the last time these two sides faced off, with youngsters Zina Hunt and Roxanna Tyler close to cracking in for a game.

The Panthers have also opted for an extended bench without any confirmed omissions, though expect that to change with forward Lucy Northcott named after missing last week. She kicked three goals in the victory over Sturt three weeks ago, and is joined in the side along with Molly Jenkins and Chloe Meyers.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Both sides have plenty of draft prospects in this clash, with top-age contingent including National Academy pair Monique Bessen and Lily Baxter. Sophie Thredgold has been a key cog in the Sturt midfield this season, as has bottom-age pair Emma Charlton and Layla Vizgaudis. Tall utility Taya Maxwell can play anywhere on the field, while Edwina Thornquest is a target up forward for the Double Blues and even if she does not kick a lot of goals, she can crash packs.

Lily Smart and Summer Ross were sublime off the wings last week and will look to provide some great run and carry again, while Lily Whiteman was a lively type up forward. Hope Taylor has some smarts about her game, and Marley Tape will get a role in defence.

PREDICTION

South Adelaide comfortably had the better of Sturt last time out, and while the ground will provide a relative unknown, the Panthers look the more consistent side of the two. Sturt has to start strong and make the most of its opportunities if it is to cause and upside.