FIRST Nations Round kicks off in the SANFL Women’s competition as Round 10 takes place tomorrow across South Australia. With several teams fighting for fourth spot, there is plenty on the line across the day and no shortage of young talent throughout the four matches.

FORM

After tough starts to the season, both the Bloods and Redlegs got their third wins on the board and remained in touch with fourth spot, defeating other bottom four sides Glenelg and Central District respectively. The winner of this match will potential draw level in fourth which is a huge achievement heading into the final four rounds.

TEAMS

West Adelaide:

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

Norwood:

B: Ashlee Gould, Georgie Jaques
HB: Georgina Birchall, Sophie Arkun, Lottie Almond
C: Coby Morgan, Sarah Branford, Kiana Lee
HF: Amelia Rusden, Elke Cameron, Adrienne Davies
F: Mykaela Walker, Grace Mulvahil
R: Kate Alexander, Candice Belbin, Jade Halfpenny
INT: Charlee Brooksby, Nicola Burns, Charli Hazelhurst, Lana Schwerdt, Sharmaine Crosby

CHANGES

Both these sides are coming off hard-fought wins and made no unforced changes with West Adelaide going in unchanged completely. Norwood on the other hand lost a couple of key players in Shai Hiscock (knee) and Emma Clark (concussion) replaced by Nicola Burns and Grace Mulvahil.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

West Adelaide’s Lucy Waye has a case for being the most consistent State Academy member this season, working hard off half-forward and now has Under 16s talent Sarah Deed as another exciting prospect alongside her in the front half. Smooth-moving Emily Mableson and ruck Chloe Tonkin are the other State Academy members from the Bloods, with the latter going head-to-head with Kate Alexander. Charlee Brooksby will likely have the job on either Waye or Deed and look to create some run from the back half, while Lottie Almond might take the other player. Watch for Charli Hazelhurst to fill a number of roles too.

PREDICTION

A neck-and-neck contest that genuinely could go either way. The homeground advantage combined with the couple of outs for the Redlegs means the tip leans towards the Bloods, but the Redlegs looked more potent on offence last round. West Adelaide has been fairly consistent all year with few blowouts but also few huge wins, so expect another tight scrap.

FORM

Two in-form sides go head-to-head with Woodville-West Torrens coming off its only loss of the season last week against South Adelaide. The Eagles beat North Adelaide the last time these sides played, but the Roosters have been ultra impressive since, reeling off five wins from the last six games to be comfortably third and just about confirmed for finals.

TEAMS

North Adelaide:

B: Lara Harding, Jamie Parish
HB: Lauren Gauci, Ella Metcalfe, Aprille Crooks
C: Sasha Hardin, Djimila Totham, Erin Sundstrom
HF: Polly Turner, Zara Molloy, Sky Jensen
F: Amber Ward, Ashleigh George
R: Jasmine Dallimore, Julia Clark, Caitlin Hardin
INT: Anja Bancevic, Isabella Beaumont, Maya Fuller, Ruby Hancock, Bailey Murray, Laura Niejalke, Libby Taylor

Woodville-West Torrens:

B: Maia Freemantle, Marlie Fiegert
HB: Audrey Holt, Zahlia Niemann, Annie Falkenberg
C: Sophie Zuill, Lucy Moore, Imogen Trengove
HF: Popi Gikas, Klaudia O’Neill, Amie Blanden
F: Olivia Evans, Ashley Baker
R: Leah Cutting, Julia Faulkner, Christina Leuzzi
INT: Isabella Benedictson, Mckenzie Dowrick, Bianca Portaro, Cleo Simpson, Alice Tentye, Brianna Walling, Cheryllee Waters, Rosette Zerella

CHANGES

North Adelaide has lost a key player in prime ball mover Laela Ebert to Melbourne AFLW, with the Roosters having to shuffle the magnets around for the rest of the season. She is out of the side along with fellow defender Lauren Hoffman (ribs), replaced by an extended bench. The likes of experienced Erin Sundstrom and debutant Maya Fuller are among the inclusions. For the Eagles, there are no confirmed outs, with three added to an extended bench in Isabella Benedictson, Cleo Simpson and Alice Tentye.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

North Adelaide will need others to step up in the absence of Ebert, and the speedy Aprille Crooks has been named at half-back, a role she has played before. She along with Caitlin Hardin are two who can use the ball well, while Polly Turner can break a game open when at her best. It will be a big job for the Roosters, with the likes of Lucy Moore, Julia Faulkner and Maia Freemantle all under-agers over the next two seasons who can rotate through the middle. Versatile utility Imogen Trengove is one who had a quiet game last week so expect a response in this one.

PREDICTION

The game of the round without a doubt and the Eagles will be hungry to bounce back. Given it took a phenomenal quarter from South to knock off the ladder leaders – and they still very nearly caught them – shows the Roosters will need to be at their absolute best to win the game. They have been playing exceptionally well, so it will still be a challenge for the Eagles.

FORM

South Adelaide notched up a seventh straight win last weekend, denying the Eagles a ninth victory on the trot and now come up against a Glenelg side that again suffered defeat, this time to West Adelaide. Having won the week before against Central District, the Bays will be searching for a monumental upset here.

TEAMS

South Adelaide:

B: Tiffany King, Esther Schirmer
HB: Marley Tape, Jaslynne Smith, Molly Jenkins
C: Lauren Clifton, Melissa Anderson, Emma Charlton
HF: Lucy Northcott, Lily Baxter, Shae Archbold
F: Doreena Hansen, Tabitha Prosser
R: Soriah Moon, Caitlin Couch, Layla Vizgaudis
INT: Emily Brockhurst, Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap, Zoe Flesfadar, Taya Maxwell, Chloe Meyers, Seraphina Moon, Samantha Pratt, Hope Taylor

Glenelg:

B: Jayde Hickey, Mackenzie O’Dea
HB: Ella Quinn, Ash Dyer-Pietsch, Marie Martino
C: Madisyn Freeman, Asha Dufour, Samantha Franson
HF: Eloise Mackereth, Cassie McWilliam, Matilda Wilmore
F: Kaitey Whittaker, Charlotte O’Sullivan
R: Chloe Harding, Jessica Bates, Georgie Fielder
INT: Millie Clarke, Elizabeth Johnson, Kayla Robran, Kiahni Russell, Lakeisha Sheffield, Ellen Tyminski, Lucy Weatherald, Madelyn Zacher

CHANGES

Both teams have named extended benches for the clash with Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn unavailable due to representing the Northern Territory in the Coates Talent League Girls competition, while Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap has been managed. They regain key defender Tiffany King as well as bring back young defender Marley Tape, while Tabitha Prosser has been named in the forward pocket. The Bays are the walking wounded with Lauren Edwards, Tessa Davis and Astrid Gooley all out due to medical reasons, while the likes of Madisyn Freeman, Chloe Harding and Jayde Hickey have been named on the wing, ruck and back pocket respectively.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

South Adelaide’s trio of bottom-agers form has barely wavered as Layla Vizgaudis, Emma Charlton and Taya Maxwell play key roles through the middle. Hope Taylor is another one for next year from the Panthers, with opposing Bays talent Georgie Fielder as versatile to play a variety of positions. Eloise Mackereth is always a threat even when out of form, while Charlotte O’Sullivan makes the most of limited opportunities. National Academy member alongside Mackereth, Lily Baxter knows her way around the big sticks can can push up to play on a wing if required.

PREDICTION

South Adelaide is firing on all cylinders and should put away the Bays who have been showing signs the last few weeks. The Panthers look like a premiership contender, are coming off a well-fought win over the Eagles and are marching towards another double chance in 2025.

FORM

Both these sides have slipped in the past fortnight, suffering back-to-back losses which have put a little bit of pressure on their respective finals hopes. Sturt still holds fourth spot, but could have put away the challengers, albeit playing two of the top three sides. Central District played the bottom two sides and came away without any points, missing an opportunity to leapfrog the Double Blues.

TEAMS

Sturt:

B: Gypsy Schirmer, Lily Whitcombe
HB: Imogen Szegedi, Isabella Drew, Sophie Thredgold
C: Lily Smart, Georgia Swan, Summer Ross
HF: Sienna Fox, Edwina Thornquest, Molly Fletcher
F: Georgia King, Lily Whiteman
R: Jasmin Fejo, Isobel Kuiper, Monique Bessen
INT: Amy Brooks-Birve, Ruby Cunningham, Gemma Grivell, Grace Powell, Hannah Prenzler, Tahlia Walker, Zara Walsh, Skout Young

Central District:

B: Tashayla Corfield, Georgia Madigan
HB: Mikaylah Antony, Holly Tralaggan, Madison Lane
C: Karissa Searle, Dakota Williams, Laitiah Huynh
HF: Demi Holloway, Alysha Healy, Tara Lord
F: Lauren Breguet, Katelyn Rosenzweig
R: Miyu Endersby, Tesharna Maher, Sophie Eaton
INT: Tess Gerhardy, Charlotte Maurits, Shelby Raven, Taliyah Uncle, Kasey Wendland, Elizabeth Williams, Jovanka Zecevic

CHANGES

Central District has added a host of potential inclusions with defender Shannon Murphy the only confirmed out at the moment. Three players have been added to an extended bench who are Tess Gerhardy, Shelby Raven and Taliyah Uncle. Sturt on the other hand will be without tall Millie McCarthy and improved midfielder Saskia Reynolds for the clash due to respective knee and ankle injuries. The Double Blues have confirmed two debutants though in Sienna Fox and Gemma Grivell who have been named as part of an extended bench with Ruby Cunningham, Grace Powell and Skout Young.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

The midfield battle between two National Academy members could be the one to watch as Sophie Eaton and Monique Bessen go head-to-head at Unley Oval. Sophie Thredgold rolled back to defence last week and played well, while the wing combination of Lily Smart and Summer Ross has been beneficial for the Double Blues. Hard-running defender Mikaylah Antony will add speed to the ball for the Bulldogs, while Tara Lord and Miyu Endersby combine well around the stoppages. Charlotte Maurits (Central District) and Lily Whiteman (Sturt) are a couple of Under 16s prospects to remember for the future.

PREDICTION

While both have suffered losses in the past fortnight, Sturt has had some stiff competition with three losses in four games coming against finals-bound opponents. Playing three bottom four sides in the next three weeks the Double Blues simply have to win, while for the Dogs, have a challenging fortnight ahead so the same is definitely the case for the 2023 premiers.