IT WAS a strange weekend of SANFL Women’s action in Round 12 with some of the losing teams perhaps having prolific players, but the winning sides having a more balanced load. For the Rookie Me Central SANFLW Team of the Week that meant the likes of Norwood (four), West Adelaide and Sturt (three) were right up there with winners Central District (four) and South Adelaide and Eagles (three).

The Round 12 captain is none other than retiring SANFLW superstar Jessica Bates who fittingly drove her side to its second win of the season over Sturt with a phenomenal 33 disposals, 10 clearances, five tackles, five inside 50s, three rebound 50s and two goals including the sealer. The even spread across the Bays meant they actually only had Bates and Asha Dufour (22 disposals, three marks, seven tackles, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s), with about half a dozen players very close to squeezing in.

South Adelaide ruck Soriah Moon was the vice-captain for the round with 25 disposals, four marks – two contested – four tackles, 32 hitouts, six clearances, two inside 50s and three rebound 50s, joining Bates in the middle with Sturt’s Georgia Swan (24 disposals, three tackles, six clearances and six inside 50s) and Central District’s Lauren Breguet (22 disposals, three tackles, eight clearances and seven inside 50s) who were their respective sides’ best.

The Panthers managed a trio of players in the Round 12 Team of the Week with three-goal forward Doreena Hansen and midfielder Caitlin Couch both securing spots. Speaking of goals, Central District pair Tesharna Maher (four goals) and Akeira-Juliet Whichello (three) flank Hansen on the full-forward line. Meanwhile the other Double Blues in the team were prolific midfielder Isobel Kuiper (25 disposals, five marks, 14 tackles, three clearances and four rebound 50s) and in-form defender Hannah Prenzler (15 disposals, five tackles and six rebound 50s).

The other winning side of the weekend was top-of-the-table Woodville-West Torrens who are always the best example of a real even spread for a side. Sophie Zuill slotted onto half-forward after a goal from 16 touches, three marks, six tackles and four inside 50s, while key position utility Ruby Lynch (16 disposals, four marks, nine tackles, six hitouts and three inside 50s) will provide the backup to Moon off the bench, and Alice Tentye (24 disposals, nine tackles and five clearances) also influential.

Despite a loss, Norwood – who usually has a really even spread too – had quite a number of impressive standouts with four representatives making the Round 12 side. In defence were the experienced duo of Emily Bartsch (14 disposals, five marks (two contested), eight tackles and three inside 50s) and Emma Clark (16 disposals, four marks, three tackles and six rebound 50s), while Kiana Lee booted two goals from 14 disposals and eight marks – four contested – to be at centre half-forward, and Jade Halfpenny (21 disposals, eight marks – three contested – seven tackles, three clearances and four inside 50s) did a little of everything.

West Adelaide skipper Madi Russell holds down the team at full-back alongside North Adelaide tall Jamie Parish with the pair influential having 21 and 20 disposals respectively for their sides. Bloods midfielders Hannah Button and Zoe Venning both made the extended side, while explosive Rooster Aprille Crooks was named at half-forward after three goals.

The Round 12 emergencies selected were West Adelaide’s Emma Chapman, Norwood debutant Lani Cocks and South Adelaide’s Esther Schirmer.

2025 SANFLW TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 12

B: Emily Bartsch (Norwood) – Madi Russell (West Adelaide) – Hannah Prenzler (Sturt)
HB: Emma Clark (Norwood) – Jamie Parish (North Adelaide) – Alysha Healy (Central District)
C: Asha Dufour (Glenelg) – Lauren Breguet (Central District) – Jade Halfpenny (Norwood)
HF: Aprille Crooks (North Adelaide) – Kiana Lee (Norwood) – Sophie Zuill (WWT Eagles)
F: Tesharna Maher (Central District) – Doreena Hansen (South Adelaide) – Akeira-Juliet Whichello (Central District)
R: Soriah Moon (South Adelaide) (vc) – Jess Bates (Glenelg) (c) – Georgia Swan (Sturt) 
INT: Hannah Button (West Adelaide) – Caitlin Couch (South Adelaide) – Isobel Kuiper (Sturt) – Ruby Lynch (WWT Eagles) – Alice Tentye (WWT Eagles) – Zoe Venning (West Adelaide)

EMG: Emma Chapman (West Adelaide) – Lani Cocks (Norwood) – Esther Schirmer (South Adelaide)