FOUR teams became three over the weekend with Woodville-West Torrens advancing to the 2025 SANFLW Women’s Grand Final, while North Adelaide was eliminated by Sturt who will go on to face South Adelaide in a preliminary final next weekend. As always, we took note of those State Academy members in action for their respective SANFLW sides.

WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS:

#4 Julia Faulkner (Midfielder)

Stats: 4 disposals, 10 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 behind

Arguably had one of the best four-disposal games going around because of her constant pressure and tackling at the coalface. Time and time again she would do the team thing be it through a deft tap, block or even just pressure to force a turnover, which enabled others to be better around her. A goal-saving tackle on Tabitha Prosser late in the first half summed up her game, and she was a constant threat on the defensive end.

#15 Lucy Moore (Midfielder)

Stats: 15 disposals, 8 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

After going down with that looked like a sore ankle early in the fourth term, she returned back to play out the game. Like Faulkner, Moore was a force to be reckoned with defensively and when she had time and space, used the ball well. She can occasionally rush when under pressure, but won a number of free kicks for getting first to the football, while also covering the ground well to make her presence felt.

#22 Imogen Trengove (Defender/Midfielder)

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The incredibly hard-running Trengove was everywhere as you would expect with the South Australian skipper boasting a rare endurance-speed combination. Few players can win a clearance then explode past everyone to get to the next contest so quickly and still have an impact without being gassed. Having some sort of top-age season and her reaction ability and general footy craft stands out in whatever role she plays.

#36 Ruby Lynch(Forward/Ruck)

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 tackle, 2 hitouts, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 behind

Had her moments in the side and looked composed with ball in hand when going forward, unfortunately just missed an early shot on goal. Worked up the ground to spend time through the ruck, and was given a massive confidence boost to ruck in the centre square – while Leah Cutting rested on the bench – in the dying moments of the match after the Eagles had gone one point up. Athletic with high upside.

SOUTH ADELAIDE:

#8 Hope Taylor (Forward)

Stats: 6 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 4 inside 50s

Starved of a lot of opportunities when deep, but pushed up the ground to win it and then put the ball inside 50 for others to have a go. She doesn’t panic with ball in hand and hit up Charlton with a perfect kick midway through the third term with a goal assist.

#20 Layla Vizgaudis (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Started forward and rotated through the middle for Charlton, buzzing around and applying her superb defensive pressure. While slight, Vizgaudis is one of the toughest going around, not afraid to lay a big tackle and win the ball back for her side. She worked up the ground well to get back and help out behind the ball, and while not her biggest game, still popped up to have some key moments.

#25 Emma Charlton (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats : 25 disposals, 2 marks (1 contested), 10 tackles, 6 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 2 goals

Best on ground even in a losing side, Charlton’s performancec mirrored that of her very best this season. The Eagles kept rotating fellow State Academy members onto her at the stoppages, but Charlton just found a way through her see-ball, get-ball attitude. Often at the bottom of packs or laying bone-crunching tackles, Charlton not only impacted through midfield, but went forward and kicked back-to-back goals to keep her side in it. Not to mention set up Lucy Northcott‘s as well.

#56 Lily Baxter (Wing)

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 marks, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Really stretched the ground well and ran hard up and down the wing, influencing play on the spread. She took a number of important marks and always looked to impact with ball in hand, with a lovely kick to Emily Brockhurst for the go-ahead goal in the fourth term. Baxter showed clean hands in the air and her kicking and decision making was on point as expected.

#60 Marley Tape (Defender)

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 rebound 50s

Battled well in defence and found her fair share of the ball both through following her opponent and being proactive at times. The Under 16s defender was composed with ball in hand and took a few strong marks, while applying pressure to her direct opponent in the hottest of situations. Found herself up on a wing at times, and played her role once more.

NORTH ADELAIDE:

#5 Polly Turner (Tall Forward)

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

It was a mixed bag of a game for Turner who was one of the better players for North Adelaide in a disappointing loss, but also had a few ‘almost moments’ that could have made the performance even bigger. A few times the ball fell a touch short of her and then a couple of times she dropped what she could have taken, with her clean set shot unfortunately just touched on the line in the second term. Still, Turner presented strongly, worked up the ground to as far as half-back and even stood at a couple of stoppages too.

#35 Caitlin Hardin (Midfielder)

Stats: 10 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Got her hands dirty throughout four quarters and had a crack with Sturt on top around the ground. She constantly asked questions of the opposition, and though she often found herself kicking to no one down the field, worked up with great second and third efforts to try and win the ball back for her side. Was admirable around the coalface and in transition.

#54 Maya Fuller (Forward)

Stats: 4 disposals, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50

Fuller seemed to arrive at the ball before being immediately tackled on quite a few occasions, but the Under 16s talent will take plenty from the experience. She was effective once she had it, and also tackled when she didn’t, but ultimately could not have much of an impact purely because of restricted opportunities and the pressure from the Sturt defence.

#60 Isabella Beaumont (Defender)

Stats: 7 disposals, 5 marks (2 contested), 5 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

The Under 16s All-Australian held her own in the back half and can walk away pleased with her efforts despite the defeat. She competed in the air, took a couple of ripping contested marks, and provided a marking target both from the kick out and on the switch. Didn’t just stay at home too, worked right up to the wing when the press was on to try and get the ball further afield.

STURT:

#7 Lily Whiteman (Forward)

Stats: 9 disposals, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

What a game from Whiteman whose impact was felt far more than her statline might suggest. She kicked a goal that was probably one of the lowest kicks from close range you’ll see, but it just escaped the hands on the line. Then, in the third term she provided a direct goal assist to Skout Young in the seventh minute, before two minutes later, laying a tackle which forced a turnover and a goal to Sienna Fox to essentially seal the match. Her speed and pressure – even if not rewarded with a tackle – were other big ticks in her game.

#16 Monique Bessen (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 marks, 10 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Seemed to get better as the game went on rotating between attack and midfield, predominantly in the former. She found the ball well and worked into space to mark then distribute in transition. Bessen’s defensive game was what really stood out, as her decision making and skill are known qualities, but her ability to stick tackles and pressure opponents has improved significantly and it was in full effect on the weekend.

#17 Sophie Thredgold (Defender/Midfielder)

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Started on-ball but predominantly played behind it where she was able to play high and mop up to bring the ball forward. When in the middle, she got her hands to it and fed it out to teammates, continually putting pressure on the opposition. Late in the game she went within range thanks to a 25m penalty, but her set shot from 30m just drifted in the breeze and cannoned into the post.

#26 Lily Smart (Wing)

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s

Smart boasts some crazy acceleration and more than a few times put it to work with some blinding runs down the wing or through the middle. She follows up well too, and does all teh right team things, such as a shepherd on the goalline or block for a teammate. Is a real straight line runner, so given any space, she will leave opponents iin her dust.