A MASSIVE opening round of action takes place in the SANFL Women’s tomorrow as the eight sides go back to level pegging to kick off the 2026 season. A pair of double-headers at the grounds of last year’s grand finalists will give fans the opportunity to catch multiple sides on the day and make for a Super Saturday of action.

LAST SEASON

Central District finished fifth, narrowly missing out on finals, while North Adelaide reached the post-season but was bundled out in the final post-season match.

NEW FACES

Watch for UTS Bats Best and Fairest winner and over-ager Aoife Berry who is a genuine draft chance to be a surprise packet this season, while Ella Randall also comes out of the Giants Academy as a winger. Not a new face, but premiership skipper Shelby Smith makes her return.

North Adelaide welcome former Norwood skipper Sophie Armitstead to Prospect Park this season, while ex-Bay Lakeisha Sheffield, and Eagle Audrey Holt are both in the Round 1 team.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Top-agers Miyu Endersby and Polly Turner are those destined for higher levels, while it is great to see the promising Jayde Visser back from injury for the Roosters. Mikaylah Antony is a huge Preseason Draft chance coming off a massive game for the SANFLW State Team, while Charlotte Maurits is one to put in the book for next year.

PREDICTION

The loss of Katelyn Rosenzweig on the eve of the season is so crucial for the Bulldogs so they will go in a little smaller up front. We need to see how it will work and if it is effective, but the Roosters look like a side ready to make the next step and win a final this year. North Adelaide in a close one.

LAST SEASON

Both these sides missed finals last season, finishing in the bottom three with West Adelaide landing in sixth and the Bays taking home their first ever wooden spoon.

NEW FACES

Glenelg has recruited heavily over the off-season and looks an incredibly strong side with Isla Wiencke and Kiana Lee providing power between the middle and in attack. Ella Little holds down the defensive end, with Deni Varnhagen and Kiara Henry on respective wings. West Adelaide has pumped up its forwardline though just Jemima Woods is in for Round 1 out of the three big recruits inside 50. Iilish Ross has been around a few seasons now but just needs a clean slate from injury.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

The smooth-moving Emily Mableson and all-round athletic Georgie Fielder will likely cross paths through the mdidle and headline their respective team’s top prospects in 2026. Chelsea Newitt is the other Bloods’ top-age talent, while Sarah Deed is one for next year. Tori Evans has explosive speed off half-back and is a name to keep safe for 2027, while former National Academy members Eloise Mackereth and Wiencke are Preseason Draft hopefuls.

PREDICTION

Glenelg’s inclusions have the Bays set for a good season, and it would not shock to see them rise from wooden spooners to finalists. West Adelaide still has a couple of players to come back and will build into the season, so going with the yellow and black to get the job done here.

LAST SEASON

Woodville-West Torrens recorded its best ever season by winning the minor premiership and then reaching the grand final, while Sturt showed it was ‘best of the rest’ outside the clear top two, making a preliminary final.

NEW FACES

Somehow Woodville-West Torrens has got stronger, with Marie Martino arriving from Glenelg, Tahlita Buethke and Jiarna Zerella from Norwood and promising tall defender Jedah Huf out of the local leagues. Ruck Leah Cutting backflipped on her retirement plans and the Eagles have a lot of depth across the board. Sturt largely head in as they were last season, with former Double Blues ruck Alex Pearce the only real difference to the side that reached the final three in 2025.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

The Eagles have named all three of their top-age stars in Lucy Moore, Julia Faulkner and Ruby Lynch, but will be without talented bottom-ager Maia Freemantle. Alice Tentye had a huge 2025 coming from the Gambier league last season and should be in Preseason Draft contention, while Zahlia Niemann is another young tall who continues to get better. For Sturt, Sophie Thredgold and Lily Smart are Preseason Draft chances, while Skout Young, Madeline Nuss and Lily Whiteman make up the half-forward line and should be in the mix the next couple of seasons.

PREDICTION

All season until they give us a reason not to, Woodville-West Torrens will be the tip. Just so strong across the ground on paper, and while Sturt will always give a competitive effort, the Eagles have that flag tilt look about them.

LAST SEASON

South Adelaide won its second consecutive flag, coming the long way in the finals series to defeat the Eagles on the biggest stage. Norwood on the other hand slumped to seventh on the ladder and now have Central DIstrict premiership coach Ben Hunt – the only coach to beat South three-time premiership mentor Rick Watts in a SANFLW Grand Final – at the helm.

NEW FACES

South Adelaide have brought in former Blood Jessica Chyer for Round 1, while familiar face Nicole Campbell has rejoined the Panthers. Holly Ifould also returns to the club after a stint at the Dockers, while promising small Madison Brown has been rewarded with a debut following her form in the AAMI Talent League. Norwood welcome ex-Dog Amy Gaedtke who joins coach Hunt at The Parade, while Ashley Baker is a key in, crossing from the Eagles.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

While South Adelaide is without its two biggest draft hopes this year for the opening part of the season, they still have plenty of ones to watch. Layla Vizgaudis is underrated in draft circles and is ready for a massive top-age campaign, while Hope Taylor and bottom-ager Marley Tape are back in the side as they were for the most part last season. For the Redlegs, Charlee Brooksby is all class, while ruck Kate Alexander and small forward Elke Cameron are a couple of other top-age prospects.

PREDICTION

Much like the Eagles, you tip South Adelaide until the Panthers give you a reason not to. Norwood is likely to go through an adjustment period under the new coach and fresh faces this season, while the Panthers are full steam ahead to a third straight flag.