ROUND 8 of the SANFLW returns from a league-wide bye with a bumper four-match Saturday at Revo Fitness Oval, the entire round condensed to the one venue while the AFLW Under 18 Championships get underway around the country.

Most sides remain without their best young talents, with a host of South Australia’s premier Academy prospects still away at the national carnival. Woodville-West Torrens (6-1) sit clear on top of the table, South Adelaide (5-2) chase hard in second, and the bottom half of the ladder is bunched tightly enough that Round 8 carries real finals implications for both Sturt and North Adelaide.

ROUND 8 FIXTURE:

Woodville-West Torrens vs. West Adelaide | Revo Fitness Oval, Saturday June 20, 9:00am
Glenelg vs. Sturt | Revo Fitness Oval, Saturday June 20, 11:10am
Norwood vs. South Adelaide | Revo Fitness Oval, Saturday June 20, 1:20pm
North Adelaide vs. Central District | Revo Fitness Oval, Saturday June 20, 3:30pm

SEASON SO FAR

Woodville-West Torrens (6-1) remain the benchmark of the competition, with their only blemish a draw earlier in the season. The Eagles’ most recent outing — a 4.7 (31) to 3.0 (18) win over Central District a fortnight ago — was business as usual, with the midfield trio of Alice Tentye, Lucy Moore and Anika Tran starring through the middle and going forward.

West Adelaide (2-4-1) snapped a difficult run with an upset 4.4 (28) to 3.4 (22) win over North Adelaide last time out, Zoe Venning again the driving force through the middle. It was the kind of result that suggested there is more in this group than the ladder reflects, and the Bloods will look to build on it against the competition’s premier side.

CHANGES

Woodville-West Torrens lose both Moore and Julia Faulkner to South Australia’s AFLW Under 18 commitments, with Maia Freemantle also out. Lucy Farnsworth, Chanel Rugari and Felicity Ward return from the squad that had been managed back in previous weeks, with Isabella Benedictson and Cleo Simpson also named. The most notable return, though, is Poppy Waterford – back in the side for the first time since rupturing her ACL last season, a significant milestone after a long road to recovery. Losing Moore is significant given her form, but the Eagles’ depth has barely been tested by absences all season.

West Adelaide make just two changes, welcoming back Ava Barton and Jemma Ellis. Naturally both Emily Mableson and Chelsea Newitt are out at the the Under 18 Championships, a pair of huge losses even though the Bloods won without Mableson last time out, while Stevie-Lee Thompson is the other out.

PREDICTION

West Adelaide’s win last week was built on a level of competitiveness that will be much harder to replicate against the competition’s runaway leaders, who have barely been challenged all year regardless of what their teamsheet looks like on a given week. Woodville-West Torrens to extend their unbeaten run at the top of the table.

SEASON SO FAR

Glenelg (1-5-1) endured a chastening fortnight ago, going down 9.7 (61) to 1.2 (8) to South Adelaide at Stratarama. The Bays have struggled to build any sustained momentum across the season, and a club desperate for its second win will need a vastly improved performance against quality opposition.

Sturt (3-2-2) picked up a good win before the bye, running over the top of Norwood 6.4 (40) to 3.5 (23) at Thomas Farms. Isobel Kuiper was again prominent, and Madeline Nuss‘s scoring touch up forward has been one of the genuine highlights of the Double Blues’ season.

CHANGES

Glenelg’s outs tell the story of a club battling significant attrition: Deni Varnhagen (injured), Ellie Kellock (injured), Tori Evans (State Under 18) and Ella Little (injured) are all unavailable. Charlotte O’Sullivan, Ruby Rose, Taylor Sowden, Maya Vonarx and Madelyn Zacher are the five inclusions tasked with steadying the ship.

Sturt’s changes are headlined by the loss of both Nuss and Lily Whiteman to South Australia’s Under 18 squad – a significant blow given Nuss’s scoring form and Whiteman’s standing as one of the competition’s most promising bottom-agers. Amy Brooks-Birve, Aaliyah Fox, Saskia Kellaway, Isabel Smart and Edwina Thornquest come into the side.

PREDICTION

Sturt’s quality across the ground, even without two key contributors, should be enough to overcome a Glenelg side that has found wins hard to come by all season. The Double Blues to notch up another victory.

SEASON SO FAR

Norwood (4-3) was beaten by Sturt last time out, with the Redlegs unable to find an answer for Kuiper and the Double Blues’ midfield depth. It was a reminder that this group, while finals-bound on current standing, still has work to do against the competition’s better sides.

South Adelaide (5-2) was ruthless in its 9.7 (61) to 1.2 (8) demolition of Glenelg, a performance that re-asserted their status as genuine premiership contenders regardless of the absences that have shaped much of their season.

CHANGES

Norwood make wholesale changes, bringing in a host of players including some potential debutants. The names are Lottie Almond, Nicola Burns, Kaianne Colbung-Ware, Sharmaine Crosby, Taylor Hand, Sophie Palmer and Lillian Thomas. The outs are significant – Elle Lineage (ACL) looks set for an extended absence, Elke Cameron departs for the Under 18 Championships, while Steph Simmonds (away) and Sarah Branford (hamstring) round out the changes. Lani Cocks also remains away, representing South Australia at the national carnival.

South Adelaide’s good news is the return of Madison Brown from concussion, joined by Kate Chapman, Lily Dunstall-Bruce, Doreena Hansen, Alexis Harvey, Chloe Meyers, Zali Trenorden and Taryn Vizgaudis – the younger sister of Layla Vizgaudis, set to play just her second SANFLW game. Hope Taylor joins Layla Vizgaudis and Emma Charlton as part of South Australia’s Under 18 squad, alongside Marley Tape (also State duties), Zoe Flesfader and Caitlin Couch (both unavailable) and Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap (omitted).

PREDICTION

South Adelaide’s depth has been the story of their season, repeatedly absorbing the loss of key personnel without it denting results. Norwood at home, coming off a loss, will be competitive, but the Panthers’ superior list strength should see them through.

SEASON SO FAR

North Adelaide (3-4) was upset by West Adelaide last time out, a result that ended their push back up the ladder and leaves the Roosters needing to respond at home this week.

Central District (1-5-1) was competitive without troubling Woodville-West Torrens, going down 4.7 (31) to 3.0 (18) a fortnight ago. The Dogs remain searching for the consistency to turn promising individual performances into results.

CHANGES

North Adelaide have been impacted by Under 18 Championships call-ups, with both Caitlin Hardin and Polly Turner – the Roosters’ two standout Academy prospects this season – away with South Australia. These outs are alongside Zara Molloy (unavailable), Tiara Hatchard and Jasmine Dallimore (both illness) and Ash George (knee). Nine inclusions come into the side including the likes of Julia Clark, Anja Bancevic, Sasha Hardin and Shannon Thompson as the Roosters are forced to dig deep into their list.

Central District welcomes back Charlotte White to bolster the ruck, alongside Alysha Healy, Tesharna Maher and Jyearah Newchurch to provide some important punch to the forward half. Olivia Leslie and Demi Holloway are both away with the state squad with Miyu Endersby, while Jovanka Zecevic is also out.

PREDICTION

Both sides have been significantly reshaped by absences, making this one of the harder games of the round to read. North Adelaide’s home record and greater overall list depth, has them ahead of a competitive Central District outfit, but the Dogs have some seriously dangerous forwardline inclusions which could provide an upset.