THE final home-and-away round of the 2026 SANFLW season is here, and the top four is set – but the order between second and fourth remains very much alive. Woodville-West Torrens claimed the minor premiership for the second year in a row last round, while Sturt’s 22-point win over Central District has the Double Blues pushing hard for the double chance.

Norwood’s draw with West Adelaide leaves the Redlegs in second place but vulnerable, and North Adelaide’s stunning 40-point win over South Adelaide – ending the reigning premiers’ season – has the Roosters locked in for back-to-back finals appearances. The bottom four sides play off in matches that carry pride, while the top four clash in games that will determine who gets the coveted double chance heading into finals.

ROUND 14 FIXTURE:

Norwood vs. Woodville-West Torrens | Coopers Stadium, Friday August 7, 6:30pm
Glenelg vs. Central District | Stratarama Stadium, Saturday August 8, 11:00am
North Adelaide vs. Sturt | Revo Fitness Oval, Saturday August 8, 2:50pm
West Adelaide vs. South Adelaide | Richmond Oval, Sunday August 9, 11:50pm

SEASON SO FAR

Norwood (8-4-1) drew with West Adelaide at Allied Waste Stadium in a match that had everything. Jade Halfpenny was extraordinary with 36 disposals, 15 tackles, eight clearances and six inside 50s, while Mia Wood (19 disposals, eight tackles and five clearances), Kate Alexander (one goal, 26 hitouts) and Ashley Baker (10 tackles) were also among the best. The draw was also Emily Bartsch‘s 50th game. The Redlegs sit second on the ladder but face the prospect of dropping to third if Sturt wins and overtakes them on percentage.

Woodville-West Torrens (9-2-2) claimed the minor premiership for the second year in a row with a 20-point win over Glenelg at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval. Maia Freemantle was everywhere with 26 disposals, eight tackles, five clearances and six inside 50s, while Lucy Moore (22 disposals, nine clearances, six tackles and five inside 50s) and Julia Faulkner (20 disposals, six clearances) were outstanding. The Eagles have the double chance locked in and arrive at Coopers Stadium with nothing to lose — but everything to play for.

CHANGES

Norwood has not named any outs and welcome back Lottie Almond, Kaianne Colbung-Ware and Sophie Palmer to the interchange.

Woodville-West Torrens also have made no forced changes and welcome back Asha Gooley, Zahlia Niemann and Chanel Rugari to the interchange.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Lani Cocks arrives at Coopers Stadium in form and ready to embark on a big finals campaign. Her All-Australian selection at the national championships was a fitting recognition of her consistency and class, and a strong performance in this final round will help Norwood get over the line. Cameron’s shift into the centre is a fascinating development for a player who has been one of the competition’s most dynamic half-forwards all season. Mia Wood and Ella Anderson are a pair of future starts, while Alexander has found consistency in her forward-ruck role.

For Woodville-West Torrens, Moore, Faulkner, Ruby Lynch and Freemantle are the names to watch. Lynch’s emergence as one of the competition’s most exciting young players continues, and her 23-disposal, eight-clearance effort in Round 12 showed exactly what she is capable of. Moore’s All-Australian selection was well earned, and her nine-clearance, six-tackle effort last round underlined her standing as one of the competition’s premier midfielders. Freemantle played her best SANFLW game last week, while Faulkner is a ray of consistency with her hard work in the front half.

PREDICTION

The finals equation makes this the most compelling game of the round. If Norwood wins, the Redlegs face the Eagles again in the major semi-final, with Sturt and North Adelaide meeting in the minor semi-final. If the Eagles win, they take on the winner of the other match. The Eagles’ depth and the double chance already secured means they can afford to play freely, but Norwood’s class – led by Halfpenny and Cocks – makes them dangerous at Coopers Stadium. The Eagles wanting to build form into finals to win in a nail-biter.

SEASON SO FAR

Glenelg (1-11-1) went down to Woodville-West Torrens by 20 points last round in the minor premiership decider. Ellie Kellock (16 disposals, six tackles), Tori Evans (13 disposals, six marks) and Kori Webb (17 disposals, four marks) battled hard for the Bays. The season has been a difficult one for Glenelg, but the emergence of several young players under interim coach Mick Axon provides genuine optimism for 2027.

Central District (4-8-1) went down to Sturt by 22 points last round, with Miyu Endersby (32 hitouts, 15 disposals and seven marks), Sienna Antony (eight tackles), Georgia Madigan (15 disposals, four marks) and Laitiah Huynh (15 disposals, four tackles) all solid. The Bulldogs finish the home-and-away season looking towards a rebound in 2027.

CHANGES

Glenelg welcomes back Asha Dufour, Cassie McWilliam and Isla Wiencke – three of their most important players – with Ruby Rose, Kiahni Russell and Brooklyn Kraft omitted. Evans shifts to the half-forward line alongside Webb and Dufour.

Central District has brought in Tess Gerhardy, Tesharna Maher, Ella Randall and Lily Steen, with Lauren Breguet and Aoife Berry a couple of key outs.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

For Glenelg, Georgie Fielder and Evans are the names to watch in what is the final home-and-away game of the SANFLW seasons. Fielder’s ability to drive the ball from the centre square has made her the Bays’ most important player all year, while Evans has shown she can impact at both ends of the ground.

Miyu Endersby‘s 32-hitout, seven-mark effort last round showed what she brings as the Bulldogs’ top draft prospect, and she will be looking to finish the season strongly, while Demi Holloway adds pressure in the front half, and the rise of defensive young gun, Amalia Musolino will be something for Dogs fans to look forward to.

PREDICTION

Glenelg with Dufour, McWilliam and Wiencke back is a significantly stronger proposition than the side that went down last round and the Bays also have the motivating factor of it being Madisyn Newman‘s (nee Freeman) 100th game. Central District will be competitive, as the Bulldogs have been all season, but the Bays at Stratarama Stadium with their key players back can get the job done for Newman. Glenelg to finish the season on a high.

SEASON SO FAR

North Adelaide (8-5) produced the result of the season last round, ending South Adelaide’s campaign with a stunning 40-point win at Magain Stadium. Amber Ward (17 disposals, nine marks and six inside 50s), Aprille Crooks (19 disposals, 10 tackles and six clearances), Ella Metcalfe (14 disposals and eight tackles) and Krystal Thompson (15 disposals, five marks and five inside 50s) all led the way. The Roosters are locked in for back-to-back finals appearances and arrive at Revo Fitness Oval with enormous momentum.

Sturt (7-3-3) enhanced its chances of a top-two finish with a 22-point win over Central District at X Convenience Oval. Isobel Kuiper was outstanding with 27 disposals, 12 tackles and 11 clearances, while Georgia Swan (19 disposals, five tackles and five clearances), Skout Young (17 disposals, seven tackles and five marks) and Lily Whitcombe (21 disposals, five tackles) were all excellent. Madeline Nuss continued her remarkable debut season, and the Double Blues head into the final round with the double chance within reach.

CHANGES

North Adelaide loses five players – Lauren Hoffmann (managed), Chloe Nettle (managed), Zara Molloy (unavailable), Jayde Visser (suspended) and Krystal Thompson (unavailable) – but welcome back Keira Copeland, Sasha Hardin, Lily Ladhams, Finlay Menz, Teagan Robins and Shannon Thompson.

Sturt is the opposite with no forced changes and instead an extended interchange that features inclusions Aaliyah Fox, Gemma Grivell and Zina Hunt.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Polly Turner has been in the form of her season over the past month and arrives at Revo Fitness Oval as one of the competition’s most dangerous players. Her ability to impact the game across multiple facets – scoring, marking, tackling – makes her a compelling top 30 candidate. Caitlin Hardin off the interchange remains a consistent contributor, while Maya Fuller can play anywhere on the field.

Nuss’s debut SANFLW and bottom-age season has been nothing short of remarkable – 15 SANFLW goals, an All-Australian selection and now a potential double chance on the line in the final round. Her scoring touch and ability to find the ball in traffic make her the Double Blues’ most important player in attack. Whiteman adds class and toughness around the ball, and her two-way capacity has been one of Sturt’s quiet highlights of the second half of the season.

PREDICTION

The finals equation is the defining context of this game. A Sturt win – combined with a Norwood loss to the Eagles – could see the Double Blues leapfrog the Redlegs into second on percentage. Even if Norwood wins, Sturt needs the points to lock in third and avoid a potential percentage-based slip to fourth. North Adelaide, despite their five outs, have the momentum of the competition’s best performance last round. This is the hardest game of the round to call. Sturt by a goal.

SEASON SO FAR

West Adelaide (4-8-1) drew with Norwood last round in a match that had everything. Ella Maxwell had one of her best outings of the season with 25 disposals, eight marks, five tackles and five inside 50s, while Emily Mableson (23 disposals, 11 tackles and five clearances), Zoe Venning (33 disposals, seven clearances) and Stevie-Lee Thompson (12 tackles) were all excellent. The Bloods finish the home-and-away season with their heads held high.

South Adelaide (6-7) suffered a heartbreaking end to their season last round, going down to North Adelaide by 40 points at Magain Stadium in a result that ended the reigning premiers’ campaign. Emma Charlton was at her best with 28 disposals, eight tackles and nine clearances, while Soriah Moon (41 hitouts, nine clearances), Nikki Nield (10 tackles) and Doreena Hansen – who played her 50th game – all battled hard. The Panthers finish the season outside the top four for the first time since joining the league.

CHANGES

West Adelaide have made a swap that sees Under 16s talent Scarlett Blethyn out and instead welcome back the experienced Jemima Woods – who trialled with Port Adelaide’s AFLW program last week – to the forwardline. The Bloods are otherwise settled.

South Adelaide has brought back Caitlin Couch, Tiana Lush, Samantha Pratt and Taryn Vizgaudis as part of an extended interchange, with Esther Schirmer the only out (shoulder).

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Mableson’s season has been a masterclass in two-way football. The defender/midfielder won South Australia’s MVP at the national championships, claimed the inaugural Vivian Bullwinkel Best on Ground Medal in Round 12, and has been West Adelaide’s best player across the second half of the season. Her ability to impact the game across multiple facets makes her the standout prospect for the Bloods and the game looms as her last for the state league side before going on to AFLW. Chelsea Newitt on the half-forward line provides further top-age interest and has some eye-catching draftable traits.

Charlton is the competition’s premier prospect and will be looking to finish the season strongly after a difficult final month for the Panthers. Her 28-disposal, nine-clearance and eight-tackle effort last round – in a losing side – showed exactly why she is at the top of the class of the 2026 draft class. Taya Maxwell will only be better for the run last week and should have a more favourable matchup and ready to finish off 2026 on a high, while Hope Taylor – who has been named despite her knock that left her with a sore neck last week – up forward and Marley Tape in defence round out South’s Academy contingent.

PREDICTION

Both sides have nothing to play for in terms of finals, but pride and the chance to finish the season strongly are real motivators. West Adelaide at Richmond Oval with Mableson, Venning and Ross in full flight is a formidable proposition, and the Bloods’ recent form – including last week’s draw with Norwood – suggests they are playing their best football of the season. However in saying that, South Adelaide put in a very ‘un-South Adelaide’ performance last week, and a response is coming. Panthers to get up.