2023 SANFLW Ask The Coach: Young Guns
TONIGHT a new season of the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s takes place with North Adelaide travelling to The Parade to face Norwood. In the past fortnight, we have chatted to all eight senior SANFL Women’s coaches and published team previews for the upcoming season.
One question we asked of each of them, was who are some of the fresh faces who either have not featured at SANFL Women’s level, or had limited chances, who are ones to watch in 2023. Here are their answers.
CENTRAL DISTRICT:
Ben Hunt
“Certainly girls like Jasmine Evans, Sophie Eaton, Holly Tralaggan just off the top of my head. “They’re three girls who are really good footballers who I think could play League football. Then we’ve also got Summer Nelson, AJ (Akeira-Juliet Whichello) and Ellie Ward, these young girls who are going to get better, and better and better.”
>> CENTRAL DISTRICT SEASON PREVIEW
GLENELG:
Lexia Edwards
“Violet Patterson played most of the games last year, she’s one to watch, a fast outside wing. The other one that we love at the moment is Matilda Wilmore who will play mostly forward as a small pressure forward. She’s still 15, and she will likely debut at some stage this season.”
NORTH ADELAIDE:
Krissie Steen
“We’ve got two debutants on Friday night in Laela Ebert and Jayde Visser. That’s evident that they’re two of the standouts. Then we’ve got some great kids, we’ve got Sarcha Taylor who is a First Nation girl and comes with all the tricks … We’ve also got Amalie Innes and Sasha Hardin who are doing really well and knocking on the door of League footy too.”
>> NORTH ADELAIDE SEASON PREVIEW
NORWOOD:
Brad Snell
“Grace Whittaker, Charlie Hazelhurst are all that next age tier down. Coby Morgan‘s the other one. She almost got a game against Glenelg the other night as a 15/16 year-old. we’ve got that crop coming through. Keep an eye on those three as ones to really watch as that next tier of youngsters coming through.”
SOUTH ADELAIDE:
Rick Watts
“Lily’s (Lily Baxter) probably a bit like Shae (Archbold) where she hasn’t needed too much coaching, she’s stepped straight up to the level and taken the game on when she’s needed to. Bella’s (Bella Rigby) just got that natural raw talent. It’s her first time stepping up to this standard. She played for Noarlunga but she’s learning she can’t just take everyone on and fend everyone off so she’s finding her feet but she’s got a lot of raw talent underneath her.”
>> SOUTH ADELAIDE SEASON PREVIEW
STURT:
Michael O’Connor
“Monique Bessen who’s come through the Under 16s program, still eligible for Under 16s at the moment. She played in both of our trial games against South and the Eagles and performed really well. Another young player whose come through the junior program and then gone back and played local footy, Zara Walsh who played in the League trial game against the Eagles, a forward hybrid can play small, can play tall, got some speed on her.”
WEST ADELAIDE:
Bruce Dawes
“I think she played a couple of little games last year but Ruby Ballard has been outstanding, a little half-forward for us this year. Obviously sister of Abbie who plays at the Crows, but Ruby’s just a tackling machine for a kid. She’s only 16 years-old, she’s unbelievably composed and just makes the right decisions and does all the right things and she’s a joy to coach.”
>> WEST ADELAIDE SEASON PREVIEW
WWT EAGLES:
Narelle Smith
“We’ve got some really young kids coming through. We’ve got a couple of 15-year-olds, Zahlia Niemann. She’s only 15 and she’s nearly be six foot already. I’m not sure if she’ll debut in League this year, she’s just got a few little things to learn but she’s an incredible athlete and just got some real tricks so keep your eye on her.
“Bianca Portaro is still really trending upwards, she’s come back in unbelievable nick. She’s just continued to push herself in the running groups and really I’m hoping to get her some mid minutes this year, I’m just not quite sure if she’ll get that opportunity or not, but she’s a lockdown small defender anyway, she’s pretty insanely good.”
