A TOP of the table clash between unbeaten sides South Adelaide and West Adelaide highlights a busy Round 3 of SANFL Women’s action. While those sides search for their third win, Norwood looks to ensure it does not fall 0-3 behind against Central District, with the same for Eagles up against North Adelaide. On Sunday, last year’s preliminary finalists do battle at Thebarton with Sturt hosting Glenelg with both at one win from two games.

FORM

Must-win matches do not get much bigger than this, with Central District needing to bounce back from a Round 2 loss to Sturt, while Norwood has slumped to an 0-2 start to the season. The Bulldogs did enough in Round 1 to get past the Eagles, but fell back into their past years of lapses at crucial points against the Double Blues, which allowed Sturt to run away with the game in the third term. Norwood has played two of the biggest contenders in North Adelaide and South Adelaide, and while Central District can be just as potent as those sides, the Doggies lack the same consistency at this stage.

TEAMS

Central District:

B: Laitiah Huynh (41), Shannon Murphy (10)
HB: Caitlen Teague (17), Madison Lane (40), Jessica Schulz (11)
C: Dakota Williams (38), Shelby Smith (1), Jovanka Zecevic (23)
HF: Jasmine Evans (27), Charlotte Riggs (9), Elaine Grigg (8)
F: Karissa Searle (22), Lauren Breguet (28)
R: Jessica Allan (35), Georgia Madigan (7), Sophie Eaton (12)

INT: Caitlin Wendland (42), Katelyn Rosenzweig (2), Georgia Avery (18), Chantelle Reynolds (30), Shelby Raven (36), Demi Sonneman (20), Aisha Thomas (16)

Norwood:

B: Alison Ferrall (19), Emily Bartsch (27)
HB: Sarah Branford (9), Charlotte Nenke (44), Lauren Smith (24)
C: Elle Lineage (51), Georgie Jaques (61) Morgan Johnston (1)
HF: Coby Morgan (51), Najwa Allen (66), Lana Schwerdt (41)
F: Kiana Lee (28), Alana Lishmund (15)
R: Tesharna Maher (14), Jade Halfpenny (22), Georgina Birchall (37)

INT: Shai Hiscock (13), Grace Mulvahil (11), Tahlita Buethke (2), Ashlee Gould (16), Nicola Burns (23)

CHANGES

Central District enters the game with just the two inclusions to an extended bench, with Madison Lane and potential debutant Shelby Raven named in the squad. Lane was meant to return in Round 2 but just came up short, so has been given another crack to be right, while Raven has made the long trek from Broken Hill to be in-line for a debut.

Norwood will be thrilled to add some much-needed experience into its back half of the ground, with captain Alison Ferrall returning from a one-week quad injury, while ex-Bulldogs defender Lauren Smith has been named for her first Redlegs League match against her former side. Dangerous forwards Grace Mulvahil and Kiana Lee have also been recalled, with the latter making her League debut since crossing from the Eagles midway through last season.

However Norwood will be minus the likes of Meghan Gaffney and Rosette Zerella through injury and illness, while Emily Newton and Steph Simmonds are the others to make way.

KEY PLAYERS

Ferrall will be a crucial player returning to the defensive half of the ground against a high-powered Central attack, while Smith will be keen to put in a big shift. She might be required to limit the influence of one of the key forwards, with Katelyn Rosenzweig and Chantel Reynolds looking dangerous. The match up between speedsters Elaine Grigg and Sarah Branford is one to keep an eye on, while up the other end, Lane could be given the job on former State Academy teammate Alana Lishmund.

DEVELOPMENT LEVEL WATCH

Top-age State Academy member Jazmine Egan is nearing a return for the Redlegs, named as one of three emergencies this week. She and tall talent Rosie Boon are ones to watch, while a name stepping into the Development program having missed time through injury over the past few years is Kayla Robran, the daughter of Crows dual premiership player Matthew, and granddaughter of South Australian football legend, Barrie.

In last week’s loss to Sturt, Jessica Walker-Smith was named best-on but has a tough squad to crack into as a tall, while youngster Akeira-Juliet Whichello – who coach Ben Hunt highlighted as one to watch this season – was also among the better Bulldogs.

PREDICTION

A line ball call given the game is at Elizabeth, with Norwood earning the tip due to greater consistency over the run. The Round 3 match looms as a ‘line in the sand’ moment for Central District, having lost this type of match the past few seasons. Slipping to 1-2 is not the end of the world, but the Bulldogs want to play finals, and will want to get ahead of the curve. If Norwood lose, then coming back from an 0-3 start will require a lot of luck an a big run home.

FORM

North Adelaide will be fired up coming off a rare loss when it went down to West Adelaide last week. The Roosters lost to the Bloods for the second consecutive year, and will be hell-bent on bouncing back with a good performance. Woodville-West Torrens continue to show signs of improvement, but still sit at 0-2 when it is all said and done, and this looms as a massive ask for the young Eagles.

TEAMS

North Adelaide:

B: Jamie Parish (20), Kristi Harvey (5)
HB: Kristen Rothwell (15), Lauren Gauci (35), Ella Metcalfe (40)
C: Jayde Visser (30), Sarah Steele-Park (36), Katelyn Pope (13)
HF: Doreena Hansen (41), Sky Jensen (50), Jaimi Tabb (7)
F: Julia Clark (33), Mattea Breed (3)
R: Isabelle Starmer (11), Jessica Edwards (2), Chelsea Farr (28)

INT: Lauren Hoffman (45), Ella Quinn (14), Brittany Perry (19), Monika Ney (27), Laela Ebert (9), Sarcha Taylor (52), Kalani Bates (16)

WWT Eagles:

B: Madison Turner (47), Nikita McRostie (25)
HB: Nicolette Dunn (52), Poppy Waterford (1), Hannah Scholar (19)
C: Chantelle Mitchell (5), Shineah Goody (34), Leah Cutting (26)
HF: Sophie Zuill (24), Amie Blanden (12), Brianna Walling (13)
F: Jemma Charity (2), Beatrice Devlyn (6)
R: Ella Little (22), Annie Falkenberg (8), Bianca Portaro (3)

INT: Marlie Fiegert (30), Chloe Newton (49), Ashley Baker (44), Olivia Evans (28), Audrey Holt (10), Tayla Coles (14), Klaudia O’Neill (18)

CHANGES

North Adelaide will be minus the two players who went down early in the loss to West Adelaide, with vice-captain Brianna Arthur (knee) and Aprille Crooks (ankle), alongside Emma Chapman (abductor) as forced changes.

The Roosters regain Lauren Gauci for some experience in the back half of the ground, while lively forward Doreena Hansen returns for her first match of 2023. As part of an extended bench, youngster Sarcha Taylor and Henley’s Lauren Hoffman are also named as inclusions.

The Eagles are a little less battered and bruised, making just the one confirmed change at this stage with Cher Waters dropping back to Development League, while potential debutants Nicolette Dunn and Tayla Coles have been named in an extended side along with ex-Demon Ella Little.

KEY PLAYERS

The youth of the Eagles is key, with Jemma Charity showing signs last week and will be better for the run, while the midfield needed more accountability for the Glenelg duo of Matilda Scholz and Piper Window, with captain Annie Falkenberg named back in there, while Shineah Goody will be one heavily watched yet again no doubt.

The Roosters should have the upper hand in the ruck with Isabelle Starmer who is in great form, while the defensive experience of Kristi Harvey and ex-Eagle Jamie Parish will make life tough for the Woodville-West Torrens forwardline.

DEVELOPMENT LEVEL WATCH

Both sides still have State Academy members running around in the second tier competition, with athletic tall Timeka Cox there for the Roosters, alongside the likes of Georgia Hamilton and Marissa Mackenzie who were among the best last week.

The Eagles were dealt a huge loss by Glenelg last round, but still have some State Academy youngsters running around including Chloe Charity and Grace Martin who are rated highly internally.

PREDICTION

North Adelaide is copping a few casualties early in the season, and the Roosters depth will be tested for sure, but it is hard to see the experience of the side dropping a match to the young Eagles. If there was a time for Woodville-West Torrens to jag one against the reigning premiers this would be it, but it would want to be stronger at stoppages than last week or the experienced Roosters will run away with it.

FORM

Both South Adelaide and West Adelaide have ticked all the boxes thus far and enter the game as the only two unbeaten sides. South Adelaide accounted for grand finalists Sturt, and then Norwood, and find itself back at Noarlunga in a Saturday twilight match for the third consecutive week. West Adelaide took down Glenelg and then a massive scalp in reigning premiers North Adelaide which will be great for the Bloods’ confidence, to also head in 2-0 from the start of the season.

TEAMS

South Adelaide:

B: Jaslynne Smith (35), Tiffany Copley (14)
HB: Sam Pratt (22), Caitlin Ross (15), Lucy Northcott (12)
C: Charlotte Dolan (28), Brooke Boileau (37), Holly Ifould (2)
HF: Gypsy Schirmer (36), Jordann Hickey (4), Lily Baxter (56)
F: Jorja Hooper (38), Elise Barwick (24)
R: Soriah Moon (32), Senna Gulden (25), Nicole Campbell (9)

INT: Bridgette Needs (13), Kyanne Campbell (60), Czenya Cavouras (11), Jess Kirk (7), Caitlin Radbone (34), Jodie Hunt (30), Esther Schirmer (23)

West Adelaide:

B: Milli Gentle (3), Jess Chyer (38)
HB: Lucy Boyd (2), Madi Russell (1), Emma Kilpatrick (43)
C: Paige Allan (35), Illish Ross (60), Bec Hansen (10)
HF: Lauren Young (30), Tamika May (32), Asha Dufour (46)
F: Steph Tredwell (42), Kelly Barltrop (15)
R: Tess Huxtable (49), Zoe Venning (9), Ruby Ballard (51)

INT: Tabby Saville (18), Jess Macolino (13), Charlie Scutchings (12), Grace McNicol (21), Georgie Pater (26), Ella Maxwell (45), Astrid Powell (16)

CHANGES

South Adelaide has been lucky enough to only have to make one change, with the talented Caitlin Couch unavailable for the Round 3 match. Fellow Territorian Kyanne Campbell returns to the fold, as does the AFLW experienced Jordann Hickey for her first game back in Panthers colours since her one-season stint at the Eagles.

West Adelaide will be minus Crows youngster Keeley Kustermann who is out with a quad injury, while Zoe Greer will also miss Round 3 due to concussion. State Academy member Grace McNicol could play her first game of 2023, named on an extended bench along with Charlie Scutchings, Astrid Powell, Asha Dufour and Ella Maxwell.

KEY PLAYERS

The South Adelaide defence will have its work cut out against the incredible talent of Lauren Young, with Panthers defender Samantha Pratt doing a great job on Meghan Gaffney last week, but with an extra 15-plus centimetres, Young is a different prospect.

Expect Caitlin Ross and Tiffany Copley to have to work together, while for the Bloods, other forwards such as the exciting Steph Tredwell and Tabby Saville could go to work.

Hickey will be important for the Panthers up the other end, with in-form Bloods captain Madison Russell likely to take her, while Lucy Boyd could match up on dangerous double bottom-ager Lily Baxter who kicked a couple of important goals last week.

DEVELOPMENT LEVEL WATCH

In a two-point win over North Adelaide last week, Stephanie Walker and Madelyn Zacher both impressed for the Bloods, while State Academy ruck option Bethany Sigley is on the cusp if she is required at League level.

Fellow State Academy ruck option Jacinda Schunselaar was best-on for the Panthers during their dour struggle loss to Norwood. Others who are ones to watch include Bella Rigby and Melissa Anderson, while Nari Wright provides that experience at the next tier down.

PREDICTION

South Adelaide is always competitive at Noarlunga, and it is hard to go past the Panthers down there. It is set to be a rip-snorter of a contest with both teams in form, but with room to improve. The Bloods’ gamestyle could challenge the Panthers, but if South stick to task, the side knows the ground incredibly well and should get up in a thriller.

FORM

Sturt and Glenelg played off in a preliminary final last year, but both find themselves at 1-1 for the season to start 2023. Glenelg went down to West Adelaide in the opening round of action, but with a few troops returning for Round 2, proved too strong for Central District. Sturt suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of the Panthers in Round 1, before storming to victory off the back of an impressive third term against the Doggies.

TEAMS

Sturt:

B: Maya Rigter (22), Lucy Earl (26)
HB: Kiera Mueller (33), Georgia Swan (3), Jemma Valente (36)
C: Elsie Dawes (5), Alisha Gepp (15), Molly Fletcher (31)
HF: Monique Bessen (16), Alysha Healy (10), Georgia Bevan (7)
F: Tessa Doumanis (4), Millie McCarthy (1)
R: Alex Pearce (38), Kate Harris (23), Jaimee Wittervan (35)

INT: Lily Whitcombe (24), Zara Walsh (57), Abbey Rigter (11), Hannah Prenzler (20), Tahlia Walker (40), Isabella Drew (28), Ally Ladas (17), Amy Brooks-Birve (44)

Glenelg:

B: Poppy Scholz (20), Marie Martino (15)
HB: Ellen Tyminski (18), Serena Waters (32), Renee Wurfel (3)
C: Violet Patterson (6), Madisyn Freeman (2), Brooke Tonon (40)
HF: Matilda Wilmore (19), Lucy Armitage (14), Chelsea Packer (26)
F: Matilda Scholz (28), Piper Window (8)
R: Shay’Lee Dayman (4), Ellie Kellock (5), Alice Bradley (21)

INT: Tessa Kohn (13), Laura Chigwidden (24), Caitlyn Swanson (9), Jessica Searle (23), Shae Partington (27)

CHANGES

Sturt will be feeling good coming off an impressive win over Central District, and also having the depth to make changes if required. With no forced changes at this stage, the Double Blues have recalled Isabella Drew, Ally Ladas and Amy Brooks-Birve.

The fact that the last two were playing Development League after their seasons last year shows just how deep the Sturt side is, and they are pushing for a top level spot.

Glenelg has made just the singular change, with Jess Searle coming in to replace Rani Grant at League level.

KEY PLAYERS

Fresh off an AFL Women’s contract with Port Adelaide, Glenelg ruck Matilda Scholz will have even more fans watching her this round, after a dominant first-up performance in Round 2 last week. She will team up well with fellow ruck Shay’Lee Dayman, while midfield/forward dynamo Piper Window and captain Ellie Kellock will do a lot of damage around the stoppages. Up forward, the craft of Caitlyn Swanson and Chelsea Packer makes the Bays a better side.

Sturt is still minus India Rasheed inside 50 due to injury, but tall Millie McCarthy is holding her spot ahead of Brooks-Birve in the key forward role. Young gun Monique Bessen is building after winning the Breakthrough Player nomination last round, while the experience of Georgia Bevan and Kiera Mueller. Expect Kate Harris to have another big job this week, manning the dangerous Window at the stoppages to not allow easy access off Scholz’s hitouts.

DEVELOPMENT LEVEL WATCH

A familiar name has been spotted in the Development League, with 2021 Sturt Best and Fairest winner Isobel Kuiper a shock inclusion. The star inside midfielder tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in last year’s finals series, but is making her return 10 months later. The Double Blues are easing her into action, with Kuiper named alongside the likes the of talented youngster Georgia King and developing ruck, Jasmin Fejo.

Glenelg had a massive win in the Development League last week with Tamsyn Morriss and Demi McCarthy named in the best, while teenagers Jordan Horne and Mykaela Walker both kicked goals.

PREDICTION

Another tough game to call, but Sturt should be too strong at Thebarton Oval. It will take a very good performance to knock off the Double Blues at the ground, and though Glenelg should make it a ripping contest, the home side will be favoured to win in a close one.