WOODVILLE-WEST Torrens will be out to cause a massive upset when it hosts ladder leaders South Adelaide at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval tonight. The Eagles are 1-5 from the season, the polar opposites to the 5-1 Panthers, though South’s injury toll continues to mount.

FORM

South Adelaide bounced back from a rare loss to Central District in Round 4 with hard-fought victories over North Adelaide and Glenelg. The Panthers do not do it easily, with the 11-point victory over North the highest margin, as their four other victories have an average winning margin of just 3.8 points. The Eagles on the other hand were brought back to earth in Round 6 with a 10-goal thrashing at the hands of Sturt after knocking off West Adelaide for their first win of the season in Round 5.

TEAMS

Woodville-West Torrens:

B: A. Holt – G. Martin
HB: A. Dowrick – C. Mitchell – A. Blanden
C: B. Walling – J. Simmons – S. Whitwell
HF: B. Devlyn – Y. Duursma – H. Scholar
F: M. Fiegert – L. Cutting
R: B. Kraft – S. Goody – E. Little

INT: A. Baker – J. Charity – S. Zuill – B. Portaro – P. Waterford – K. May – N. Holmes – N. McRostie

South Adelaide:

B: J. Smith – E. Schirmer
HB: S. Pratt – Li. Cockatoo-Motlap – T. Copley
C: E. Barwick – B. Boileau – C. Hammond
HF: C. Radbone – L. Baxter – La. Cockatoo-Motlap
F: J. Hickey – L. Northcott
R: S. Moon – C. Couch – S. Gulden

INT: M. Anderson – C. Dolan – C. Ross – N. Mark – J. Schunselaar – 1. B. Rigby – W. H. Ifould

CHANGES

Ladder leaders South Adelaide have had to replace Nicole Campbell after she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last week, as well as unavailable duo, Taylah Levy and Kyanne Campbell. The Panthers have named an extended bench with Bella Rigby set to return for her first game since Round 1, as well as Senna Gulden and Charlotte Dolan. Caitlin Ross and potential debutant Jacinda Schunselaar have been named as emergencies.

The Eagles are set to make three changes to their lineup for the match, with the suspended Poppy Waterford returning to the lineup alongside Jasmine Simmons and Brooklyn Kraft. The latter is a direct ruck replacement for Nikita McRostie who has been named as an emergency, while Georgie Blades and Madison Turner are also out of the team.

KEY PLAYERS

South Adelaide is on the verge of bringing back some huge weapons to its team, with reigning co-best and fairest winner Gypsy Schirmer, and captain Brianna Cleggett named in the Development League squad. For the League match, in the absence of Levy and Campbell, the likes of Brooke Boileau and Senna Gulden will look to control proceedings, while Elise Barwick can provide that run on the outside.

For the Eagles, Shineah Goody is the one teams always look to stop, while Jemma Charity is a scoring threat, and Abbey Dowrick‘s power is a concern for the opposition team wherever she plays. Yasmin Duursma has been a nice addition to the Eagles lineup this season as well.

PREDICTION

The ladder really says it all and though the Panthers are understrength still, they just find a way to claw to victory. The Eagles need to find their form of a fortnight ago and not concede runs of goals or the game can be snuffed out quickly. There is plenty of talent on the home side’s list, it is just about gaining experience.