IN the final round before a host of State Academy members play in the AFLW Academy and Under 21 All-Stars side, a number of South Australian draft hopefuls put their best foot forward. We took note of how the State Academy members performed in Round 12 of the SANFLW with all notes the opinion of the individual author.

Sturt:

#6 India Rasheed (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 marks, 8 tackles, 7 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 behinds

Rasheed was pretty strong across the board, starting forward and rotating into the midfield as has so often been the case. She had some good clashes with Boyd and then worked up and down the ground. Her efficiency was not as high as a player of her ilk can produce, but like most with her ability, she still had an enormous impact and hit some passes that few others could.

#16 Monique Bessen (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks (2 contested), 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Coming back from an extended break due to concussion protocols, Bessen started on-ball and was one of Sturt’s better players through the match. She has won more touches at different points during the year, but her impact-per-possession remained very high. She kicked a nice goal in the fourth term from a set shot and should have had another earlier in the match that just fell short and was touched across the line.

#17 Sophie Thredgold (Defender)

Stats: 10 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Another promising display from the bottom-age defender who can be a high-risk, high-reward player out of defence. She was one of the better Double Blues with her run and carry, while also providing defensive strength when inside the back 50. Has a nice balance of traits with and without the ball.

#25 Edwina Thornquest (Forward)

Stats: 2 disposals, 3 tackles, 1 behind

It was a quiet game from Thornquest who is still finding her feet up forward where she has played before at Development level. She only had a couple of touches including a flying checkside that missed, but worked hard to present up the ground at times.

West Adelaide:

#2 Lucy Boyd (Defender)

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

Had a tough matchup early against Rasheed but as always rolled around to play on multiple opponents depending on who came down. She pushed up the other end when following others and almost took a mark inside 50 late in the first term. She made some mistakes by foot that are a little uncharacteristic of her recent form, but put her body on the line consistently.

#14 Chloe Tonkin (Forward/Ruck)

Stats: 6 disposals, 2 marks (1 contested), 9 hitouts, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 behind

The bottom-ager returned to a more permanent forward role and chopping out in the ruck, presenting hard inside 50. She brings the ball to ground when not marking it and had a flying shot on goal at one that that missed. Can further develop her work below her knees, but it is to be expected of a player of her height where she is so dominant in the air.

#15 Asha Dufour (Midfielder)

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 5 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

A quieter game from the accumulating midfielder who still worked hard through the four quarters. She did her best work in close and shovelled it out or looked for outlet options, but the Sturt midfield got on top in that regard, and Zoe Venning and Iilish Ross took the bulk of the inside work in the match.

#22 Ruby Ballard (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 4 disposals, 1 mark (1 contested), 6 tackles

Could not get her hands on it often enough, but not through lack of trying. Ballard will always provide 100 per cent effort and bring the defensive heat, winning a couple of touches later in the match showing she was switched on for when she was required to go hard.

#27 Emma Kilpatrick (Wing)

Stats: 7 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50

The game was largely one for the inside players so Kilpatrick did not see much of it on the wing. She had most of her touches through the first half and looked to pump the ball down the ground wherever possible. Applied good pressure and ran hard, often unrewarded.

#44 Emily Mableson (Defender)

Stats: 7 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 1 rebound 50

The Under 16s talent had moments and provided implied pressure around the defensive 50, generally able to make good decisions with ball-in-hand. Not a huge game by any stretch, but she did what she had to when she won it and had some passages that showed her smarts with ball-in-hand.

Glenelg:

#1 Georgie Fielder (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 6 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The Under 16s young gun was on debut and given a baptism of fire lining up on Central District captain Shelby Smith early. She would have learnt plenty from the contest, rotating between the middle and going forward. Her defensive pressure was very good, and though she did not win a heap of it, that was to be expected with some of the biggest ball-winners in the competition around the stoppages.

#6 Violet Patterson (Midfielder/Wing)

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 marks, 12 tackles, 5 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Patterson was one of the better Bays in the match and was enormous with her defensive pressure. Given the focus on Jess Bates, Patterson was able to get off the chain at times and win the ball, using it nearly going forward. She got to play on Smith as well and her competitiveness is as great as anyone going around. Finished with a stack of touches and tackles, while having her air share of clearances. Can do too much at times, but has plenty of upside.

#9 Eloise Mackereth (Forward)

Stats: 6 disposals, 3 marks (1 contested), 2 behinds

Looked lively early when Glenelg was on top and getting it forward, but had very little time and space. She had to rush and thus had a couple of chances that went begging so looked to move further afield to win it. She scored the final behind of the day just before the siren and though she could not impact the scoreboard, still presented and showed good hands.

#19 Matilda Wilmore (Forward)

Stats: 7 disposals, 1 mark (1 contested), 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Another player who did not see a great deal of it, but Wilmore still worked hard up the ground and was ready when the time presented itself. She applied some good pressure took a terrific contested mark and looked to get it inside 50 to scoring positions for her teammates.

Central District:

#3 Miyu Endersby (Defender)

Stats: 5 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 1 rebound 50

Endersby had a quieter game in defence but that is never a bad thing considering her role. She had a great spoil midway through the third term and competed well one-on-one winning a number of strong battles. Though sometimes she can be the distributor from the back 50, that was left up to others in the match.

#9 Charlotte Riggs (Defender)

Stats: 13 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 2 hitouts, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 6 rebound 50s

Playing back in her defensive role, Riggs took to it like a duck to water. She was strong overhead, provided a rebounding influence and had one of the plays of the day. With Glenelg on top, she strolled inside 50 early in the third term only to be run-down in a tackle and caught holding the ball. However unlike most who might drop their heads after that, she stayed active, ran-down the opposition as they ran away, then played on and hit-up Katelyn Rosenzweig to kick the Dogs’ second goal.

#12 Sophie Eaton (Forward/Wing)

Stats: 6 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Only had half a dozen touches but laid a couple of strong tackles and set up multiple goals in the final term, hitting up Rosenzweig and McKee which is Eaton’s bread and butter. She is a skilful facilitator and distributor and she did just that in the forward half of the ground.

#21 Georgia McKee (Forward)

Stats: 3 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 2 goals, 1 behind

Remaining as the deepest forward, the AFLW Academy member returned to the side and kicked 2.1 from three disposals. Her first goal was a ridiculous left-foot snap from the boundary under pressure, before the right-footer had a more straight forward snap from a set shot off her preferred right boot. Just ultra-dangerous close to goal.

#27 Jasmine Evans (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 3 goals

Returned to her best with her scoreboard impact and finished with another three goals, including two in the final term. She was the only goalkicker for the Dogs in the first half after nailing a set shot, and though she had a relatively quiet start to the game, came alive in the second half. Once she got going, the Dogs did too, and she set up a couple of goals and kicked two herself, winning a one-on-one mark and booting the second goal of seven in the last quarter.

#31 Tara Lord (Defender)

Stats: 6 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Like many defenders from Central District, Lord did not see too much of it which is always a good thing. She pushed up the ground and got the ball inside 50 in several occasions, and her defensive work was superb. Laying almost as many tackles as disposals, she showed she can play a nullifying role as well as an aggressive one.

#54 Mikaylah Antony (Defender)

Stats: 5 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50

Like Lord, Antony did not see a great deal of it, but did tackle a nice intercept mark early, and generally used the ball well. Each of her touches seemed to impact the game in some way, and she is a smooth-moving outside player with nice technique and understanding of the game.

North Adelaide:

#52 Sarcha Taylor (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

The exciting forward buzzed around in the forward half and looked dangerous, almost having a couple of chances such as a set shot that missed to the left and another where she picked it up off balance and couldn’t get any penetration on it. She did set up a goal to Aprille Crooks via a couple of teammates going inside 50, and worked up to the wing at times too.

South Adelaide:

#17 Shae Archbold (Forward)

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

The talented top-ager is gaining more confidence as the season goes on, and she has weapons that few others possess. With a booming left-foot kick, Archbold snapped the goal of the day against the Roosters, able to get boot to ball as she was tackled and sailed home from a tight angle. She set up Charlton for a goal and presented really strongly at half-forward and pushing up to a wing.

#19 Taya Maxwell (Forward/Ruck)

Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 12 hitouts, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Building on her debut, Maxwell found more of the football this week and took a couple of good marks. Her kicking was quite smooth, and she worked hard for second efforts. Held her own in the ruck when chopping out for Soriah Moon, and even got on the end of a few clearances too.

#20 Layla Vizgaudis (Wing/Forward)

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

After a starring role the week before, Vizgaudis still put in a really promising performance. She was lively off the wing and when pushing forward, and has worked hard on winning the pill behind the ball. With slick technique and high level smarts, she is a player who does not need a lot of it to do damage. She can turn some kicks over, but has a high-risk, high-reward style that when it pays off can open the game up.

#23 Esther Schirmer (Defender)

Stats: 21 disposals, 6 marks, 1 tackle, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

One can hardly fault her game nor her season thus far. She has been rock solid as an intercepting talent and not only locked down on opponents but also provided some drive for the Panthers. She is strong overhead, and while at times Schirmer could be cleaner at ground level, the South Adelaide defender is a neat ball user and one who puts her body on the line.

#25 Emma Charlton (Forward/Wing)

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 marks (4 contested), 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

In her breakout game for South Adelaide, Charlton showed a confidence that was eye-catching. For a lighter bodied player she clunked four contested marks and strolled into an open goal at one point, reading the play to perfection. Her performance earned her a Breakthrough Player of the Week nomination, and she was one of the stars from the State Academy for Round 12.

Norwood:

#2 Coby Morgan (Wing)

Stats: 11 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 2 clearances

Morgan always provides hard running on a wing and going forward, while also having the ability to push in and attend stoppages. She won a couple of clearances usually bursting through, and though she can be overzealous with her tackling and give away free kicks, throws everything into her defensive attributes.

#39 Charli Hazelhurst (Defender)

Stats: 6 disposals, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50

Did not see a great deal of it, but such is the like of a nullifying defender at times. She still had a few moments such as gathering cleanly on a wing late in the second term and pumping it inside 50. Overall just did not need to do much, but played her role.

#61 Kate Alexander (Ruck)

Stats: 4 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 11 hitouts, 2 clearances, 1 rebound 50

Had a tough day out against Leah Cutting with the experience gap, but did well when up against the undersized Amie Blanden. Her tap work continues to develop, and she took a nice intercept mark in the middle at one point, though most of her touches were confined to around the stoppages.

Woodville-West Torrens:

#3 Bianca Portaro (Midfielder/Defender)

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 10 tackles, 3 clearances

Portaro’s defensive work came to the fore once again when in the middle, working hard and playing plenty of tackles around the coalface. Often winning it and quickly dishing off to teammates, she won a holding the ball free kick on a couple of occasions. She kept working hard throughout the four quarters and played an important role for the Eagles.

#7 Grace Martin (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 10 disposals, 1 mark, 8 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

Started the game really well and her second term was outstanding setting up a goal to Rosette Zerella in the opening 30 seconds of the quarter. She had some super passes in that term and had eight disposals by the time she came off sore from a Morgan tackle. She did return and was cited up forward later in the game, but only added a couple more disposals after having a rip-snorting start. A high impact player through the middle.

#15 Lucy Moore (Midfielder)

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 8 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Has strung together some great form of late, and that continued once again for the Under 16s young gun who racked up six clearances from her 13 disposals. Moore has some nice footy smarts and her late tackle on Emily Bartsch proved the last play of the day. She took a great intercept mark at half-back in what was her sole grab, but she did plenty at ground level and was fierce in the contest.

#18 Klaudia O’Neill (Forward)

Stats: 9 disposals, 4 marks (4 contested), 1 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals, 2 behinds

O’Neill has settled back into life as a forward and was one of the Eagles’ better players on the weekend. She had multiple chances on goal and her hands were like velcro, hard to try and displace her once she was set. Though she could have kicked a couple more majors, she has proven herself at both ends of the ground now.

#22 Imogen Trengove (Defender)

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 4 rebound 50s

In the opposite to O’Neill, Trengove has settled into life as a defender, providing some dash from defence. Though not able to have as much impact on scoring as previously, she can use her athleticism and kicking to switch play and try and start scoring chains from deep in defence. Is developing in the new role nicely.