FOURTH spot is very much on the line in the final match of Round 13 in the SANFL Women’s. While for Sturt, the Double Blues will need results and percentage to go their final way with a victory, a Redlegs win would lock up the last spot in the finals series.

FORM

Norwood was in red-hot form prior to last round, beating two of the top three sides and drawing with the other, before going down to Woodville-West Torrens in a surprise loss. The Redlegs will look to bounce back against Sturt here, with the Double Blues’ top four shot hanging by a thread after seeing off fellow finals hopeful West Adelaide last round.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Sturt: 3
Norwood: 8
Draws: 1

Norwood has had the upper hand in the battles of the past, winning the last four between the sides, including a couple by six goals or more. With the exception of Sturt’s run to the grand final in 2022 – where it won both matches against Norwood that season, the Redlegs have won eight and drawn one out of the remaining 10.

TEAMS

Sturt:

B: Lily Whitcombe (24), Sarah Wallace (37)
HB: Sophie Thredgold (17), Hannah Prenzler (20), Isabella Drew (28)
C: Claudia Edmonds (22), Kate Harris (23), Molly Fletcher (31)
HF: Georgia Swan (3), Millie McCarthy (1), Monique Bessen (16)
F: Summer Ross (42), Amy Brooks-Birve (44)
R: Jasmin Fejo (36), Alisha Gepp (15), Isobel Kuiper (2)
INT: Grace Powell (11), Winnie Thornquest (25), Ruby Cunningham (5), Tahlia Walker (18), Jaimee Wittervan (35), Natasha Christophers (57), Gemma Grivell (13)

Norwood:

B: Charli Hazelhurst (39), Rosie Boon (46)
HB: Sarah Branford (9), Sophie Arkun (43), Charlotte Nenke (44)
C: Coby Morgan (2), Kate Alexander (61), Stephanie Simmonds (17)
HF: Amelia Rusden (10), Jade Halfpenny (22), Adrienne Davies (8)
F: Kiana Lee (28), Mykaela Walker (35)
R: Tahlita Buethke (1), Sophie Armitstead (36), Shai Hiscock (13)
INT: Nicola Burns (23), Emma Clark (7), Lana Schwerdt (41), Candice Belbin (26), Elle Lineage (50)

CHANGES

Sturt will be minus star midfielder/forward India Rasheed for the clash after she represented the AFLW Academy today. She is out along with softballer Georgia King taking out some serious firepower up forward, while Jaimee Wittervan and Ruby Cunningham are part of an extended bench. Potential debutants Gemma Grivell and Natasha Christophers were others named.

Norwood has lost a couple of key players for the match too with both Tesharna Maher and Emily Bartsch out of the side. Coming in is midfielder/forward Elle Lineage and defender Nicola Burns in like-for-like swaps.

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Sturt bottom-ager Monique Bessen will be that touch of class in the absence of Rasheed, while defender Sophie Thredgold has looked good off half-back. Edwina Thornquest has shown she can play at both ends, ad could go head-to-head with fellow tall Charli Hazelhurst. Wing Coby Morgan is another name to remember, while Under 16s ruck Kate Alexander has been developing nicely.

STATS THAT MATTER

Norwood is very good at restricting opponents from having shots on goal, ranked second in the league for defensive efficiency, while Sturt is ranked sixth. However the Double Blues are ranked second in clearances and fourth in tackles, while Norwood is fourth and seventh respectively. These two sides concede the most hitouts, though Norwood is ranked third overall for that stat, while Sturt is seventh.

PREDICTION

A lineball game given both sides have key players out that arguably make it a balanced game. Norwood’s best this season is better than Sturt’s, but consistency has plagued both sides. Expect it to be a thriller with so much on the line for both sides, and Sturt has the homeground advantage.