A NORWOOD debutant and fellow Redlegs returning young star headlined some fresh faces in our State Academy notes this week, while a host of players who were quieter in Round 1 contributed to their respective SANFL Women’s teams’ performances in Round 2.

CENTRAL DISTRICT:

#3 Miyu Endersby (Defender)

Stats: 4 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 3 hitouts, 1 rebound 50

The bottom-ager played her role in defence, and while she did not win a lot of it, had some good one-on-one contests. She took a good mark at half-back, and in another instance won a hardball and then nailed a lovely kick to Eaton.

#12 Sophie Eaton (Midfielder)

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 9 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

While not as huge numbers as Round 1, Eaton still had some impressive highlights throughout the match and was one of the better Dogs on the day. While offensively she made the odd uncharacteristic error, defensively she was elite, which showed she can really lift that area of her game. Still able to dance around opponents, Eaton did find the ball in all thirds of the ground.

#31 Tara Lord (Utility)

Stats: 12 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 2 hitouts, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Seemingly playing on all three lines, Lord has become the ultimate utility. She kicked a ripping goal to put the lead out to 10 points midway through the last quarter with a 40m set shot, and had generally used the ball well throughout the match. Lord gained great experience when onball up against the likes of Alex Ballard and worked hard to get to the outside as well to win some touches.

STURT:

#4 Summer Ross (Forward/Wing)

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals

After a quiet Round 1 with limited opportunities, Ross adapted well to life up forward, while also returning to her more familiar wing role. She hit the scoreboard with a couple of first half goals, including a play where she kicked inside 50 then got onto the end of the very next pass. Really liked her defensive work and she gained reward for effort with her ability to hit the scoreboard. Did everything asked of her in the game.

#16 Monique Bessen (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 17 disposals, 6 tackles, 1 hitout, 7 clearances, 1 inside 50

Again had a really consistent game where she was influential around the ball, racking up seven clearances. Often going head-to-head with fellow National Academy member Eaton, Bessen got first hands to it in close and was able to use clean hands and create her own space around the ground. Bessen has terrific stoppage smarts and can create plenty be it in midfield or attack.

#17 Sophie Thredgold (Defender/Midfielder)

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 8 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Like Ross, Thredgold built on her Round 1 game with an improved Round 2 match, producing a more complete performance. Defensively, Thredgold was superb, laying eight tackles and making life difficult for the Central midfielders, and then also showing she has the nous to power through stoppages with ball in hand. Late in the third term, Thredgold used quick hands to transition the ball from congestion going forward, leading to a Ruby Cunningham goal.

#26 Lily Smart (Wing)

Stats: 5 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50

Continuing to develop her craft at senior level, Smart again worked hard up and down the ground even without huge numbers. When she did win it she was generally clean, while her defensive nature pressured the opposition as well. Smart had a clever play in the final term where under pressure instead of taking possession, kept the ball in front of her with a clever tap.

NORWOOD:

#14 Kate Alexander (Ruck)

Stats: 8 disposals, 3 tackles, 28 hitouts, 3 clearances, 1 rebound 50

While Alexander had a tough ask against the experienced Tess Huxtable, she had a massive third term and began to get on top of the West Adelaide ruck. While the momentum of both ebbed and flowed through the match, Alexander took advantage of her height against Georgie Pater and showed she could seize control around the stoppages. Her ruck craft is quite strong and she has a crack once the ball hits the deck as well.

#18 Charlee Brooksby (Forward)

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

It was a spirited debut from the bottom-ager who might not have won a stack of the ball, but defensively she was outstanding. She was able to match it with the bigger bodies and did have a few big moments for a debutant that included attacking it hard on the wing and ran out of defence. Did cop a bit of cramp late in the match which is to be expected.

#39 Charli Hazelhurst (Utility)

Stats: 9 disposals, 8 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

Played all over the ground but was primarily forward and rolling into the midfield. Her biggest highlight came in the second term where one-on-one she bumped over the smaller Sim, cleanly picked it up, turned and snapped a goal from 25m out. She looked lively both up forward and in the midfield with her size and athleticism a problem for the opposition.

WEST ADELAIDE:

#3 Lucy Waye (Forward)

Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Waye just kept bobbing up throughout the match be it through a fierce tackle, or setting up a goal scoring opportunity for her teammates. She snapped a brilliant goal from 35 out in the first term to show her classiness around the big sticks, then set up the Pater goal by stealing a Hazelhurst handball at the stoppage. A unique prospect compared to quite a few others with elite speed as well.

#4 Emily Mableson (Defender/Midfielder)

Stats: 18 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Rotated between midfield and defence, Mableson is a reliable player who continues to keep the ball in constant motion and makes good decisions down the field. She has great technique even if they don’t hit the target every single time, but her hands in traffic and ability to get the ball free consistently is terrific. Despite the fact she is still 18 months away from being draft eligible, Mableson is mature beyond her years with the way she goes about it, particularly in directing traffic both in defence and at the stoppages.

#46 Gracie Sim (Defender)

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

Often had to battle against the taller Hazelhurst and put her body on the line several times. She won a free kick for holding the ball midway through the second term thanks to a great tackle, and defensively she was rock solid all game.

WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS:

#7 Maia Freemantle (Wing)

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks (1 contested), 5 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Coming onto the wing off a bench then consistently pushing forward, Freemantle showed her touch of class with either a sidestep here, or a bullet kick there. She kicked her first goal of the season midway through the second term as she was tackled running towards goal when the Eagles were on top, and she has a high impact-per-possession rate thanks to her penetration, vision and execution.

#15 Lucy Moore (Midfielder)

Stats: 9 disposals, 8 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

Not as prolific as her first game of the season through the middle last week, but Moore still crashed and bashed her way around the stoppages, laying almost as many tackles as she had possessions. Moore had a chance on goal with a snap around her body six minutes onto the contest but bounced the wrong side of the goal post. Her drive when she got to the outside was also important even if she did not get it too often.

#22 Imogen Trengove (Forward)

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 7 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals, 2 behinds

A superb game from Trengove who was best-on from her side kicking two goals and having a couple of other chances. What really stood out in her game was her second and third efforts which included kicking forward then running on to receive the next touch rather than giving up on the play. Quite often she lost her direct opponent with those running patterns, and was rewarded with an early goal thanks to them. She kicked her second against the flow late in the fourth term to snap a run of five consecutive majors by the Bays to give her side a six-point buffer.

#36 Ruby Lynch (Forward)

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 3 hitouts, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Went another step further than on debut and looked ultra-dangerous. She clunked a couple of grabs and kicked a ridiculous goal from 60m out. It bounced home with open goalsquare to get the fans up and about early. She is very raw and tried another should a little closer in but sent it wide, but when she has some continuity and further development, her potential is endless.

GLENELG:

#6 Georgie Fielder (Wing)

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

Spent more time on the wing rather than inside and it reflected in her numbers with a lot of the inside midfielders recording more totals. She used the ball well and has a really quick first few steps to create separation on her opponent. Always looking classy, even if she does not win possession, Fielder gets into dangerous spots to be there if required.

#9 Eloise Mackereth (Forward)

Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks (1 contested), 2 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 behind

Ignore the numbers, Mackereth’s game was still a step up on the week before and she keeps threatening to breakout against a defence. Her work rate was better from earlier and it was more a case of having no space to work with, or just having balls delivered to her feet due to pressure up teh ground. When she did get open space to lead, she marked, and her continual presentation is a big tick. What the stats won’t tell you is the fact she set up goals to both Horne and Jess Bates with her only set shot just missing to the left from 40m.

#11 Jordan Horne (Forward)

Stats: 7 disposals, 1 mark, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

Just makes the most of her chances, and she only really got one good look on goal. She won it with a split second and snapped truly to begin what was a long climb back for the Bays. Her work rate was high and she is not afraid to cover serious amounts of ground for little individual reward.

#33 Tessa Davis (Defender)

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks (2 contested), 4 tackles, 9 rebound 50s

Once again looked comfortable in defence, with the second-gamer tasked with some kickouts and being a rebounding force. Her hands were strong, and while she found the task a little more challenging – with Eagles having had the advantage of seeing her the week before – she still impacted the contest from defence with her offensive ball movement.

SOUTH ADELAIDE:

#19 Taya Maxwell (Utility)

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 13 hitouts, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

North Adelaide looked to have done work on Maxwell after the bottom-ager’s massive game in Round 1, and while she was less influential, still got great experience rolling through the ruck, midfield and even forward. She can use the ball effectively and apply great defensive pressure, and looms as a player opposition sides will need to quell due to her power around the contest and point of difference to the other smaller midfielders.

#20 Layla Vizgaudis (Midfielder/Forward)

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

Had a big start to the match, winning a number of touches in the opening couple of minutes. What she does so well is getting her hands free when under pressure and dishing off, or finding pockets of space to run into. She is a distributor forward of centre, and though lighter than some of her opponents, is tough and will bounce back up.

#25 Emma Charlton (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 25 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 10 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The standout player of the Panthers for the week, Charlton maximised the fact North had focused on quelling others to produced a best on ground performance. She racked up double-digit clearances and rotated well between onball and the forward 50, bringing the pressure that forced turnovers. She was clean by hand and has nice footy smarts, not to mention the knack of finding the ball in all thirds of the ground.

#56 Lily Baxter (Wing)

Stats: 12 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The top-age Baxter had some key moments throughout the game as she ran hard between the arcs. Her delivery inside 50 early in the fourth term set up Shae Archbold‘s sole South goal. When she won it she used it well and had composure. While the outside can be a thankless role in terms of individual production, Baxter does not waste many touches when she does win it.

#60 Marley Tape (Defender)

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles

Has not looked out of place at senior level, with Tape gaining plenty of experience. When attempting to mark running off the bench to half-back she was bumped off it by the experienced Erin Sundstrom which lead to a Turner goal, though she did not let that worry her. Tape’s courage was on display both at ground level and in the air, earning herself a free kick midway through the last for the latter, and delivering a nice kick to half-forward.

NORTH ADELAIDE:

#3 Bailey Murray (Defender)

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Has found a nice place in defence pushing up the ground to intercept at times, being a higher running player. She gets back to help out her fellow backs and does not panic under pressure. With ball in hand she generally used it well and though sometimes outmuscled one-on-one, is more of the distributing type who can do damage with her awareness.

#4 Iris Newman (Forward/Wing)

Stats: 4 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s

Newman started on the wing against Lauren Clifton before drifting forward in a more familiar role. After an impressive game in Round 1, it was just a quieter one from Newman who still cracked in showing great courage, as well as the odd burst both off half-back and at half-forward. Seemed to impact more than her statline suggested though.

#5 Polly Turner (Forward)

Stats: 8 disposals, 4 marks (3 contested), 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Turner is becoming a problem for opposition defences across the first fortnight, clunking three contested marks and looking like breaking a game completely open on the regular. She kicked her only goal from 15m out on the run, though had another chance beating Esther Schirmer one-on-one at ground level – not an easy feat – and then turning to snap which just missed. Her aerial work is superb and she uses the ball well to-boot too.

#11 Lucy Reddaway (Forward)

Stats: 4 disposals, 5 tackles, 1 inside 50

Playing her second SANFLW game and first of the season, the bottom-ager acted as that clever forward who applied pressure to lock the ball inside 50. She pounced on a loose ball late in the first half but her quick snap was intercepted on the goalline by a South defender. Late in the match, Reddaway pushed up to the wing but got a horror bounce, though she then laid a strong follow-up tackle.