TOP two sides Woodville-West Torrens and South Adelaide combined for nine of the 24 players in our Round 7 SANFL Women’s Team of the Week, with the Panthers marginally ahead (5-4), though the Eagles earned both leadership roles in the hypothetical side.

Woodville-West Torrens in-form onballer Christina Leuzzi was handed the captaincy duties after her performance of 31 disposals, three marks, 10 tackles, nine clearances, two inside 50s and two rebound 50s against Glenelg. Her performance on the inside enabled teammate Klaudia O’Neill to slam home a league record-equalling six goals, four of which came in the last term to be named vice-captain of the side.

Along them was three-goal forward Imogen Trengove whose strong top-age season rolled on, while experienced ruck Leah Cutting took up her regular spot in the team. She was on the interchange this time with her fellow state ruck Soriah Moon earning the starting honours after a ridiculous 42 hitouts and nine clearances from 27 disposals in the Panthers’ win over Central District.

Moon was one of five Panthers in the side, with forwards Shae Archbold and Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap – who both kicked two goals – inside 50. Hard-nosed midfielder Emma Charlton shook off attention to have an impact in the second half and made the bench, while Mel Anderson worked hard up and down the ground for South Adelaide.

With Anderson on one wing, the centre line was completed by a pair of top-age Double Blues in the State Academy. Sturt’s National Academy member Monique Bessen was huge both through the middle and up forward, named in the centre on this occasion, while winger Lily Smart found her place in that role for the team. The other Sturt representative is defender Isabella Drew who played a key role in rebounding from the back 50.

Next to Drew is a fellow Team of the Week debutant in Norwood’s Lottie Almond, playing just her second game. She did her best when the game was at its hottest against North Adelaide and in the Team of the Week is flanked on the opposite side by Roosters star Laela Ebert. The three other players from that game – in what was a really even overall performance within their respective sides – are found on the bench in North Adelaide duo Julia Clark and Ash George and Norwood’s Jade Halfpenny.

West Adelaide skipper Madison Russell is the other interchange player, with the Bloods leader in the team with hard-working forward Lucy Waye. Completing the front six is Central District speedster Tesharna Maher, who along with teammate and defender Madison Lane are the Dogs representatives.

Glenelg might still be winless but showed signs against the Eagles early and actually ended up with three players in the Team of the Week, with defensive duo Ash Dyer-Pietsch and Marie Martino providing important rebound out of the back 50, while Jessica Bates returned to the side after a rare week out of it last round following a back-to-business performance through the midfield with a round-high 32 touches.

There were more than 40 players on the shortlist to make the Team of the Week, with the three judged the closest to squeezing in being the three listed emergencies. They were South Adelaide’s Taya Maxwell, West Adelaide’s Zoe Venning and Central District’s Dakota Williams.

2025 SANFLW TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 6

B: Madison Lane (Central District) – Ash Dyer-Pietsch (Glenelg) – Marie Martino (Glenelg)
HB: Lottie Almond (Norwood) – Isabella Drew (Sturt) – Laela Ebert (North Adelaide)
C: Lily Smart (Sturt) – Monique Bessen (Sturt) – Mel Anderson (South Adelaide)
HF: Tesharna Maher (Central District) – Shae Archbold (South Adelaide) – Imogen Trengove (WWT Eagles)
F: Lucy Waye (West Adelaide) – Klaudia O’Neill (WWT Eagles) (vc) – Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap (South Adelaide)
R: Soriah Moon (South Adelaide) – Jess Bates (Glenelg) – Christina Leuzzi (WWT Eagles) (c)
INT: Emma Charlton (South Adelaide) – Julia Clark (North Adelaide) – Ash George (North Adelaide) – Leah Cutting (WWT Eagles) – Jade Halfpenny (Norwood) – Madi Russell (West Adelaide)

EMG: Taya Maxwell (South Adelaide) – Zoe Venning (West Adelaide) – Dakota Williams (Central District)