AFTER an entertaining season, it all comes down to the final round. Five SANFL Women’s sides will fill out the final four spots, with South Adelaide, Woodville-West Torrens and North Adelaide locked in, while Sturt and Central District will hope to win their respective matches to secure fourth. But even up the other end of the ladder the last few spots can change in one of the more even seasons to-date.

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FINALS CALCULATIONS

There is so much on the line despite both sides set to face each other for a spot in the grand final next week. The difference is, the winner will get homeground advantage in week one of finals. Both look that step ahead of the rest on their day, but all eyes will be on this massive contest between the two biggest premiership contenders.

TEAMS

South Adelaide:

B: Tiffany King, Esther Schirmer
HB: Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap, Jaslynne Smith, Samantha Pratt
C: Hope Taylor, Melissa Anderson, Lauren Clifton
HF: Tabitha Prosser, Shae Archbold, Doreena Hansen
F: Emily Brockhurst, Lily Baxter
R: Soriah Moon, Caitlin Couch, Emma Charlton
INT: Demi-Lee Braun, Charlotte Dolan, Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn, Molly Jenkins, Tamika May, Chloe Meyers, Seraphina Moon, Layla Vizgaudis

Woodville-West Torrens:

B: Zahlia Niemann, Kalliopi Gikas
HB: Audrey Holt, Annie Falkenberg, Cheryllee Waters
C: Lucy Moore, Julia Faulkner, Ruby Lynch
HF: Rosette Zerella, Amie Blanden, Olivia Evans
F: Imogen Trengove, Alice Tentye
R: Leah Cutting, Klaudia O’Neill, Sophie Zuill
INT: Ashley Baker, Isabella Benedictson, Asha Gooley, Bianca Portaro, Sinead Saunders, Cleo Simpson, Madison Turner, Brianna Walling

CHANGES

South Adelaide:

In: Lily Baxter, Emma Charlton, Caitlin Couch, Tamika May, Chloe Meyers, Hope Taylor, Layla Vizgaudis
Out: Marley Tape (Illness), Zoe Flesfadar (Concussion), Lucy Northcott (Work), Jessica Waterhouse (Unavailable)

Woodville-West Torrens:

In: Julia Faulkner, Ruby Lynch, Lucy Moore, Imogen Trengove
Out: McKenzie Dowrick (Unavailable)

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Both sides will be relieved to regain their State Academy members with bottom-age duo Emma Charlton and Layla Vizgaudis back with National Academy member Lily Baxter and the smart Hope Taylor for South.

Croweaters skipper Imogen Trengove returns to the Eagles and will work alongside Julia Faulkner and Lucy Moore who both impressed for their state. The Eagles also regain Ruby Lynch after a big job against Western Australia in a bid to stretch the Panthers’ Soriah Moon who does not have the injured Taya Maxwell alongside her.

PREDICTION

South Adelaide won the respective clash earlier in the year and is at home so are favoured for the game, but you can never deny the Eagles given their depth and work in 2025. The loss of Christina Leuzzi to the AFLW definitely hurts, but the Panthers without Maxwell balances that out too.

FINALS CALCULATIONS

The first of the finals-defining clashes will determine whether or not the next match is a live contest, or a dead rubber. If Central District beat Norwood, then the Dogs temporarily take fourth spot and have to hope Sturt loses. If Norwood gets up though, it is season over for Central District.

TEAMS

Central District:

B: Georgia Madigan, Holly Tralaggan
HB: Alysha Healy, Tashayla Corfield, Tara Lord
C: Karissa Searle, Dakota Williams, Laitiah Huynh
HF: Sophie Eaton, Katelyn Rosenzweig, Demi Holloway
F: Tesharna Maher, Miyu Endersby
R: Amy Gaedtke, Madison Lane, Lauren Breguet
INT: Tessa Doumanis, Shelby Raven, Ella Sergi, Caitlen Teague, Taliyah Uncle, Akeira-Juliet Whichello, Elizabeth Wilson, Jovanka Zecevic

Norwood:

B: Georgie Jaques, Ashlee Gould
HB: Sarah Branford, Sophie Arkun, Lottie Almond
C: Charlee Brooksby, Emily Bartsch, Emma Clark
HF: Charli Hazelhurst, Elke Cameron, Sharmaine Crosby
F: Adrienne Davies, Kiana Lee
R: Kate Alexander, Lani Cocks, Jade Halfpenny
INT: Georgina Birchall, Elle Lineage, Coby Morgan, Amelia Rusden, Lana Schwerdt

CHANGES

Central District:

In: Sophie Eaton, Miyu Endersby, Holly Tralaggan
Out: Nil.

Norwood:

In: Kate Alexander, Georgina Birchall, Charlee Brooksby, Charli Hazelhurst
Out: Sophie Armitstead (Omitted), Grace Whittaker (Unavailable), Jazmine Egan (Omitted), Kyah Jaffer (Omitted)

DRAFT PROSPECTS

National Academy member Sophie Eaton and bottom-age tall utility Miyu Endersby will add important depth to the Bulldogs lineup as two of the most talented running around. Eaton has been huge in defence for the Croweaters, while Endersby has played multiple roles and will likely rotate through the ruck.

Norwood’s regained the injured Charli Hazelhurst, ruck Kate Alexander and the smooth-moving Charlee Brooksby, while Under 16s MVP Lani Cocks is coming off an enormous 28-disposal second game.

PREDICTION

Central District has more on the line and is at home, though Norwood would love nothing more than to spoil the Bulldogs’ party. The homeground advantage tips the ledger in Central’s favour, though it is a genuine 50/50 game if both sides play at their best.

FINALS CALCULATIONS

No doubt Sturt fans will be keeping a close eye on thr earlier game, knowing that if Norwood wins, then regardless of result in their clash against North Adelaide, the Double Blues will take on the Roosters a week later. If the Dogs get up, then the battle becomes 100 times more important, while the same can be said for North Adelaide determining which side it faces in the knockout semi-final.

TEAMS

North Adelaide:

B: Lara Harding, Lauren Hoffmann
HB: Isabella Beaumont, Ella Metcalfe, Jamie Parish
C: Maya Fuller, Djimila Totham, Erin Sundstrom
HF: Sky Jensen, Zara Molloy, Aprille Crooks
F: Polly Turner, Lucy Reddaway
R: Jasmine Dallimore, Julia Clark, Caitlin Hardin
INT: Anja Bancevic, Nevaeh Ebert, Lauren Gauci, Ruby Hancock, Sasha Hardin, Finlay Menz, Bailey Murray, Laura Niejalke

Sturt:

B: Tahlia Walker, Lily Whitcombe
HB: Gemma Grivell, Hannah Prenzler, Isabella Drew
C: Skout Young, Georgia Swan, Lily Whiteman
HF: Sienna Fox, Georgia King, Ruby Cunningham
F: Millie McCarthy, Molly Fletcher
R: Jasmin Fejo, Isobel Kuiper, Alisha Gepp
INT: Monique Bessen, Amy Brooks-Birve, Claudia Edmonds, Grace Powell, Saskia Reynolds, Lily Smart, Sophie Thredgold, Zara Walsh

CHANGES

North Adelaide:

In: Jasmine Dallimore, Ruby Hancock, Lara Harding, Finlay Menz, Lucy Reddaway, Polly Turner
Out: Brooke Wilson (Knee), Abbie Player (Omitted), Sasha Branson (Omitted)

Sturt:

In: Monique Bessen, Claudia Edmonds, Lily Smart, Sophie Thredgold, Zara Walsh
Out: Imogen Szegedi (Unavailable), Madeline Nuss (Omitted)

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Sturt will be thrilled to regain the services of a trio of State Academy members with National Academy member Monique Bessen joined by South Australian vice-captain Sophie Thredgold and winger Lily Smart back in the Double Blues’ side. Double bottom-ager Lily Whiteman has impressed in their absences, and could go head-to-head with another youngster in Maya Fuller.

Tall utility Polly Turner has been named back in attack for the Roosters after a recent stint down in defence for both North Adelaide and the state side, lining up with Lucy Reddaway inside 50. Under 16s midfielder Caitlin Hardin continues to be a ball-winning threat.

PREDICTION

North Adelaide has been the more consistent side this season and deserve the favouritism here. However if Central District get up, expect Sturt to have that desperate motivation to win, with anything possible. Roosters for now, but if the Dogs do win, then the Double Blues will need to go to another level.

FINALS CALCULATIONS

Neither of these sides can make finals, but can still put on a good show. The Bloods can rise as high as fifth, but also fall to the bottom with a heavy loss and results going against them. Glenelg can rise up to as high as sixth – but would need a big win and results to favour them – with the incentive of three-straight victories to close out the year a tantalising one to set the Bays up for 2026.

TEAMS

West Adelaide:

B: Madi Russell, Niamh Davis
HB: Emily Mableson, Emma Chapman, Tiana Fernandez
C: Olivia Smith, Ruby Ballard, Ella Maxwell
HF: Sarah Campbell, Nicole Hooper, Lucy Waye
F: Shelby Knoll, Chelsea Newitt
R: Tess Huxtable, Hannah Button, Zoe Venning
INT: Paige Allan, Sarah Deed, Jemma Ellis, Molly Petersen, Grace Sim, Chloe Tonkin, Stephanie Tredwell, Philippa Worthley

Glenelg:

B: Tessa Davis, Lauren Edwards
HB: Marie Martino, Ella Quinn, Madelyn Zacher
C: Ash Dyer-Pietsch, Asha Dufour, Elizabeth Johnson
HF: Kori Webb, Cassie McWilliam, Samantha Franson
F: Kaitey Whittaker, Eloise Mackereth
R: Chloe Harding, Jessica Bates, Georgie Fielder
INT: Astrid Gooley, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Aleesha Robran, Lakeisha Sheffield, Ellen Tyminski

CHANGES

West Adelaide:

In: Emily Mableson, Molly Petersen, Grace Sim, Chloe Tonkin, Lucy Waye
Out: Nicola Biagi (Omitted), Kayla Mudge (Omitted)

Glenelg:

In: Tessa Davis, Georgie Fielder, Chloe Harding, Eloise Mackereth, Ellen Tyminski
Out: Lucy Weatherald (Omitted), Kayla Robran (Omitted), Matilda Wilmore (Omitted), Madisyn Freeman (Omitted), Mackenzie O’Dea (Omitted)

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Providing composure to the back half of the ground, Emily Mableson will be a welcome addition for the Bloods. Add in the hard-running of Lucy Waye and presence of key forwad/ruck Chloe Tonkin, and West Adelaide will regain some key weapons in its arsenal.

Glenelg brings back marking forward Eloise Mackereth who is coming off two goals against Western Australia, while onballer Georgie Fielder and running defender Tessa Davis are crucial additions as well.

PREDICTION

Neither of these sides can make finals, and on paper West Adelaide has been more consistent this season and are at home. But since announcing the retirements of Jessica Bates and skipper Samantha Franson, the Bays have gone to another level and are now eyeing off a third straight win. It feels like the perfect ending to their stellar careers at SANFLW level.