A TOUGH final round of action sorted out the top four order and with it came our last SANFLW Team of the Week. In Round 14, it was Woodville-West Torrens and West Adelaide who topped all-comers with four representatives, while Central Districts and Sturt, as well as losing sides South Adelaide and Norwood had three apiece.

Captaining the hypothetical team for the last round was none other than Jess Bates, who was enormous once more, collecting 32 disposals, four marks, 10 clearances and laying nine tackles in Glenelg’s loss to the Bloods. Her vice-captain for Round 14 was Central District forward Katelyn Rosenzweig who took out the league goalkicking and still left plenty out there with 4.5 from 17 disposals, five marks and six inside 50s.

While Bates was only one of two Bays – alongside young defender Tessa Davis – in the team, Rosenzweig had three other Dogs with her including Tesharna Maher (three goals) and Sophie Eaton (19 disposals, eight marks) inside 50. Midfielder Dakota Williams (21 disposals, eight clearances) was the other Central District player, named on the bench after another strong game on-ball.

Leading the way in 2025 were Woodville-West Torrens Eagles who finished on a high with four players, including key forward Klaudia O’Neill – whose four goals put her second overall behind Rosenzweig on the goalkicking list – and bottom-ager Julia Faulkner (20 disposals, eight tackles and six clearances). Another 2008-born talent in Lucy Moore (20 disposals, nine tackles and eight clearances) was named on the bench, while defender Zahlia Niemann (13 disposals, four marks and seven rebound 50s) continued her great season.

West Adelaide could not make finals coming into Round 14, but still produced a strong performance, earning a quartet of player in the SANFLW Team of the Week. Skipper Madi Russell (13 disposals, three marks and five rebound 50s) was named in the back pocket, while bottom-age jet Emily Mableson (21 disposals, three marks) slotted into half-back. Midfielders Zoe Venning (32 disposals, eight clearances) and Hannah Button (24 disposals, 12 tackles and five clearances) were the other Bloods in the team.

Gaining the fourth and final spot in the postseason series, Sturt picked up three players in the side with one in each third of the ground. Defender Lily Whitcombe (14 disposals, four marks), midfielder Isobel Kuiper (25 disposals, 14 tackles and eight clearances) and forward Georgia King (two goals) were the Double Blues representatives.

North Adelaide on the other hand had a sole Rooster in the side with Jamie Parish (20 disposals, three marks, four clearances, four tackles, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s) playing both defence and midfield.

In a losing performance, South Adelaide still had three players as star ruck Soriah Moon (13 disposals, 43 hitouts, seven clearances and four inside 50s) assumed her spot in the main role, while bottom-age duo Emma Charlton (19 disposals, eight tackles and nine clearances) and Layla Vizgaudis (21 disposals, five tackles and five inside 50s) made it onto the bench.

For Norwood, ultra-consistent Jade Halfpenny (29 disposals, 10 marks – four contested – eight clearances and a goal) was huge once again, while young gun Lani Cocks (22 disposals, eight tackles and a goal) was superb too. Defender Georgie Jaques (15 disposals, five marks – three contested – and seven rebound 50s) rounded out the 24-strong squad and would be the backup ruck to Moon.

Though tough to narrow down to just three emergencies, those chosen were South Adelaide’s Emily Brockhurst, West Adelaide’s Sarah Deed and Norwood’s Kiana Lee.

2025 SANFLW TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 14

B: Madi Russell (West Adelaide) – Zahlia Niemann (WWT Eagles) – Lily Whitcombe (Sturt)
HB: Jamie Parish (North Adelaide) – Georgie Jaques (Norwood) – Emily Mableson (West Adelaide) 
C: Jade Halfpenny (Norwood) – Zoe Venning (West Adelaide) – Lani Cocks (Norwood)
HF: Sophie Eaton (Central District) – Katelyn Rosenzweig (Central District) (cv) – Julia Faulkner (WWT Eagles
F: Tesharna Maher (Central District) – Klaudia O’Neill (WWT Eagles) – Georgia King (Sturt)
R: Soriah Moon (South Adelaide) – Isobel Kuiper (Sturt) – Jess Bates (Glenelg) (c)
INT: Hannah Button (West Adelaide) – Emma Charlton (South Adelaide) – Tessa Davis (Glenelg) – Lucy Moore (WWT Eagles) – Layla Vizgaudis (South Adelaide) – Dakota Williams (Central District)

EMG: Emily Brockhurst (South Adelaide) – Sarah Deed (West Adelaide) – Kiana Lee (Norwood)