CLEARLY the top best sides all year face off in the second semi-final to determine which side gets the easier passage through to the SANFL Women’s Grand Final in a fortnight. Both teams have a win against the other this year and only two losses each for the season, setting up a massive encounter on Sunday.

NEED TO KNOW

Date: Sunday, July 13
Venue: Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville
Local Time: 12pm

FORM

Woodville-West Torrens snatched back top spot last week with the impressive victory over South Adelaide at Noarlunga. Now back at home, the Eagles will look to edge ahead in the season win-loss record in what many expect will be the third of four meetings between the sides. South Adelaide had been on an 11-game winning streak prior to its Round 14 loss, but the Panthers also ended the Eagles’ eight-game winning streak back in Round 9 by four points.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Woodville-West Torrens: 1
South Adelaide: 8

The Round 14 win was the first time in the Eagles’ history they have beaten South Adelaide, though will be looking to break their duck at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval where they are 0-4 against the Panthers. The largest losing margin at the ground has been 20 points however, with the other three in single digits including the four-point loss earlier this season.

TEAMS

Woodville-West Torrens:

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

South Adelaide:

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

CHANGES

Woodville-West Torrens:

In: Marlie Fiegert, Asha Gooley, Madison Turner
Out: Nil.

South Adelaide:

In: Chloe Meyers, Seraphina Moon, Lucy Northcott, Marley Tape
Out: Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn (Unavailable – Allies)

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Both these teams will likely feature heavily in next year’s AFL Women’s Draft with a stack of bottom-age prospects running around. Eagles duo Julia Faulkner and Lucy Moore were arguably their side’s best last round, while Layla Vizgaudis and Emma Charlton were superb for the Panthers. Hope Taylor and Ruby Lynch are other 2008-born players in the huge final, while the top-age component still has National Academy member Lily Baxter and South Australian skipper Imogen Trengove.

From a more mature-age standpoint, South Adelaide’s Melissa Anderson, Esther Schirmer and Shae Archbold all have draftable qualities, while tall defender Tiffany King attracted draft interest last year. For the Eagles, Christina Leuzzi has already been added to the Crows list, while Zahlia Niemann in defence and the exciting Alice Tentye have been some names to watch this season.

PREDICTION

A ripping contest awaits that could go either way. At home and coming off the win last week, expect the Eagles to be deserving favourites. The inclusion of Lucy Northcott will stretch the Eagles’ back five a little more, but bringing in Marlie Fiegert adds some more punch to the Woodville-West Torrens midfield and forwardlines, particularly now in the absence of Leuzzi. Eagles by four points.