ROUND 1 of the 2026 SANFL Women’s season was completed over the weekend with the state’s best young talent lining up for their clubs across four fixtures. We took note of how each of the State Academy members performed in the opening round of action.

All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

>> ROUND 1: Recap | Player Focus

CENTRAL DISTRICT:

#3 Miyu Endersby (Ruck/Defender)

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 9 tackles, 26 hitouts, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 4 rebound 50s

Endersby was a force in the ruck all day, winning 26 hitouts, while contributing with nine tackles that reflected genuine follow-up work after her own taps. She reads the ball off the tap well and goes in hard to win a secondary position, while being a natural at rotating back into defence. Having been stationed as a key defender before, she knows when to push into the hole to mark in defensive 50. Boasts a lovely long kick and the performance showed a great start for the National Academy member.

#9 Charlotte Maurits (Forward)

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks (1 contested), 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s

Maurits was lively and creative across the forward half, doing her best work when getting the ball moving quickly. A lovely short pass inside 50 after catching her opponent holding the ball was a highlight early, and her ability to shrug a tackle and deliver cleanly under pressure was evident in the fourth term – a brilliant shrug followed by a kick to Shelby Smith that set up a goal to Ella Randall was the moment of the day for the Bulldogs. Not massive numbers by any means, but her impact through quick hands and creative delivery was consistent and she is such a damaging ball user.

#15 Olivia Leslie (Defender)

Stats: 6 disposals, 2 marks, 1 rebound 50

On debut in the SANFLW, Leslie spent time in defence and showed composure on the occasions she had the ball – getting a handball out of the back 50 and driving it to the wing in the final term. She was run down for a goal against in the third term, which is the nature of debut football at the senior level. Encouraging signs for a first-up appearance at senior state league level.

#18 Demi Holloway (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 8 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 3 clearances

Holloway was used across multiple roles, starting forward and rotating into the middle as the game went on. She was clean with her hands when required and showed her willingness to push into the corridor – a nice pickup in the middle in the third term and a lateral pass after marking in the 17th minute were tidy contributions. Three clearances from eight disposals reflects her impact around the ball when she was in the action.

NORTH ADELAIDE:

#5 Polly Turner (Forward)

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 marks (1 contested), 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

Turner was North Adelaide’s most lively forward, moving between the attack and midfield as the game demanded. She converted a goal in the second term after a terrible kick-out dropped the ball in her lap from 15 metres out, and showed her contested marking ability with a spectacular grab on the wing in the final term before wheeling and driving it to centre half-forward. She was caught a couple of times being a little fumbly at ground level and put under pressure by the Bulldogs’ defence, but her range of marks and willingness to push up and compete through the middle made her a consistent threat.

#14 Maya Fuller (Defender)

Stats: 5 disposals, 2 tackles

Fuller had limited opportunities across the day but worked hard in her defensive role, picking up Maurits and following her into the contest in the final term. She dropped a mark on the wing but reacted quickly to gather and clear, and did the defensive work required of her. A quieter appearance but also just played her defensive role.

WEST ADELAIDE:

#3 Emily Mableson (Midfielder)

Stats: 21 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Mableson lived up to her billing as one of the competition’s most exciting young midfielders, producing a composed and damaging performance across four quarters. Her goal was the moment of the day – throwing it on the left to the hotspot from half-forward before running hard and slamming home off the same foot, a second-effort play that showed both her attacking instinct and her composure under pressure. She also set up a goal to Alaitz Kelly with a lovely clearance out of the defensive 50, and found Newitt with a couple of pinpoint kicks in the second half that led directly to scoring opportunities. Clean, assured and clearly one of the competition’s best young players.

#24 Chelsea Newitt (Forward)

Stats: 17 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 3 goals

It was a huge start for Newitt who slammed home three goals in Round 1, two back-to-back in the final term. She kicked her first from a long-range set shot after a holding the ball free kick, then snapped truly from the pocket early in the fourth, before marking a few minutes later and goaling from close range. In between she was busy through the middle and half-forward, gathering cleanly and showing her two-way running with five tackles to complement the scoring.

#30 Sarah Deed (Forward)

Stats: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

The bottom-ager was everywhere across the forward line and one of West Adelaide’s best in a strong team performance. Her two goals — a composed finish after staying all alone inside 50 and a brilliant read of the ball in flight to mark in the goalsquare from behind the pack — showed the football instinct that makes her such an intriguing prospect. She was unfortunate not to have more, getting run down inside 50 on one occasion when a goal looked certain, and was strong with the ball in hand when she found it on the wing. One to watch over the next 18 months.

GLENELG:

#6 Georgie Fielder (Midfielder)

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 9 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Fielder had her hands full with the task of running alongside Mableson at times – while inflicting plenty of damage herself – and did so with credit, holding her line well and mopping up on the wing on multiple occasions. She covered the ground well and was competitive at every contest, laying nine tackles in a display that reflected real defensive intent. Her running capacity was a feature — receiving a handball and kicking cleanly to centre half-forward was a recurring play — and she was still competitive in the final term. A strong opening round despite the result.

#18 Charlotte O’Sullivan (Forward)

Stats: 6 disposals, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

O’Sullivan had a quiet afternoon by the numbers, but made her most important contribution count – a smart throw onto the boot from 35 metres that bounced home for a goal in the third term was the kind of instinctive forward play that will earn her more opportunities as the season develops. She had an earlier chance from close range but wasn’t aware of the tackle coming and was dispossessed. Limited touches, but an important contribution.

#32 Tori Evans (Defender)

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks (2 contested), 1 tackle, 4 rebound 50s

Evans was a reliable presence in the Bays’ backline, taking two contested marks from four grabs across the game. Her best work came in the final term — a strong mark on the goalline followed by a burst away and drive to a contest, then a clean mop-up and kick to half-back to keep things tidy. Her four rebound 50s tell the story of a defender who was consistently involved in repelling the Bloods’ attacks.

WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS:

#4 Julia Faulkner (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Faulkner was at her creative best, doing the kind of damage that doesn’t always show in the stat line but consistently kept the Eagles in the contest. Her first-term purple patch — an intercept mark, a strong tackle, quick hands inside 50 all in quick succession — set the tone, and she was central to the Eagles’ best scoring passages in the third and fourth terms. A lovely handball release to Jiarna Zerella to set up a goal in the third term and a magnificent read off hands in the fourth to set up another Zerella major were the standout moments. She was our Player Focus for Round 1.

>> PLAYER FOCUS: Julia Faulker

#15 Lucy Moore (Midfielder)

Stats: 20 disposals, 1 mark (1 contested), 8 tackles, 9 clearances, 1 inside 50

A brilliant display around the contest, Moore racked up a game-high nine clearances. Moore’s ability to win the ball at the coalface and release under pressure was on show throughout, and her lovely kick to Klaudia O’Neill in the third term showed the quality she brings when given time and space. Eight tackles alongside the clearance work is a genuine inside performance, and she was still laying strong tackles and winning handballs cleanly in the final term when others had faded. Quietly one of the most productive young midfielders in South Australia.

#36 Ruby Lynch (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 19 disposals, 6 marks (2 contested), 5 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

Lynch was competitive and dangerous in the second half particularly, building through the game as the Eagles’ challenge intensified. She juggled a contested intercept mark in the third term and took a strong intercept mark at half-forward in the final term, kicking to the hotspot in a big passage of play. Her best individual chance came at the 14-minute mark of the final term — winning the ball, bursting away from 15 metres, but pushing it wide when the goal was there. The inside and outside dimensions to her game were both evident across the four quarters, and the six marks reflected her aerial reliability throughout.

STURT:

#7 Lily Whiteman (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s

Whiteman has some class with ball in hand, but it was her defensive side that truly stood out in the match, laying seven tackles in the draw. She was clean by hand and showing her versatility by spending time up the ground and laying a great tackle on Moore when she had a chance to take a shot. Her work at ground level was consistently clean and her smarts in the corridor were a feature throughout.

#21 Skout Young (Forward)

Stats: 8 disposals, 2 marks (1 contested), 3 tackles, 1 inside 50

Young was busy in attack, getting to dangerous spots and threatening on a few occasions without being able to fully capitalise. She took a strong contested mark from 35 metres and tried to make things happen when pushing up the ground, though was caught holding the ball charging forward and put under pressure at various points. A player who will benefit from more senior exposure as the season progresses.

#36 Maddy Nuss (Forward)

Stats: 6 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals

Two goals from six disposals tells you everything about Nuss’s impact — both were classy finishes that showed genuine forward instinct. A checkside from the pocket in the first term and a composed set shot from 30 metres just before the siren both required real composure. She also set up the Georgia King goal in the third term with a strong tackle and a well-placed kick inside 50. An eye-catching contribution from a player who makes things count.

SOUTH ADELAIDE:

#8 Hope Taylor (Wing/Forward)

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50

Taylor was dynamic and inventive, producing two moments of elite football IQ that stood out across the whole round. A behind-the-head tap to Chanel May to set up a goal in the second term was as smart a play as you will see, and a run-down tackle on Coby Morgan on the attacking side of the wing in the final term showed her defensive intensity. She covered enormous ground from forward to wing and back, and while the scoreboard didn’t fully reflect her contribution, her impact on the game was felt throughout.

#20 Layla Vizgaudis (Midfielder)

Stats: 22 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 7 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Back in the Panthers’ midfield and looking every bit the player who impressed last season, Vizgaudis was sharp and damaging through the clearances all day. Her seven clearances from 22 disposals is a strong return, and her lightning handball touch – which she showed on multiple occasions getting the ball away under immediate pressure – was again on full display. Vizgaudis drove inside 50 from her clearances consistently and set up Emily Brockhurst for a goal in the second term with a long clearing kick from the centre stoppage.

#60 Marley Tape (Defender)

Stats: 6 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 rebound 50s

Tape worked quietly in defence across the game, keeping things tidy at the back with her quick hands and reliable positioning. She soccered clear from danger and handled the ball cleanly by hand on a couple of occasions, doing the kind of unheralded defensive work that keeps teams safe. Limited opportunities but composed.

NORWOOD:

#8 Lani Cocks (Midfielder)

Stats: 19 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 2 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Cocks was Norwood’s best and one of the more impressive individual performances across the round. Her eight tackles reflected relentless pressure throughout, and her goal in the fourth term – a snap from the pocket off a handball receive – was a deserved reward for a hard day’s work. Her brilliant smother on Tiffany King in the second term followed by winning the ball back under immediate pressure was the defensive moment of her day. She covers the ground well, applies defensive pressure consistently, and is dangerous when given space to push forward. All-round star who will be key to Norwood’s chances this season.

#14 Kate Alexander (Ruck)

Stats: 7 disposals, 2 tackles, 13 hitouts

Alexander had a tough matchup against Soriah Moon but competed hard in the ruck throughout, jumping well and going hard at the contest consistently. She showed clean hands under pressure, getting a handball away despite being tackled after a ruck stoppage. Will be better for the experience against the league’s best ruck.

#18 Charlee Brooksby (Wing)

Stats: 16 disposals, 7 marks, 1 tackle, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 2 behinds

A smooth operator, Brooksby showing her aerial presence throughout the day by finding space and taking seven marks. The top-ager showed her low pass quality consistently, hitting half-forward targets with flat, penetrating kicks rather than floating the ball in. Her two behinds from set shots reflected a frustrating afternoon in front of goal, with both coming from the same position and just missing. A player with real ability who will make more of those chances as the season goes on.

#21 Elke Cameron (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Cameron was versatile and competitive, predominantly playing half-forward but working up to the stoppages throughout the game. Her four marks across the ground showed her aerial ability, and four clearances from 10 disposals showed she was impactful well beyond her disposal count. She was physical when required and can provide plenty of forward forays.