ANZAC Day delivers a full slate of football in the SANFL Women’s competition, with all four matches taking place on Saturday as the sides contest their second game of the new season. We preview each game and some of the young guns to watch across the league.

SEASON SO FAR

Sturt and Glenelg couldn’t be separated in Round 1 – though the manner of that stalemate couldn’t have been more different for each side. The Double Blues built a commanding 34-point lead heading into the final term against Woodville-West Torrens, only to watch the Eagles storm back and level via a last-gasp Klaudia O’Neill behind. A 34-34 draw that somehow felt like a loss.

Glenelg, meanwhile, pushed West Adelaide – the side that ran out 58-54 winners at a wind-swept Magain Stadium – all the way in a high-scoring opening round, with debutant Isla Wiencke an absolute standout and Georgie Fielder typically competitive.

CHANGES

Glenelg will be without Ellie Kellock and Kaitey Whittaker this weekend, opening the door for Lucy Weatherald among others. Sturt heads in effectively unchanged, with new coach Ange Foley expected to name a near-identical line-up to the one that controlled the game for two and a bit quarters last week.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

For Glenelg, Georgie Fielder is one of the state’s premier top-age prospects, an elite mover who covers ground effortlessly and provides real defensive intent alongside her offensive output. Fellow Academy member Tori Evans is developing into a reliable rebounding defender with a nice blend of composure and athleticism, while Charlotte O’Sullivan brings instinctive forward craft.

For Sturt, Madeline Nuss made an immediate impression in Round 1 with two goals from a creative forward role and is well worth tracking. Lily Whiteman and Skout Young are two more Double Blues in the South Australian State Academy ranks who played their role last week too.

PREDICTION

Sturt will be hungry to make amends for letting a commanding lead slip last week, and Thomas Farms Oval is a friendly venue for the Double Blues. Glenelg is without two key players but has more than enough depth to push them hard. The Tigers’ firepower is genuine, and this one has the makings of a classic ANZAC Day classic. Sturt by a couple of goals, but a Glenelg upset is not out of the question given the match-winners in the side.

SEASON SO FAR

A storyline-laden fixture as former Norwood skipper Sophie Armitstead lines up against her old side for the first time. Both teams fell to defeat in Round 1 – North Adelaide went down to Central District by 27 points in a game the Bulldogs controlled from early, while Norwood were thoroughly outclassed in the first half of their clash with South Adelaide before showing better signs after the main break. Both sides are searching for their first win of the season, which adds extra edge to an already intriguing match-up at Prospect.

CHANGES

Norwood has confirmed one debutant for Round 2, with off-season recruit Abby Klaebe set to make her first SANFLW appearance for the Redlegs. Klaebe comes with big wraps from the local leagues, having been a star at Payneham. The Redlegs — who lost a raft of experience over the off-season, including Armitstead, Tahlita Buethke and Jiarna Zerella – will be looking to the youthful core to build chemistry quickly. North Adelaide made it own adjustments with the Roosters bringing in a fresher combination after a tough first half against the Bulldogs last week.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

North Adelaide have some genuine Academy interest in this one. Polly Turner is a versatile tall with ties to both Adelaide and Carlton – a legitimate first-round candidate for 2026. Isabella Beaumont and Caitlin Hardin are other names to keep an eye on at North Adelaide in the future.

For Norwood, Charlee Brooksby is all class through the midfield and is a genuine first-round consideration with her ball use and composure under pressure, while Lani Cocks – a 2027 prospect – showed last week she is already more than capable at this level. Kate Alexander and Elke Cameron round out the Redlegs’ Academy contingent.

PREDICTION

The Armitstead storyline adds spice, but on the balance of Round 1 evidence, North Adelaide were competitive for longer in their game than the Redlegs were in theirs. The Roosters at home is a tough task for a Norwood side still finding its feet under new coach Ben Hunt. A close one, but North Adelaide to get its first points on the board.

SEASON SO FAR

West Adelaide opened the season with a narrow, but satisfying win over Glenelg, 9.4 (58) to 8.6 (54), with reigning best and fairest winner Zoe Venning producing one of the great individual performances of the opening round. Woodville-West Torrens, meanwhile, had the strangest of starts not scoring until 34 points down against Sturt, only to storm home and draw at the final siren after Klaudia O’Neill‘s boundary checkside levelled the match after the siren. The Eagles will know they should have more than a draw from Round 1 despite the remarkable character shown by Sturt in the second half.

CHANGES

West Adelaide head in largely unchanged after a winning display. Jemima Woods, who was among the new-season recruits, now has the damaging duo of Stevie-Lee Thompson and Adrienne Davies to complement her as the season progresses, however the downside is losing Emily Mableson (National Academy commitments). Woodville-West Torrens made minimal adjustments though Maia Freemantle has been named after missing Round 1.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Chelsea Newitt and Sarah Deed produced some serious X-factor up forward when combining for five goals last week and are ones to watch for West Adelaide.

For Woodville-West Torrens, Lucy Moore, Julia Faulkner and Ruby Lynch each made telling contributions in the Round 1 draw, with Faulkner dynamic at half-forward and rotating in the midfield, while Moore and Lynch had enormous midfield minutes. Top-end talent, Freemantle is a 2027 prospect and has all the class of one of the best young guns going around.

PREDICTION

Woodville-West Torrens will be desperate to bounce back from dropping a point at home last week, and this is the kind of game where the Eagles depth advantage should tell. It will be fascinating to see if the Eagles look to lock down on Venning, especially with the Bloods minus the Rolls Royce of Mableson. The Eagles have too much quality and are tipped by a few goals.

SEASON SO FAR

Both sides opened with wins and are currently level at the top of the table. Central District were impressive in their 8.8 (56) to 4.5 (29) triumph over North Adelaide, with Aoife Berry and Ella Randall both booting multiple goals on debut and premiership skipper Shelby Smith reminding everyone what they have been missing with 21 disposals in her comeback. South Adelaide were equally dominant in shaking off a competitive first quarter from Norwood to win 5.10 (40) to 2.2 (14), with Soriah Moon dominating and debutants Madison Brown and Chanel May contributing immediately.

CHANGES

South Adelaide make two changes with Chelsea Farr and Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap both out of the side. Olivia Evans — the former Eagles player with 29 senior games to her name — is set to make her Panthers debut, while Caitlin Couch are named in the extended squad. Unfortunately Central District has lost National Academy member Miyu Endersby for the clash, which is the last thing the Dogs would want coming up against Moon and the Panthers.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Charlotte Maurits is a composed left-footer in the Academy ranks who projects as a top-end pick in 2027, while Demi Holloway acquitted herself well across half-forward and in the midfield in Round 1. For South Adelaide, Hope Taylor and Layla Vizgaudis have the potential to explode this season with Vizgaudis outstanding last week, picking up 22 disposals, seven clearances and five tackles. Marley Tape also worked hard in defence, while Brown is pushing her case to be recognised in the state program.

PREDICTION

A potentially cracking game. Two undefeated sides, the reigning premiers against a resurgent Bulldogs outfit playing with genuine belief under new coach Shaun Ribbons. South Adelaide’s record against Central District in recent seasons is dominant – 11 wins from 13 meetings – but the Bulldogs at X Convenience Oval with Smith back and Berry providing the goal threat they were missing without Rosenzweig makes this a genuinely intriguing contest. South Adelaide’s class should see them home, but don’t be surprised if it goes down to the wire.