ROUND 10 of the 2026 SANFL Women’s season saw the return of the State Academy members during a bye from their national carnival duties. Across the four games, South Australia’s brightest prospects reminded the competition of their class and continued to build their draft profiles. We took note of how each of the Academy members performed in the latest round of action.

All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

STURT:

#7 Lily Whiteman (Midfielder/Forward)
Stats: 9 disposals, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Whiteman started on-ball and was immediately involved, providing a handball receive in the middle before kicking inside 50 to a contest. She faced a tough matchup in the second term starting against Zoe Venning, but continued to battle hard. Whiteman was moved forward later in the game, where she showed her attacking flair with a quick snap off the left foot inside 50 that bounced just out of bounds. Her five tackles reflected her typical defensive work rate.

#36 Madeline Nuss (Forward)
Stats: 4 disposals, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

It was a quiet day by the numbers for Nuss, but she still managed to produce a moment of sheer brilliance. Caught in front in a marking contest early, she gathered the ball, was tackled immediately, but managed to get it away. Later, she unleashed a brilliant individual play, bursting away with a bounce and a sidestep before snapping around her body for a superb goal. Her ability to create something out of nothing remains a key feature of her game.

WEST ADELAIDE:

#4 Emily Mableson (Midfielder)
Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks (1 contested), 12 tackles, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 behinds

Mableson was a dominant force through the midfield, racking up 18 disposals and an incredible 12 tackles. Starting on-ball, she was clean with her pickups and read the taps beautifully to drive the ball deep inside 50. Her pressure was fierce all day, winning the first centre clearance of the third term and following up with a tackle inside 50. She had a couple of shots on goal on her opposite foot that narrowly missed, including one that hit the post, but her powerful running, strong marking, and beautiful delivery inside 50 – including a pinpoint pass to Blethyn – were standout features.

#18 Scarlett Blethyn (Tall Forward)
Stats: 4 disposals, 4 marks, 2 hitouts, 2 inside 50s, 2 behinds

The Under 16s Academy member played full-forward and showed promising signs as a target. She took a strong mark on the sidelines late in the first term but was unlucky to hit the post with her set shot straight in front. Blethyn went in hard in the forward pocket in the second term and took a good clunk on the wing in the third. She presented well again in the final quarter, marking from a Mableson kick, though her set shot from 35 metres missed behind. A solid presence in the air.

#24 Chelsea Newitt (Forward)
Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 9 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Newitt brought immense pressure to the contest, laying nine tackles in a hard-working performance. She gathered cleanly on the wing, using her sidestep to get handballs away, and applied fierce tackling pressure inside 50. Her work rate was evident as she pushed right up to help out on turnovers in defence, getting the ball up the ground. She won a crucial one-on-one contest in the final term, firing a quick handball inside 50, and showed good game awareness late to kill time off the clock.

#30 Sara Deed (Forward)
Stats: 8 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s

Deed presented strongly as a target, taking four marks and pushing up the ground to get involved. She marked on the lead from 40 metres out in the third term, though her kick fell just short. She repeated the effort in the final quarter, marking again at 40 metres and running around to try and get distance, but was rushed across the line for a behind. She had a big second half, winning a free kick on the forward side of the wing and delivering a lovely inboard kick to centre half-forward.

WWT EAGLES:

#4 Julia Faulkner (Midfielder)
Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 14 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Faulkner’s defensive pressure was elite, laying a staggering 14 tackles to go with her 13 disposals. Starting on-ball, she went in hard in the middle and won free kicks for her tackling efforts. Her clean pickups and quick, clever hands in traffic were a feature throughout the game, allowing her to release teammates like Moore in the middle. She laid strong tackles in both the back pocket and on the wing to lock the ball up, showcasing her relentless two-way running.

#7 Maia Freemantle (Midfielder/Forward)
Stats: 19 disposals, 4 marks (3 contested), 6 tackles, 7 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Freemantle was outstanding, leading the clearances for the Eagles with seven and providing a strong aerial presence. Starting on the wing before moving into the midfield, she was unassuming but effective in winning the ball. Her final quarter was huge – taking a massive fly at half-back, marking strongly one-on-one, and capping it off with a consolation goal after pushing forward and executing a clever sidestep. A complete performance from the talented prospect.

#15 Lucy Moore (Midfielder)
Stats: 17 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles, 6 clearances, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

Moore was typically combative around the stoppages, winning six clearances and laying seven tackles. Starting on-ball, she displayed clean hands at ground level and worked hard to link up with teammates. She was active at the half-forward stoppages and won a free kick for going in hard in the middle during the final term, driving the ball well to half-forward. Her strong tackling pressure around the middle was a constant throughout the match.

#22 Anika Tran (Forward)
Stats: 2 disposals, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50

A quiet day for Tran by the numbers, but she still applied pressure in the front half. She got quick hands off at half-forward early and laid a big tackle out at half-forward to force the ball out of bounds in the third term.

#36 Ruby Lynch (Forward/Midfielder)
Stats: 10 disposals, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50

Lynch started forward and provided some dynamic moments when she pushed up the ground. She sidestepped nicely on the wing to hit up a target at half-forward and laid a brilliant run-down tackle on Hardin in the second quarter. Her physicality was on show with some great bumping coming out of attack on the wing in the third term.

NORTH ADELAIDE:

#5 Polly Turner (Tall Forward)
Stats: 20 disposals, 6 marks (3 contested), 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 6 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

Turner was dominant, producing a commanding 20-disposal, two-goal performance. She presented constantly, taking a brilliant one-on-one mark against Tahlita Buethke to slot her first goal from 25 metres. She pushed up to the wing to provide a target, taking strong marks and following up with great tackles, including a brilliant run-down tackle on Annie Falkenberg. Her second goal came from finding space in the corridor to mark 35 metres out. She hit the post with another set shot and was a constant threat in the air and at ground level.

#30 Isabella Beaumont (Forward/Ruck)
Stats: 8 disposals, 4 tackles, 27 hitouts, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Beaumont shouldered the ruck load effectively, winning 27 hitouts and rotating forward. She delivered a lovely kick to Amber Ward in the forward pocket to set up a goal assist in the first term. She got kicks away from the middle and provided good tap downs when rotating into the ruck in the third quarter.

#35 Caitlin Hardin (Midfielder)
Stats: 18 disposals, 3 tackles, 7 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Hardin was a driving force out of the middle, winning seven clearances and sending the ball inside 50 four times. She was clean with her hands away on the wing and broke away from the middle to kick to half-forward in the second term. She showed great strength in the final quarter, fending off opponents and getting the ball away while being tackled in defence, before delivering a long kick from half-back to the wing just before the final siren.

SOUTH ADELAIDE:

#1 Jaidee-Lee Shortridge (Forward)
Stats: 3 disposals, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s

Shortridge battled hard in one-on-one contests at half-forward, doing well to win the ball and get quick hands over in the first term. She tried to impose herself physically, keeping her feet but being tackled after attempting to bump her opponent in the second quarter.

#20 Layla Vizgaudis (Midfielder)
Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 6 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Vizgaudis continued her superb form, winning six clearances and driving the ball inside 50 on five occasions. Starting on-ball, she cruised smoothly on the wing and delivered great clearances out of the middle. Her final quarter was exceptional—winning the starting clearance, executing a great release handball out of a stoppage, and delivering an elite short pass to set up a teammate inside 50. She capped off her performance by slamming home a brilliant goal from 40 metres out.

#60 Marley Tape (Defender)
Stats: 6 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 1 rebound 50

Tape was mostly involved deep in defence, passing neatly and getting quick hands away on the defensive side of the wing. She applied pressure but gave away a free kick for a tackle on Nisbet in the third quarter. Still provided a composed presence in the back 50 for the Panthers.

CENTRAL DISTRICT:

#3 Miyu Endersby (Ruck/Defender)
Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks (2 contested), 4 tackles, 32 hitouts, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Endersby was a towering presence, winning 32 hitouts and taking huge contested marks in defence while dropping back as a third-up marker. She battled hard against Soriah Moon in the ruck, using her leap advantage effectively. Her highlight came in the second term when she took a shot on goal from 35 metres and slammed it home off a handball receive. She also showed great agility, spinning out of a tackle to fire a quick handball away.

#15 Olivia Leslie (Tall Defender)
Stats: 7 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

Leslie was solid in defence, executing a quick one-two on the wing and marking to kick down the line into a contest. She thumped the ball long to clear danger and had a crack flying into a pack at half-back in the final quarter.

#19 Amalia Musolino (Defender)
Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks (1 contested), 1 tackle, 5 rebound 50s

Musolino was a reliable interceptor in defence, taking five marks and directing five rebound 50s. She took neat and effective kick-ins and competed well in aerial contests. Her great intercept mark in defensive 50 in the second term, followed by a good kick to half-back, highlighted her composure under pressure.

#21 Izabella Nisbet (Midfielder)
Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 6 clearances, 1 behind

Nisbet was dynamic out of the middle, winning six clearances and racking up possessions on the outside. She executed a great spin out of congestion to clear the ball downfield and showed slick, clean hands on the wing. Her defensive pressure was fantastic, laying strong tackles, and she almost hit the scoreboard with a shot that unfortunately bounced to the right for a behind.

GLENELG:

#6 Georgie Fielder (Defender/Midfielder)
Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 5 rebound 50s

Fielder rotated effectively between half-back and the midfield, generating five rebound 50s. She marked in the middle and delivered nice short passes, while also flying for marks on the wing. Her standout moment came in the final term when she played a one-two, burst forward, and kicked a ripping goal from 35 metres out.

#32 Tori Evans (Defender)
Stats: 16 disposals, 6 marks (1 contested), 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Evans was an intercepting machine, taking six marks and setting up play from half-back. She took nice intercept marks in the middle and on the wing, fending off opponents and dishing off to teammates. She was composed under pressure in the back pocket, sidestepping backwards and executing a fend-off to handball away safely in defensive 50.

NORWOOD:

#8 Lani Cocks (Midfielder)
Stats: 22 disposals, 2 marks, 10 tackles, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 2 goals, 2 behinds

Cocks was arguably the player of the round, delivering a massive 22-disposal, 10-tackle, and two-goal performance. Starting on-ball, she won the first clearance off a bounce and read the play brilliantly off hands to burst downfield. She broke away with a bounce on the wing and snapped a nice goal under pressure in the third term. Her second goal came from a set shot in the goalsquare after winning a free kick. She was a constant threat, almost adding more goals with several flying chances.

#14 Kate Alexander (Ruck)
Stats: 9 disposals, 3 marks (1 contested), 1 tackle, 27 hitouts, 5 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

Alexander was dominant in the ruck, amassing 27 hitouts and following up her work with five clearances. She provided brilliant long taps to advantage, including one to the wing that allowed Jade Halfpenny to thump it forward. She showed great strength in the middle to get the ball away, which led directly to a Norwood goal, and took a contested mark at centre half-back.

#21 Elke Cameron (Midfielder/Forward)
Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Cameron was dangerous inside 50, taking four marks and getting quick hands off on the wing. She had several shots on goal from tight angles and long range that narrowly missed, but her forward presence was a constant headache for the defence. She shows great strength overhead for her size and a nice tenacity at ground level.

#24 Ella Anderson (Defender)
Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 5 rebound 50s

Anderson was a driving force out of defence, collecting 18 disposals and five rebound 50s. She took effective kick-outs and intercepted well on the wing before thumping the ball to half-forward. She charged down the ground with purpose, following up her own work to win the ball, sidestep, and kick to half-forward.

#37 Mia Wood (Midfielder/Forward)
Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s

Wood provided great pressure and presentation playing forward and spending time on-ball. She forced the ball over the boundary with great pressure at half-forward and won a free kick on the wing before delivering a nice kick into the corridor. She laid a strong tackle on the wing to win a free kick and thumped it to half-forward well.