ROUND 11 of the 2026 SANFL Women’s season saw the State Academy members back in action for a second round since taking out the national title, continuing to build and show their class across the four games. 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.

SOUTH ADELAIDE:

#1 Jaidee-Lee Shortridge (Forward)

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal, 3 behinds

Shortridge is the type of forward who is always in the contest and always presenting as a target, and while she had a quieter first three quarters, came alive in the last. She has a natural instinct for finding the ball in the forward half and her goal in the final term – gathering cleanly in the pocket and slotting it from 25 metres – was a reward for her persistence. Her haul could have been much bigger as Shortridge left a handful of gettable opportunities out there, but that forward hunger and confidence is exciting for a double bottom-ager.

#8 Hope Taylor (Forward)

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 3 goals

Taylor is simply a natural finisher, and her three goals from 10 disposals was an indication of what she does at her best. Each of her goals came in a different fashion – a thumping long kick to an open goalsquare, a classy set shot from 35 metres in the third term and a composed finish on the run in the final quarter – which speaks to the variety and instinct she possesses inside 50. What also stands out is her defensive work rate which has been her massive improvement in 2026, with her run-down tackle in the middle of the ground in the fourth quarter a moment to savour.

#20 Layla Vizgaudis (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s, 2 goals

Vizgaudis has the rare ability to impact the game from multiple positions, and this was a performance that showcased both her midfield craft and her forward finishing. She was clean and composed starting on-ball, reading the play well and finding teammates with clever short passes, before producing two brilliant goals – including a superb set shot from 35 metres and an incredible clean pickup and launch in the final term – that underlined her scoring instinct.

#25 Emma Charlton (Midfielder)

Stats: 32 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 9 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Charlton was simply dominant, and a 32-disposal, nine-clearance, eight-tackle performance is just a glimpse of what she is capable of. The pick one contender combines elite contested ability with genuine defensive intensity. Her vision and delivery were also on show throughout, setting up multiple goals for teammates and driving the ball inside 50 seven times; a complete midfield performance from one of the best players in the competition. For a full rundown into her game, check out our Player Focus.

>> PLAYER FOCUS: Emma Charlton (South Adelaide)

#60 Marley Tape (Defender)

Stats: 8 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

Tape is a no-fuss defender who does the unglamorous work, and her consistent defensive pressure made life difficult for Glenelg’s forwards. She showed clean hands coming out of the back half and won a free kick for a great tackle on the wing in the second term. A reliable, composed presence in the back 50.

GLENELG:

#6 Georgie Fielder (Midfielder)

Stats: 25 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 6 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s

In her best performance since returning from an ankle injury, Fielder covered the ground relentlessly and contributed at both ends. She started on-ball and immediately set the tone, winning the first centre clearance with a lovely kick, and her run and carry throughout the game was a feature – taking kick-ins and driving the ball long down the middle with purpose. An effective ball user who found it on the inside or out, and was clearly Glenelg’s standout in a tough afternoon at the office.

#16 Maya Vonarx (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 6 disposals, 1 mark (1 contested), 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50

Vonarx competes hard regardless of what the scoreboard or stat sheet says, and she went in hard at the centre bounces and applied pressure trying to limit the stoppage work of Nikki Nield early. She showed her versatility by spending time both on-ball and up forward, taking a contested mark when pushed into the front half. A tough day against a strong South Adelaide midfield, but her competitive instincts were evident throughout.

#32 Tori Evans (Defender)

Stats: 19 disposals, 6 marks, 1 tackle, 7 rebound 50s

Evans is developing into a highly reliable defensive presence, and her six marks and seven rebound 50s showed her best traits that include reading the play and positioning to intercept. She has a good set of hands and the confidence to take on the kick-ins, driving the ball long down the middle of the ground to clear the danger. Her best moment came late in the game when she nudged Taylor under the ball to take a strong mark at half-back and kicked cleanly to the wing – the kind of composed defensive play that is becoming a hallmark of her game.

STURT:

#7 Lily Whiteman (Midfielder)

Stats: 12 disposals, 5 marks, 7 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

Whiteman is a player whose defensive commitment never wavers, and she went head-to-head against Faulkner in what was a great battle of two hard nuts at the footy. She has a clean left foot and good composure when she wins the ball, taking five marks around the ground and using the pill efficiently with short, effective passes. Her defensive work rate and ability to push back and help out in defence are traits that make her a valuable two-way contributor.

#36 Madeline Nuss (Forward)

Stats: 5 disposals, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

Nuss doesn’t need a lot of the ball to make an impact, and her four inside 50s from just five disposals was indicative of her front half hurt factor. She has a real knack for the contest – laying a great tackle at half-forward to win a holding the ball free and kick deep inside 50 was a perfect example of the pressure she applies – and her goal in the third term, gathering at half-forward, getting goalside and running in to slot it from 25 metres, was a crowd-lifting moment. Has some elite athletic traits and natural goalsense.

WWT EAGLES:

#4 Julia Faulkner (Midfielder)

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 tackles, 6 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Faulkner is a player who makes things happen from the moment the ball is bounced, and her goal within the first 45 seconds of the game – pouncing on a spill from a tackle – was the perfect reflection of her forward instinct and alertness. She is a clean and decisive ball user who wins the hard ball at stoppages and releases quickly under pressure, spinning away from tacklers to deliver effective kicks to contests. Kicked a rare goal as well, and really took the extra midfield minutes in her stride.

#7 Maia Freemantle (Midfielder)

Stats: 16 disposals, 12 tackles, 9 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Freemantle’s 12-tackle, nine-clearance performance was a statement of her inside intensity, and without a doubt is one of most ferocious competitors in the competition. She is the kind of midfielder who makes life genuinely difficult for opponents – never giving them a moment’s peace at the contest – and her goal assist with a great handball to Leah Cutting in the first term showed she also has the vision and skill to create when she wins it. A player whose work rate and defensive output are becoming a defining feature of her season.

#15 Lucy Moore (Midfielder)

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Coming off an All-Australian national carnival, Moore combined her usual fierce tackling pressure with clean ball use out of congestion. Her seven tackles and four clearances reflected her typical inside dominance, and she set up Faulkner’s early goal with a strong tackle inside 50 that forced the spill. Her own goal in the second term was a thing of beauty – gathering in the pocket and finishing from the tightest of angles – and her consistency in 2026 has been outstanding.

#22 Anika Tran (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

Tran can change a game in an instant, and her incredible running goal off an intercept in the final term – taking it upon herself to finish brilliantly rather than passing to a teammate – was a moment that reflected her confidence and forward instinct. She showed her versatility by moving on-ball in the third term and winning a clean centre clearance, and her explosiveness when she had grass in front of her was a genuine weapon.

#36 Ruby Lynch (Forward/Ruck)

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark (1 contested), 1 tackle, 9 hitouts, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Lynch is a versatile player who adds value wherever she is deployed, and she contributed both in the ruck and as a forward target. She has good vision when she gets the ball, producing a lovely kick to Klaudia O’Neill inside 50 in the first term, and taking a strong intercept mark on the wing in the final quarter. Her athleticism, booming left foot and ability to play multiple roles are all big ticks in her draft profile.

WEST ADELAIDE:

#4 Emily Mableson (Midfielder)

Stats: 24 disposals, 11 tackles, 7 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

The South Australian MVP’s incredible top-age season rolled on with another huge performance for the Bloods. She combines high accumulation with relentless defensive pressure and her ball use is consistently clean and purposeful, whether it’s a sublime 45-degree pass under pressure or a driving kick down the wing. Her chase-down tackle at half-back in the final term to win the ball back and kick into the corridor was the perfect encapsulation of a player whose effort and skill never drop.

#18 Scarlett Blethyn (Forward)

Stats: 5 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 2 hitouts, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal, 2 behinds

The Under 16s tall presented well and competed hard inside 50, and while she missed a couple of narrow attempts early, her persistence was rewarded in the final term when she laid a great tackle to win a free kick and converted from 15 metres out. She has the athletic traits and competitive instincts to be a damaging forward option, and her willingness to go in hard in the forward pocket and fight for the ball in tight situations is a feature of her game. Still developing her finishing, but the intent and the physical presence are clearly there.

#24 Chelsea Newitt (Forward)

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

Newitt is a well-rounded forward who has natural aerial ability but also ground level pressure once it hits the deck. She got on the board early with a great running goal in the second minute, showing her forward instinct and clean hands inside 50. She also took a good one-on-one mark in the final term and continued to present as a target throughout.

NORTH ADELAIDE:

#5 Polly Turner (Forward)

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks (1 contested), 8 tackles, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

The potential Adelaide and Carlton father-daughter prospect does far more than just kick goals, and her eight tackles alongside 16 disposals once again showcased her defensive pressure at ground level. Her goal in the third term was a brilliant piece of individual skill – taking the ball out of the ruck and snapping a checkside from 15 metres – and her delivery inside 50 was consistently accurate, including a perfect pass to Amber Ward on the lead in the final quarter. She is a forward who can hurt the opposition in multiple ways, and her work rate is becoming one of the defining features of her season. More well-rounded than in previous years.

#14 Maya Fuller (Wing)

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50

Fuller applies defensive pressure on the wing and her four tackles from 10 disposals were indicative of a performance where she ran hard and did not always get reward for effort. She pushed hard forward to help lock the ball in the forward half and contributed a clearance from the wing. A player who does the hard work that doesn’t always show up in the highlights.

#30 Isabella Beaumont (Ruck/Defender)

Stats: 7 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 13 hitouts, 2 clearances

Beaumont is a versatile player who is comfortable in multiple roles, spending time in defence before rotating into the ruck in the second half where she did well to get taps down to her midfielders. Her five tackles reflected genuine follow-up work after her own ruck contests, and she drove the ball deep inside 50 from the top of the square in the final term. A player whose adaptability is a genuine asset.

#35 Caitlin Hardin (Midfielder)

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 7 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Hardin started on the bench but made an immediate impact when she came on, and while her production in the win was not huge, the North Adelaide bottom-ager’s seven tackles highlighted her defensive intent. She has clean hands off the deck and good instincts around the stoppages, winning three clearances and driving the ball forward with purpose. Her work rate and tackling intensity are consistent features of her game.

NORWOOD:

#8 Lani Cocks (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals

The incredible bottom-age All-Australian did not stop across the four quarters and her performance was built on an enormous work rate that saw her covering the ground from one end to the other all day. Her two goals were both moments of genuine class – a classy finish from inside 50 in the second term and a brilliant outside-of-the-boot strike from 30 metres after winning the ball from a turnover – but it was her relentless contest-to-contest running that was the defining feature of her day.

#14 Kate Alexander (Forward/Ruck)

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 8 hitouts, 5 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

Continuing her forward development, Alexander spent most of the time inside 50, before rotating into the ruck where her five clearances reflected genuine follow-up work. At one stage she took the ball out of the ruck inside 50 for a snap that just missed to the left. Her capacity to win the ball at the second contest and drive it forward was a feature of her game.

#18 Charlee Brooksby (Wing)

Stats: 8 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 behind

Brooksby is a player who competes hard on the wing and applies pressure with her tackling, and she never stops working even when the ball isn’t coming her way. She had a couple of shots on goal that narrowly missed, including one that hit the post, and found targets inside 50 when she got the chance. A player who contributes in ways that don’t always show up in the stat line.

#21 Elke Cameron (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s

Cameron is a player with good athletic traits and the ability to find space and her intercept grab at half-forward was a highlight of her first-half work. She had a purple patch early in the fourth term, driving the ball forward and taking a set shot from 35 metres that fell just short – a reminder of the forward dimension she can add. Building nicely across the season.

#24 Ella Anderson (Defender)

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 rebound 50s

Anderson continues to grow in confidence and composure at this level, and her willingness to take the kick-ins with precise, long passing is a positive sign of a player who backs herself under pressure. She showed good bodywork for a young player, nudging opponents away from the ball and locking it up with four tackles. Her intercept mark in the third term that led to an end-to-end play goal was her best individual moment, and she continues to build a solid defensive foundation.

#37 Mia Wood (Forward)

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

While it was not a huge game from Wood, the double bottom-ager continually gets the ball moving quickly, and her quick handball at half-forward followed by an immediate tackle showed the kind of competitive instinct she brings to the contest. She drove the ball deep inside 50 to a one-on-one contest in the third term and contributed at both ends working up the ground.

CENTRAL DISTRICT:

#3 Miyu Endersby (Ruck)

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 38 hitouts, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Endersby was simply dominant in the ruck, winning 38 hitouts and giving her midfielders consistent first use across all four quarters. What sets her apart from a conventional ruck is the follow-up work – six tackles and three clearances reflected the way she competes hard after the initial tap. She was rewarded with a goal in the third term after winning a free kick inside 50 and converting the 35-metre set shot, and her overall performance was another reminder of why she is one of the most sought after prospects in this year’s AFLW Draft.

#15 Olivia Leslie (Defender)

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Leslie is an aggressive, attacking defender who takes the game on and is never content to simply defend. She read the ball exceptionally well and continually positioned herself to intercept. She showed great desperation throughout – getting handballs away while standing up in tackles, executing well-timed spoils and pushing up to the wing to slam the ball inside 50 – and her one-on-one win over Cocks at half-back in the final term was a standout defensive moment. She unfortunately came down hurt after a marking contest late in the game, which will be worth monitoring.

#18 Demi Holloway (Forward)

Stats: 4 disposals, 1 tackle, 1 clearance

Holloway had limited opportunities but showed her typical quick hands and forward instinct when the ball did find her, including a nice dish off to a teammate for a shot on goal in the second term. She is a small but tough player who competes hard and reads the play well around stoppages. A quieter day by necessity, but the quality touches were there when she was involved.

#19 Amalia Musolino (Defender)

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 tackles

Musolino is a composed and reliable ball user out of the back half, and her willingness to take the kick-ins and deliver efficiently under pressure is a sign of a player who backs her skills. She showed good one-on-one work at half-back, executing a great gather and turn inboard early in the game before shrugging a tackle to get the ball away cleanly. A player who continues to grow in confidence at this level and contributes quietly but effectively.