ROUND 12 of the 2026 SANFL Women’s season produced another absorbing weekend of action, with the State Academy contingent continuing to press their cases. We took note of how each of the Academy members performed across the four games.

All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

GLENELG:

#6 Georgie Fielder (Midfielder)

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 1 rebound 50

After a massive game last week, Fielder found the going a little tougher against a relentless North Adelaide group. She had attention on her at different points, but kept pushing through it to apply plenty of pressure and also extract the ball from the contest well. Her ability to find touches behind the ball and then use her smarts and all-round athleticism to take some great and work it up the ground was very good. Not a huge game, but still battled on well and had her eye-catching moments.

#16 Maya Vonarx (Utility)

Stats: 7 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 1 rebound 50

The Under 16s representative has shown she can play in any number of roles and took grabs at both half-back and half-forward, with the bulk of her time spent behind the ball. She set up the goal to Cassie McWilliam in her biggest play of the day, and while she didn’t win a heap of it, was not in a production-friendly role.

#32 Tori Evans (Defender)

Stats: 11 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 1 rebound 50

Evans is a player who competes hard in one-on-one situations, and her work in the goalsquare in the final term – rushing the ball for a behind and then kicking effectively to half-back – was her standout moment. She applied four tackles and showed her athleticism spinning out of contact and getting kicks away under pressure. Her physical contest work is a consistent feature of her game and continues to build towards a big 2027 season.

NORTH ADELAIDE:

#5 Polly Turner (Tall Forward)

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

Turner has really nailed down that high half-forward role with terrific typical two-way commitment, applying strong tackles at both ends of the ground and getting her hands free under pressure on multiple occasions. Her elite pickup off the deck on the wing in the final term was a highlight – the kind of clean, instinctive ground-level skill that reflects her growing all-round game. A player who has become more well-rounded this season and is just as comfortable competing at ground level as she is in her preferred aerial contest.

#14 Maya Fuller (Defender)

Stats: 5 disposals, 1 tackle

Fuller had a quiet day away from the action, but showed her composure when called upon, kicking back in from out on the full with a neat inboard kick in the opening term. A game where the ball didn’t find her often enough to impact too much, but is still developing in the role.

#30 Isabella Beaumont (Ruck)

Stats: 1 disposal, 4 tackles, 13 hitouts

Beaumont did her job in the ruck, winning 13 hitouts and getting clean tap downs to her midfielders throughout. Her four tackles reflected genuine follow-up work after her own contests, and she was doing well in the ruck across the ground. A reliable contributor in a limited role.

#35 Caitlin Hardin (Midfielder)

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Hardin was competitive as always, winning five clearances and applying fierce pressure. She was busy across all four quarters – pushing forward to deliver quick hands inside 50, winning the ball in tight situations in defence and spinning out of tackles to keep the ball moving. Her work rate and competitive instincts are becoming a hallmark of her season, and she continues to find ways to impact the game regardless of where she is stationed.

#37 Chloe Nettle (Forward)

Stats: 6 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

Nettle is a player who competes hard in the air and brings the ball to ground when she can’t mark it cleanly, and her four tackles reflected a willingness to work hard in both directions. Her goal in the second term – a great gather under pressure inside 50 followed by a snap – was her standout moment, and she showed her aerial contest work at half-forward in the final term, competing strongly and allowing teammates to capitalise. A little light-bodied at this level but the competitive instincts are genuine.

NORWOOD:

#8 Lani Cocks (Midfielder)

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s

Cocks was subjected to a heavy tag from Skout Young for most of the game, and while it kept her disposal count lower than usual, her ability to keep competing and finding ways to contribute under that kind of attention was a testament to her football IQ. She still managed 14 disposals and three inside 50s despite being closely monitored – though Young kept the dangerous Cocks to just three disposals after half-time. The Norwood young gun’s ability to spin out of trouble and fire off quick hands away when tackled were a feature. A player of her quality finding ways to impact even when the opposition dedicates a tagger to her is a strong sign.

#14 Kate Alexander (Forward/Ruck)

Stats: 12 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 13 hitouts, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 behind

Alexander had a strong all-round game, winning four clearances to complement her 13 hitouts and showing her ability to impact at ground level beyond just the ruck contest. She pushed forward and rotated through the middle effectively, and her quick hands out of stoppages were a feature. Competitive and not afraid to get her hands dirty.

#18 Charlee Brooksby (Defender)

Stats: 4 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50

It was a strangely quiet day from Brooksby who is normally an easy accumulator, but playing in the back half, did not see a lot of the action. She pushed well to even remain involved late, and when she had it she was effective, it was just one of those quieter days from the talented Norwood top-ager.

#21 Elke Cameron (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Cameron was busy across the ground, spending time on-ball and in the forwardline. She showed her ability to find space and take marks, including a clean grab on the wing in the third term that she converted with a neat inboard kick. Her four tackles reflected a player who competes hard without the ball, and she even if she gets pinged holding the ball, at least tries to make something happen in the front half.

#24 Ella Anderson (Defender)

Stats: 7 disposals, 3 tackles, 2 clearances

While Anderson has had far bigger outings, the double bottom-age defender still covered the ground well, laying a strong tackle in the opening term right up at half-forward. Her positioning was effective behind the ball and her competitiveness was always there. Clean and smart in her role.

#37 Mia Wood (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 8 disposals, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50

Another youngster who, though her numbers don’t jump off the stats sheet, still had her moments. She played between half-forward and the middle, doing well in congestion and also applying a couple of fierce tackles when it was her time to go. Plenty of improvement left in her game.

STURT:

#36 Madeline Nuss (Forward)

Stats: 4 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

Nuss had a day that reflected everything that makes her such an exciting forward prospect. Though she was held scoreless for most of the game, her confidence never dwindled. With the game on the line, she got busy, and after Nuss hit the post with a set shot in the final term, a minute later gathered under pressure and snapped a brilliant bouncing goal. Naturally, the bottom-ager converted the major with the higher degree of difficulty.

WWT EAGLES:

#4 Julia Faulkner (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 14 disposals, 6 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Always a high impact-per-possession player, Faulkner is one of the better off-ball talents going around. She continually competes at ground level and even in the air where she is not as adept, with her team-first attitude assisting her team. Her main blemish was a set shot from 20 metres on a slight angle early in the fourth that she missed, but she set up a couple of goals as well, first by a nice delivery to Klaudia O’Neill in the opening term and then by hand at half-forward in a team transitional play.

#7 Maia Freemantle (Midfielder)

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks (1 contested), 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Freemantle was involved in some of the Eagles’ best passages of play, including a goal assist after a fortunate bounce fell her way and she handballed to Klaudia O’Neill in the second term. She took a strong contested mark on the wing in the third term between two opponents and showed her forward instinct with a quick snap from a forward stoppage. Her pressure and follow-up work around the contest were consistent throughout.

#15 Lucy Moore (Midfielder)

Stats: 19 disposals, 1 mark, 8 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Moore was a workhorse in a tough, close contest, racking up 19 disposals and eight tackles in a game that went down to the wire. She was relentless in her pressure work and clean with her hands when she got the ball, and her ability to keep competing deep into the final term when the game was on the line was a feature of her performance, kicking the match-winning behind from the boundary under pressure. Her consistency in 2026 has been outstanding and this was another example of a player who never lets her standards drop.

#22 Anika Tran (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 7 disposals, 4 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Tran was dangerous when she had the ball in space, taking two bounces and driving the ball forward in the third term to set up a scoring opportunity. She applied four tackles and won three clearances after rotating on-ball, and her great pressure on Madison Brown in the middle during the final term to force a fumble was a key moment in a tight finish. Her explosiveness and two-way running are genuine weapons.

#33 Kayla Ilett (Forward)

Stats: 6 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50

The Northern Territory Academy member made her debut for the Eagles and showed some promising signs in the forwardline. She presented well and showed clean hands in tight situations, getting her arms free in the goalsquare and dishing off effectively, and she competed strongly at ground level too. She took a while to adjust to the pace of the game at times – including a holding the ball free inside 50 – but the athletic traits and competitive instincts are clearly there for a player making her first appearance at this level.

#36 Ruby Lynch (Midfielder/Ruck)

Stats: 23 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 10 hitouts, 8 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

In a Breakthrough Player of the Round performance, Lynch was outstanding across all four quarters, combining her ruck work with an outstanding midfield display. Her eight clearances and seven tackles were indicative of a player who dominated the contested ball, and her four marks – including a huge intercept grab on the wing late in the game – showed her aerial ability when spread away from the stoppages. Lynch is a player whose athleticism, booming left foot and capacity to impact in multiple roles make her one of the most exciting prospects in the competition.

SOUTH ADELAIDE:

#1 Jaidee-Lee Shortridge (Forward)

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 goals

Shortridge was South Adelaide’s most dangerous forward, kicking two goals in the first term and applying fierce pressure all day with six tackles. Her second goal – a brilliant snap from 30 metres – was the standout moment of her day, and her ability to take marks in space and create opportunities for teammates was a consistent feature. A double bottom-ager who continues to show her front half instincts and natural goal sense.

#8 Hope Taylor (Forward)

Stats: 8 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 behind

Taylor had a tougher day than usual, spending time pushing up to half-back at times and finding it difficult to get clean possession in a congested contest. She showed her lightning hands when swooping on loose balls and applied pressure with three tackles, and her almost-incredible snap from the deep pocket in the third term – which bounced just the wrong side of the post – summed up a day where the moments were there but the rewards weren’t. Still a constant threat when the ball found her inside 50.

#25 Emma Charlton (Midfielder)

Stats: 17 disposals, 3 marks (1 contested), 14 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

Charlton’s 14-tackle performance was the defining feature of her day, reflecting an intensity and defensive commitment that is becoming a hallmark of her season. She was dominant through the stoppages, winning four clearances and driving the ball inside 50 on four occasions, and her goal in the second term – pushing forward and snapping a ripping finish from 20 metres – was a reward for her relentless work rate. The combination of her contested ability, defensive pressure and goal-kicking instinct makes her one of the most complete midfielders in the competition.

#60 Marley Tape (Defender)

Stats: 5 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles

Tape was composed in defence, applying pressure at half-back. Her intercept mark in the third term was her best individual moment, converting with a neat lateral pass. A quieter day by the numbers but a reliable presence in the back 50 and one who will always look to nullify a dangerous forward.

WEST ADELAIDE:

#4 Emily Mableson (Midfielder)

Stats: 22 disposals, 7 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 7 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Mableson won the best on ground medal for her toughness at the contest and ability to create scoring plays down the field in West Adelaide’s win. While only credited with three tackles, the top-age consistently put pressure on the opposition, and worked hard to compete in the air and buy her team space. With ball in hand she is an elite user by foot, and her darts going inside 50 or to open up angles were superb. She’s had bigger games by the numbers, but was still incredible damaging.

#18 Scarlett Blethyn (Forward)

Stats: 5 disposals, 1 mark, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50

Blethyn presented strongly inside 50 and showed her athleticism and competitive instincts around the contest. She kept the ball in at half-forward in the second term before laying a strong tackle, and her good mark inside 50 in the third term that she put to the hotspot was a positive contribution. Still developing her finishing, but the physical presence and contest work continue to shine.

#24 Chelsea Newitt (Forward)

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks (1 contested), 7 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Always looking damaging, Newitt was able to provide a strong aerial presence in the front half of the ground, and came out of the forward 50 attacking the contest well. She soccered home a ball pouncing on it seven minutes into the third term, and then continued to lay a series of strong tackles throughout. Her performance was a great balance of offensive and defensive traits, and she has set herself up well heading into her final SANFLW game this season.

#30 Sarah Deed (Forward)

Stats: 1 disposal

Deed’s afternoon was cut short after she broke her collarbone, a cruel blow for a player who had only recently returned from knee and ankle injuries. She had gathered on the wing and kicked forward to a contest in her sole touch. A tough run of luck for the bottom-ager, who will be hoping for a full preseason ahead of what should be a big 2027.

CENTRAL DISTRICT:

#3 Miyu Endersby (Ruck)

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark (1 contested), 4 tackles, 28 hitouts, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Endersby dominated the hitout count and gave her midfielders consistent first use, following up her own contests with four tackles and driving the ball forward when she won it at ground level. She showed her versatility dropping behind the ball to provide a defensive option and spoiling effectively at half-back when West Adelaide had the numbers. Another commanding ruck performance from one of the most sought-after prospects in this year’s AFLW Draft.

#18 Demi Holloway (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

Holloway had one of her better games of the season, finding the ball consistently and showing her creativity with the ball in hand. Her cross-body kick to Tesharna Maher in the third term was a highlight of her vision and skill, and she was dangerous with a long-range snap in the final term that narrowly missed. A player whose quick hands and forward instinct make her a lively presence in the front half.

#19 Amalia Musolino (Defender)

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 4 rebound 50s

Musolino was a composed and reliable presence out of the back half, clearing the ball from danger and providing four rebound 50s. She showed clean hands under pressure and did well to spoil Blethyn at the top of the goalsquare – only for Newitt to arrive on the scene and soccer home – which was unlucky but reflected her strong defensive positioning and nous. A player who continues to build her game quietly and effectively.

#21 Izabella Nisbet (Midfielder)

Stats: 17 disposals, 3 marks, 8 tackles, 2 clearances, 5 rebound 50s

Nisbet was outstanding, combining 17 disposals and eight tackles in a performance that reflected her fierce competitive nature and two-way running. She was winning a heap of it around the stoppages from the opening term, and her run-down tackle on Mableson in the second term going head-to-head with the South Australian MVP was a standout moment. Her intercept mark in the defensive 50 and ability to link up quickly with teammates showed the football IQ that makes her such an exciting prospect.