AN incredible weekend of South Australian National Football League (SANFL) football action saw the Team of the Week needing to be cut down from an initial 36 players in order to fit into the Round 2 squad. The final Team of the Week, of course had 24 players with three emergencies, and plenty of unlucky players – such was the strength of performances this week.

From a team perspective, North Adelaide and Woodville-West Torrens lead all-comers with four players despite the latter losing. Other winners Norwood and Sturt had three, as did Central District and West Adelaide, whilst Glenelg and South Adelaide had two apiece.

LEADERS

Leading the team out this week is Norwood’s Jade Halfpenny following her outstanding 26-disposal, nine-mark (including four contested), four-clearance, seven-inside 50 and two-goal game. She has been named at centre half-forward – despite spending the majority of time in the midfield – because of her ability to play in the role and rest there, converting those two majors. In the vice-captain role is Centrals captain Shelby Smith who racked up a league-high 11 clearances to go with her 24 disposals, four marks, six tackles and a goal.

MIDFIELDERS

There were some big clearance numbers this week across the SANFL Women’s, with Sturt ball-winner Isobel Kuiper named on-ball after 10 clearances, 11 tackles and five inside 50s to go with her 20 disposals. Rounding out the inside midfield brigade is West Adelaide’s Jess Macolino, who produced 23 disposals, five tackles, seven clearances and seven inside 50s. On the wings are a couple of future stars in bottom-ager Shineah Goody and Under 16s talent Georgia McKee. Eagles’ Goody amassed 26 disposals, seven marks – two contested – and five rebound 50s, whilst Central’s McKee had an equal league-high 27 touches, as well as seven marks and eight inside 50s. The standalone ruck in the side is Glenelg’s Matilda Scholz who racked up a league-high 33 hitouts in Round 2.

DEFENDERS

The other player to amass 27 disposals was South 50-gamer Jaslynne Smith, who recorded four marks and five rebound 50s with those 27 touches, and was named in the back pocket. She is alongside some serious experience, with North Adelaide’s Kristi Harvey (10 disposals, four marks and six rebound 50s) coming into the Roosters side, and the Team of the Week for Round 2. In the other pocket is Woodville-West Torrens’ Renee Forth after 17 disposals, four marks, four tackles and four rebound 50s. At half-back, Glenelg young gun Sarah Goodwin earned another spot in the Team of the Week following her 19 disposals and five marks, alongside a couple of Sturt talents. Alex Ballard (10 disposals, six marks and four rebound 50s) and Kiera Mueller (15 disposals, seven rebound 50s) both earned their places.

FORWARDS

The forward line has a mix of talents, with a couple of mid-forwards flanking captain Halfpenny at centre half-forward. Crows-listed talent Abbie Ballard returned to state league level and certainly made her presence felt, racking up 21 disposals, nine tackles, four clearances, five inside 50s and a goal, Meanwhile young gun Hannah Ewings recorded 25 disposals, seven inside 50s, three marks, four tackles and four clearances in North’s win over South. Closer to goal, three players who have tasted AFLW experience lineup, with current Crows-listed player McKenzie Dowrick alongside Eagles teammate Jordann Hickey, as well as North Adelaide star and ex-Docker Jade De Melo. All three looked incredibly dangerous inside 50 and combined for six goals between them.

INTERCHANGE & EMERGENCIES

Looking to the interchange, and there are a couple of defenders making the cut. Norwood captain Alison Ferrall and Central youngster Madison Lane both made it for a second time, whilst West Adelaide’s Beatrice Devlyn was named as an emergency. From a midfield perspective, winger Erica Greet and hardnuts Sophie Armitstead and Zoe Venning all made the cut, to provide a nice balance of outside and inside work. The main forward on the bench is South Adelaide’s Jess Waterhouse who made the squad once again. The other two emergencies were impact forward Doreena Hansen – for her two goals in two minutes for North – and Tahlita Buethke who was consistent for South Adelaide.

IN CONSIDERATION

There were plenty of players in consideration with a stacked midfield group this week. Sturt duo Alisha Gepp and Elsie Dawes, Eagles’ duo Ella Little and Cher Waters, and Glenelg’s Tessa Kohn were all among the names. Norwood’s Sarah Branford and North Adelaide’s Sarah Steele-Park were also in consideration. From a defensive standpoint, Central District’s Lauren Smith and North Adelaide’s Jessica Edwards were both close to making it, as were forwards, South Adelaide’s Shae Archbold and Glenelg’s Lucy Armitage.

SANFL WOMEN’S TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 2

B: Jaslynne Smith (South) – Kristi Harvey (North) – Renee Forth (WWT)
HB: Sarah Goodwin (Glenelg) – Alex Ballard (Sturt) – Kiera Mueller (Sturt)
C: Shineah Goody (WWT) – Shelby Smith (Central) (vc) – Georgia McKee (Central)
HF: Hannah Ewings (North) – Jade Halfpenny (Norwood) (c) – Abbie Ballard (West)
F: McKenzie Dowrick (WWT) – Jordann Hickey (WWT) – Jade De Melo (North)
R: Matilda Scholz (Glenelg) – Isobel Kuiper (Sturt) – Jess Macolino (West)
INT: Sophie Armitstead (Norwood) – Alison Ferrall (Norwood) – Erica Greet (North) – Madison Lane (Central) – Zoe Venning (West) – Jess Waterhouse (South)

EMG: Doreena Hansen (North) – Tahlita Buethke (South) – Beatrice Devlyn (West)