THERE were some thrilling contests, and ladder-ramifying results across Round 3 of the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s competition. As always, we took a look at how the State Academy players performed at League level.

Note: All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

Norwood:

#4 Sachi Syme

One of the most productive midfielders on the ground, Syme had a big game numbers wise, and started off on fire, racking up eight disposals in the opening term. Efficient by hand or foot as a general rule of thumb, Syme covered the ground well and was able to win a number of hard balls or free kicks through her tackling – though she was only rewarded with a couple – and overall pressure. At times her solid kicking was a bit errant, kicking a couple of passes out on the full without pressure, but her short range 45-degree passes were for the most part effective. She was strong around the clearances, and got involved in scoring chains, such as a one-two with Lindsay Bigg midway through the second term leading to a goal. Her best kick was a drilling pass into Jade Halfpenny not too much later. Funnily enough, she tended to hit the more difficult passes under pressure and miss those under less pressure when teetering close to the line. Nonetheless she was among the better Redlegs and certainly found plenty of the ball with 25 disposals, three marks, two tackles and three inside 50s.

#18 Molly Brooksby

Seemed to get involved regularly in transition and has some quick-fire hands under pressure. She spent time on Goody, particularly in the first half, and had more of an influence on the game. Often Brooksby would look to run with the ball, giving off quick handballs and trying to move quickly in transition, at one stage winning the ball at half-forward, then when the ball got turned over, was back in defence to help out and drive it forward again. She had a quiet third term but critically rushed a behind under pressure late, and continued to crack in throughout the match, generally being handy with her disposal. Brooksby ended up with 17 disposals, four tackles, two clearances and two inside 50s.

#41 Lana Schwerdt

The most damaging of the trio, Schwerdt was able to get the Redlegs going with their first goal of the game in the second term. She cracked in from the start, but won a free kick straight in front in the second term, that saw her go back and nail the set shot from 35m out. Nice hands in close lead to another Norwood goal not long after, and she just proceeded to win a lot of contested possessions and shovel them out. Another set shot in the third term just fell short, as did a marking attempt when a teammate kicked it to her toes, but her work rate allowed her to find plenty of the ball and be genuinely influential when she did have it. By the final siren, Schwerdt amassed 22 disposals, five tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and a goal, also winning three free kicks.

Woodville-West Torrens:

#2 Jemma Whitington-Charity

Playing through the midfield for the majority of the game, she showcased her quick hands in close, and her impressive kicking skills that more often than not were able to pinpoint targets when she had time. Whitington-Charity also took a number of good marks – both intercept and in transition – on the wing, and took advantage of the stand rule when possible to move it on quickly. A kick-first player, Whitington-Charity is strong for her size, particularly overhead, and racked up 13 disposals (11 kicks), three marks (one contested), two tackles, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s in the loss.

#20 Cher Waters

A crucial cog in the Eagles’ midfield, Waters seems an underrated type who can be inconsistent at times with her disposal, but goes for the high impact kicks. For example in the first term she looked to hit a pass to centre half-forward, but it was cut off by Syme who read it well, then in the final term she marked in the middle and drove it forward but the opposition was well placed to intercept. Unlike some who might always opt for the safe option, Waters looks for those more dangerous or impactful passes – getting it to the hot spots – and does not waste time thinking about it. She created some scoring opportunities such as a quick snap from McKenzie Dowrick, but her defensive pressure is just as good, laying some fantastic tackles throughout the game. Waters amassed 14 disposals, six tackles, two inside 50s and three rebound 50s.

#30 Marlie Fiegert

Rotating between forward and then going into the midfield at times, Fiegert got busier as the match went on. At times she can be a little rushed with the ball, or caught before she disposes of it, but has some nice footy smarts. At one stage she was caught by Sarah Branford in the attacking 50, then got back to read the Branford kick in well to boot it off the deck and clear 30m to space. When moving in transition with time and space she can be more damaging too, but it is just cleaning up those rushed kicks under pressure. Fiegert recorded 12 disposals, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s on the night.

#34 Shineah Goody

I imagine it would have been a frustrating night for the incredibly talented AFLW Academy bottom-ager. Goody had some of her classy, clean moments, then had some very un-Goody like moments. Known for her clean ball-handling skills and inability to get caught, she was disposed a couple of times and even slipped over at one stage. As someone who has that spatial awareness of a Scott Pendlebury type, it was most definitely an outlier considering her games to-date, and in saying that, Goody still had a pretty solid game by anyone’s standards. She could take a number of positives from it, winning her fair share of the ball all over the ground, and use her trademark step back under pressure to cleanly give the ball away in the defensive half of the ground, and still choose the right option by hand more often than not. Even when things are not going your way in a game, you can still impact defensively, and Goody certainly did that, producing a timely fist in the third term, and applied good defensive pressure. Goody managed the 15 disposals, two marks – one contested – and two tackles on the night.

By: Michael Alvaro

West Adelaide:

#8 Keeley Kustermann

If not for a phenomenal final quarter showing from a certain Centrals goalsneak, Kustermann would have gone very close to best afield honours. The top-age standout produced the goods in midfield, leading all comers with 31 disposals, nine clearances and seven inside 50s as she blended toughness with class on the inside. Kustermann was super clean by hand and gathered many a ball on the move, using her momentum to break forward and get Westies going on the front foot. She snapped home an important goal in the third term to help give the Bloods a sniff, but missed a crucial late chance which could have turned the result. Still, Kustermann often wanted the ball more than others and had a terrific day despite the loss.

#12 Charlie Scutchings

One who is perhaps lauded more for her work without the ball, rather than with it, Scutchings had a couple of tough match-ups to make in midfield. One of them was Centrals skipper Shelby Smith, who was one of the better players afield and would have provided the Westies youngster with a handy learning experience. Scutchings had five touches of her own and laid four tackles, with a lot of her work done under pressure amid the high intensity of what was a very close contest.

#41 Lucy Boyd

Boyd was one who started steadily but had her moments as the match wore on. She got into the game with a searching lead up to half-back, initially having a mark slip through her hands overhead before going with and taking a chest mark at the next contest. Her judgment and timing of those high balls is something to work on, but Boyd moved to the right spots and ended up with a couple of marks among her 10 disposals. The youngster also won two hitouts, chiming in for a few ruck contests inside attacking 50.

Central District:

#9 Charlotte Riggs

Another who built into the contest, Riggs displayed some of her raw talent in defence with 12 disposals (all kicks), three marks and seven rebound 50s. The Centrals prospect opted to kick long more than often, and clunked a couple of fantastic intercept marks. She really got going in the third quarter and had most of her best moments during said period, but arguably her highlight of the day was a goal saving chase to the defensive goalsquare to prevent Westies from converting into the open goal. Riggs also rotated through the ruck, winning six hitouts as she attended some centre bounces.

#21 Georgia McKee

In what was genuinely a game-winning performance, McKee proved once more she is a name to watch for the future. The 15-year-old brought great energy to Centrals’ forward 50 throughout the game, but truly came to life in the final quarter with three remarkable goals. Able to twist and turn onto either side, two of said goals were snaps around the body – one on each foot – while the third was a 40-metre set shot to seal the game. McKee’s ground level prowess was unmatched, as she hit the ball at speed and zipped out of many a tight spot to create a path towards goal. Everything she did came with attacking intent, and her surge style of play made her more productive than anyone else afield. She finished with 17 disposals, seven tackles and four goals in another outstanding display of under-age talent at senior level.

Sturt:

#24 Lily Whitcombe

After a quiet game in Round 2, the running defender bounced back with a bigger game in Round 3, and was usually around the ball given it was camped in the Sturt defence for most of the first half. Whitcombe had some particularly impressive plays in the opening term, saving a couple of goals with some strong marks deep in defence. Though she had a slightly awkward kicking style running close to the line in the back pocket, she showcased good composure und pressure, particularly late in the game, and was able to get her touches away. The defender picked up 13 disposals and took four marks for the match.

#29 India Rasheed

The talented left-footer came off late in the match after an injury following a goal celebration – you read that right – after Alysha Healy slotted the game’s first major and jumped into Rasheed’s arms, knocking her back and unfortunately landing on her leg. The Under 16s forward had to be helped from the ground after that, but she had produced a good game to that point. Working hard up the ground, she spent time on the speedy Katelyn Pope and was particularly lively in the last quarter, taking a number of strong marks, and having a couple of shots on goal that just fell short. With clean hands and an elite left foot, expect Rasheed to be a name you hear much more over the journey. Rasheed recoded 12 disposals, eight marks and laid two tackles.

#40 Tahlia Walker

It was not a great day if you were a Sturt forward – particularly a State Academy forward in regards to injury – with Walker having to come from the ground after a double injury blow. Attempting to smother a ball seven and a half minutes into the second term, she copped a boot to the stomach and at the same time, had friendly fire from a teammate slam into the front of her and she hit the deck. Having to be helped off, it was a tough day for the talent having to sit out the rest of the match without picking up a stat, but that contest was an insight into her courageous character.

North Adelaide:

#22 Amelie Borg

Winning all of her four touches in the first half, Borg provided some good intercepting ability in the back 50, but mostly pushing up the ground. She took a good intercept mark in the opening term, and provided good defensive pressure at half-back with a strong tackle and winning a free kick. Though a quiet game, Borg would have learnt a lot from co-captain Kristi Harvey who was often educating her and the other defenders on when to hold the defensive line and cover opponents.

#31 Hannah Ewings

After a roaring start to the match racking up seven disposals in the opening term, Ewings copped a number of tackles and appeared to be a bit sore throughout the rest of the game, Though she still played what most standards would consider an influential game, she did not quite have the same impact in the final three quarters. In saying that, she had a couple of long-rang shots that just fell short, and worked hard all over the ground, taking a great intercept mark on the defensive goal line and tried to get her side moving quick in the dying minutes. Her sizzling, elite pass into Cristie Castle in the first term was sublime, and though she did not kick a goal, still looked dangerous in the forward half. Ewings had 17 disposals, five marks, three tackles, three inside 50s, three rebound 50s and two behinds in the loss.

South Adelaide:

#38 Shae Archbold

Made the most of a tough day up forward early on, and worked into the match as the game went longer. With only one South Adelaide inside 50 in the first term, Archbold would have felt a little helpless, heading into quarter time without a stat. Once the Panthers started to get a bit of momentum forward of centre, the talented Under 16s player got involved, with a ridiculous first touch. She beat out the lighter Patterson and looked inboard with an elite pass straight to Sarah Wright. Her delivery by foot is usually exemplary and this match was no different despite wet conditions at times. She had a busier second term with four touches, then only the five in the second half, but lead when having the opportunity and created space for the other South forwards. By the final siren Archbold had nine disposals, one mark, two tackles and a behind in a quiet game, but more through opportunity rather than lack of effort.

#49 Jemma Ellis

A breakout game for the teenager who really impressed throughout the ruck against fellow State Academy talent – and taller opponent – Matilda Scholz. In what was deemed the ruck performance of the weekend, Ellis was not only able to influence at the stoppages, but around the ground as well, winning her fair share of touches, often getting it onto the boot. Ellis had two clearances from her first two touches, and had seven. by half-time with a nice leap, particularly going up against Shay’Lee Dayman. Producing a four-quarter performance, Ellis actually topped her team not only in hitouts (19) but also equalled with clearances (five), to also pick up 13 disposals and two inside 50s for her troubles.

Glenelg:

#6 Violet Patterson

Started slowly inside 50 with just three disposals in the first half, before exploding in the second half with 14 touches. She was lively in transition and pushed up to a wing to get more involved than when she was forward, providing dash and quick hands to teammates in transition. Though not always having the time and space where she can take grass, Patterson was able to flick off quick handballs to teammates, then when given opportunities either run inside or kick inside 50 to put pressure on the opposition defence. After that slow start of just three touches to half-time, Patterson recorded 17 disposals, three marks, three tackles and four inside 50s for the match.

#8 Piper Window

Playing almost exclusively forward, Window showed that it might not be your game, but it can be your moment. When the Bays needed a steadier, the talented bottom-ager stepped up, kicking the matchwinner at the eight and a half minute mark of the final term to put her side up by 14 points. She was knocked over as she kicked it, but had the composure to still nail the goal, showcasing her class. So clean with ball-in-hand and with her disposal be it by hand or foot, she is the type of player that teammates are comfortable getting the ball in the hands of regularly. Window might have only picked up the 11 disposals and two marks – one contested – but laid nine tackles, which is something that makes her such a great player. Not only can she be so eye-catching with the ball, she gets her hands dirty when she does not have it.

#11 Sarah Goodwin

Another one who responded after a quiet first term of just two disposals, to pick up another 22 for the game ad end up as one of Glenelg’s best. Recording more intercept possessions in the SANFL Women’s than anyone else in the league’s four-year history with 11, Goodwin just knows where to stand behind the ball, and when she wins it, she rarely wastes a disposal. Her long, medium or short kicking is potent, and despite being lighter built than many opponents, still attacks it hard. Goodwin has plenty of impressive draftable qualities, including her cleanliness at ground level and composure under pressure. Piecing together an incredible top-age season, Goodwin just spreads well around the ground and covers it so well. By the final siren, the wing/half-back was able to pick up 24 disposals, three marks, two tackles, three inside 50s and six rebound 50s, also picking up four frees for her troubles.

#20 Poppy Scholz

Topped her younger sister in this game, Scholz was able to be a handy link in transition playing off a wing and delivered well inside 50. She has a nice burst for a player of 180cm, and was strong overhead. She had a big second term, spreading well and taking some strong marks, and possesses a neat kick when with time and space. She finished with 12 disposals, four marks – two contested – and two tackles in the victory.

#28 Matilda Scholz

Though still winning her fair share of hitouts, Scholz was beaten by Ellis overall in the match, simply for the latter’s impact not only at the stoppage but across the ground. In saying that, Scholz still impacted herself and was able to pick up her fair share of touches with 11 disposals, and is always going to amass hitouts with ease given her athletic nature and 187cm frame. She spent some time forward and the delivery at times to her was a little rushed, with one kick in the second term landing at her feet which made life difficult. A rather ambitious idea of trying to fend off the equally quick and tough Gypsy Schirmer would have been a learning curve, caught holding the ball on that occasion. Despite that moment, Scholz did well to take a contested mark at half-back in the third term and then hit up her sister from the win ing the final quarter. Scholz ended the game with 11 disposals, two marks – one contested – three tackles and 20 hitouts.

RM CENTRAL SANFLW ACADEMY PLAYER OF THE YEAR ROUND 3 VOTES:

9 – Georgia McKee (Central District)
8 – Sarah Goodwin (Glenelg)
8 – Keeley Kustermann (West Adelaide)
7 – Jemma Ellis (South Adelaide)
6 – Lana Schwerdt (Norwood)
6 – Sachi Syme (Norwood)
5 – Hannah Ewings (North Adelaide)
3 – Cher Waters (WWT Eagles)
2 – Poppy Scholz (Glenelg)
2 – Chloe Whitington-Charity (WWT Eagles)
2 – India Rasheed (Sturt)
1 – Shineah Goody (WWT Eagles)
1 – Piper Window (Glenelg)

In each edition of Academy Watch, 60 votes are distributed amongst the Academy talents rather than the traditional 5-4-3-2-1 per-game system used with the NAB League Girls. This way, players who go above and beyond are awarded additional votes, with no cap on a minimum amount from teams. In Round 2, seven of the eight teams are represented.