2019 Advertiser SANFL Women’s Team of the Year

By ZAC MILBANK

South Adelaide’s dominance in The Advertiser SANFL Statewide Super Women’s League Team of the Year has continued with five players selected for the second year in succession.

The reigning premier has also had its coach chosen again, with Rick Watts earning the nod for losing just two matches throughout the season en route to a berth in Sunday’s Statewide Super Women’s League Grand Final.

Cheyenne Hammond, winner of last year’s medal for best afield in the Grand Final, is the sole Panther to retain her place in the competition’s best 22 after being named across half-back.

Exciting youngsters Hannah Munyard and Teah Charlton join experienced South stars Nicole Campbell and Czenya Cavouras in this year’s line-up.

North Adelaide co-captain Nadia Von Bertouch was chosen to skipper the talented outfit after leading her Roosters into the 2019 title-decider while Norwood’s Najwa Allen was rewarded for her brilliant season by being named as her deputy.

The competition’s leading goalkicker, North’s Kelly Barltrop, is a natural fit at full forward after setting a record for most majors kicked in the minor round with 26.

Charlton, Campbell, Von Bertouch, super-impressive Bloods forward Chelsea Biddell and first-year Tiger Ellen Fauser make up an exciting attacking mix.

Norwood co-captain Leah Cutting leads the ruck after amassing the most hit outs for the season while Allen, Cavouras, Munyard and hard-running Redlegs Hannah Dunn and Monique Hollick form a formidable midfield unit.

Glenelg vice-captain Ellie Kellock and Hammond lead a youthful back six, with Eagle Jaimi Tabb, Central’s Kimberley Fry, West’s Maddie Newman and North’s Amber Ward all yet to reach their 20th birthday.

Plenty of versatility has been selected in the interchange bench with tough midfielders Lauren Daniel (North) and Maya Rigter (Sturt) joined by Tiger talls Caitlin Gould and Lucy Bellinger, who can fill a variety of roles.

The Advertiser SANFL Women’s Team of the Year was selected by SANFL General Manager of Football Adam Kelly, SANFL Football Operations Manager Tom Hurley, SANFL Female Talent Manager Robbie Neill, SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank and Chief Advertiser SANFL Women’s Writer Dani Abbracciavento.

Forward Pocket
Ellen Fauser (Glenelg FC)
In her debut season at Statewide Super Women’s League level, Fauser impressed for Glenelg in averaging nearly 12 disposals a game while also booting 10 goals for the year.

Full Forward
Kelly Barltrop (North Adelaide FC)
Takes the prime forward target position after winning the SANFL Women’s Leading Goal Kicker trophy. The former Adelaide United Goal Keeper tallied 26 majors from her 10 minor round matches to establish a record for most goals kicked in a season.

Forward Pocket    
Teah Charlton (South Adelaide FC)
The 2019 Powerade Breakthrough Player set the competition alight with her exciting play around the goals and in the air with her exceptional overhead marking. Averaged over 15 disposals per game while playing in attack and through the midfield.

Half Forward Flank  
Nicole Campbell (South Adelaide FC)
The experienced former Redleg hit the headlines in Round 4 when she kicked a goal on the final siren to win the game against North. Across the season, Campbell was one of the Panthers’ most consistent performers, finishing with an average of just under 16 disposals.

Centre Half Forward  
Chelsea Biddell (West Adelaide FC)
West Adelaide’s exciting forward backed up her inclusion in last year’s team with another selection in 2019, this time in the prestigious post of Centre Half Foward. Kicked 14 goals for the season, one of which was a contender for goal of the year after taking streaking down the wing at City Mazda Stadium.

Half Forward Flank  
Nadia Von Bertouch (North Adelaide FC) – CAPTAIN
The Roosters skipper is selected as the leader of the Team of the Year due to her unselfish play and willingness to play in a multitude of roles. Got thrown into the ruck at times this year while also acting as a tall on-baller and forward.

Wing
Monique Hollick (Norwood FC)
The Redlegs’ running machine stepped up her game a notch this year to prove she is the best in the competition in terms of work-rate and metres covered. The former Crow averaged more than 16 disposals while also hitting the scoreboard with nine goals for the season.

Centre      
Czenya Cavouras (South Adelaide FC)
The Panthers’ tall and athletic midfielder thrived on the opportunity provided by new coach Rick Watts in the absence of departed premiership stars. Cavouras proved a handful for opposition coaches to match up on while chalking up an average of more than 18 disposals.

Wing              
Hannah Munyard (South Adelaide FC)
Continued to elevate her game to earn a debut berth in the Team of the Year. The 17-year-old runs hard to find the ball to illustrate why she is one of the exciting young prospects in the competition.

Half Back Flank  
Jaimi Tabb (Woodville West Torrens FC)
The AFL Academy prospect divided her time between the midfield and defence but one thing didn’t change – her attack on the ball. Tabb was a consistent performer for the Eagles in their debut season.

Centre Half Back
Kimberley Fry (Central District FC)
High on the radar for the SA U18 Girls Squad, Fry did an admirable job of holding down a key defensive post in the Bulldogs inaugural season. Finds plenty of the ball for a defender who also spoils to strong affect.

Half Back Flank     
Cheyenne Hammond (South Adelaide FC)
Last year’s winner of the Best Afield Medal in the Grand Final picked up where she left off to be her damaging self off half-back for the Panthers. Another player to earn her second Team of the Year guernsey in succession.

Back Pocket
Madison Newman (West Adelaide FC)
Entrusted with the kick-ins, Newman showed why with her polished disposal by foot coming out of the back half for the Bloods. Highly valued player at Richmond due to her determined attitude.

Full Back         
Amber Ward (North Adelaide FC)
Rarely beaten deep in defence this year as she built on her solid debut season of 2018. Is on her path toward representing her State at U18 level for the season season in succession.

Back Pocket   
Ellie Kellock (Glenelg FC)
Glenelg’s vice-captain was arguably her team’s most consistent player in 2019 as she also rotated through the midfield. Averaged nearly 13 disposals and more than four tackles to underline her defensive capabilities.

Ruck
Leah Cutting (Norwood FC)
Norwood’s co-captain led the league in total hit outs as she continued to display her prowess at the stoppages. Has shown strong on-field leadership in the absence of injured co-skipper Bek McMahon since Round 1.

Ruck Rover
Najwa Allen (Norwood FC) – VICE CAPTAIN
Took the competition by storm with her ability to influence the outcome of games with her strong play through the midfield and attack. Averaged more than 25 disposals per game while also kicking seven goals for the season.

Rover
Hannah Dunn (Norwood FC)
Like Allen, Dunn put her AFLW skills on show throughout the season to prove she could also find another opportunity at the top level after previously playing for GWS. Averaged more than 20 possessions a game for the Redlegs.

Interchange
Caitlin Gould (Glenelg FC)
Impressed in a variety of roles for the Tigers in her debut season, primarily the ruck where she was able to move around the ground to have a strong influence. Finished with 206 hit outs for the year.

Lauren Daniel (North Adelaide FC)
The experienced campaigner lifted her output in 2019 in the absence of several star Roosters who were selected by AFLW clubs. Averaged more than 15 disposals a game primarily playing in the midfield.

Maya Rigter (Sturt FC)
Another worthy debutant in the Team of the Year, Rigter showed off a gritty attack on the ball for the Double Blues. The teenager averaged a staggering 7.5 tackles per game to prove she was equally influential without the ball in hand.

Lucy Bellinger (Glenelg FC)
Bolted out of the blocks with a best-on-ground display in Round 1 which ended up setting the tone for her season. Holding down centre-half forward for the Bays, Bellinger averaged nearly 14 disposals and more than four marks a game.

Coach
Rick Watts (South Adelaide FC)
In his first season at the helm at Noarlunga, Watts has done an impressive job of rejuvenating the Panthers’ list while also steering his team into the 2019 Statewide Super Women’s League Grand Final. An assistant mentor for last year’s inaugural flag, Watts was faced with a multitude of key player losses at the start of the season. But he overcame this external concern by unearthing more talent at Lovelock Drive, including Powerade Breakthrough Player Teah Charlton, prolific midfielder Czenya Cavouras and exciting youngster Indy Tahau.