Amber Ward’s off complacency toward 50 SANFLW games

By ZAC MILBANK

North Adelaide premiership defender Amber Ward could have been forgiven for thinking she had well and truly found her place on the football field.

Having established herself as an effective player inside the Roosters’ defensive 50 arc since making her debut in 2018, Ward looked at home while blanketing the opposition’s best key forwards.

Speaking on SANFL Radio, the 22-year-old admitted she has thrived in a very different role throughout 2024 as she learns the ruck and forward craft.

Approaching her 50th Hostplus SANFLW League game on Saturday, against Central at X Convenience Oval, Ward showed off her versatility in a breakout game in Round 7.

Featuring in the ruck, she racked up an impressive stat line of 17 disposals, three tackles, three inside 50s, seven clearances and 27 hit outs against the Double Blues.

It has now given Ward plenty of excitement as she looks to become a leader amongst the youthful outfit at Prospect, having started her own SANFLW career at the age of just 15.

A member of North’s undefeated 2020 premiership team, Ward also played 14 AFLW games for West Coast and four for Adelaide.

And now the budding Events Manager has transformed herself into an intriguing prospect for the Roosters and perhaps one day, another AFLW club.