Hostplus SANFLW League Grand Final Preview

WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS V SOUTH ADELAIDE | Stratarama Stadium | 2:15pm

Live and free on Channel 7 & 7 Plus | Live radio on 1629 SEN SA & SEN App | SANFL Now

Gates open 9:45am
Tickets $15, pre-purchase online on the SANFL website – sanfl.com.au/league/tickets or at the gate. U18s FREE entry
10:30am – 11:30am SANFL Juniors Under 8s matches
11:45am – 1:20pm – SANFL Juniors U18 Div 1 Girls match
2:15pm – Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final

Overall Record
Played: 10
Eagles: 2
South: 10
Drawn: 0

Finals Record
Eagles: 1
South: 0

2025 Meetings
Round 9 – South 5.3 (33) d Eagles 4.5 (29) at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval
Round 14 – Eagles 7.3 (45) d South 5.7 (37)  at Magain Stadium
2nd Semi Final – Eagles 4.6 (30) d South 4.5 (29) at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval

Finals Meetings
2nd Semi Final – Eagles 4.6 (30) d South 4.5 (29) at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval

Interesting Stat
South have used the most SANFLW league players this year (36), Eagles the least (30).

By PETER CORNWALL and ZAC MILBANK

It seems only right.

The two teams that have dominated the SANFLW season are still standing, primed to meet in a dream grand final match-up.

And there’s been next to nothing between them all year. They both finished with super-impressive 12-2 win-loss records, a remarkable five wins clear of the other finalists, Sturt and North Adelaide.

Woodville-West Torrens stormed out of the blocks with eight wins in a row, more wins than its total for the previous two full seasons. The Eagles’ run only came to an end with a four-point loss – to South, who else?

Their only other loss was a shock six-point defeat at the hands of Sturt in Round 13. South suffered a surprise nine-point loss to North in Round 2, then reeled off 11 wins in a row.

The streak ended with an eight-point loss against – who else? – the Eagles in Round 14 in the game that decided the minor premiership. Then these talent-laden sides slugged it out in an epic second semi-final thriller that the Eagles won thanks to a last-gasp goal from key forward Klaudia O’Neill.

But, as if they didn’t know what they would be facing in the premiership decider, they watched on as the Panthers dismantled Sturt by 45 points in the preliminary final.

So it’s on again. What makes this clash even more appealing is, while they have gone hammer-and-tongs battling each other for top spot all year, their histories are hugely contrasting. The Eagles before this season had come eighth, seventh, eight, seventh, seventh and seventh in the eight-team comp. South has finished first, first, second, fourth, fourth, second and first.

It’s been a gradual build for the Eagles under coach Narelle Smith over the past four seasons and she said she felt the side started to get its mojo going last season before consistency and continuity have been the keys this season. The Eagles’ offence has kicked into gear – up from 31 points per game last year to 49 – moving the ball with speed and attacking with outstanding efficiency.

“I’m proud of how the program is coming together and we are finally getting some reward for effort,” Smith said. “We have a driven group and they are very sharp at the moment.”

While SANFLW Team of the Year half-back Maia Freemantle has been battling to overcome ankle syndesmosis, the Eagles have gained a huge boost.

Christina Leuzzi, who won the Coaches’ Award on Monday despite missing the final three minor round matches after being selected by Adelaide’s AFLW team, has been cleared to play in the premiership decider.

“She’s a massive plus for us – I’m super excited she will be lining up,” Smith said.

Annie Falkenberg, SA’s skipper in both State games this year, has continued to lead the way and the Eagles making the grand final is another milestone moment for the comp because every SANFLW club has now made it to a premiership decider.

South Adelaide under coach Rick Watts has an expectation to be there come grand final day.

The disappointment of the second semi-final defeat at the hands of the Eagles seems only to have strengthened the Panthers’ resolve.

“I think (the loss) could work out to our benefit,” Watts said. “We like to battle it out and push through and be the underdogs, I think that’s when we play our best footy.”

They certainly played their best footy in their 45-point win against Sturt in the preliminary final. The resolve and commitment was clearly evident in the first three minutes as two crunching tackles were laid in succession deep inside 50m, paving the way for Hope Taylor to boot the opening goal.

By three-quarter-time it was 7.4 to 0.0.

“A lot of girls got a lot of confidence out of that game,” Watts said.

But some heartbreaking news came out of the big win. Exciting forward Shae Archbold, who banged on three goals in eight minutes in the third quarter, sadly was forced off with an ACL knee injury.

“It’s her second ACL in three years … our hearts go out to her,” Watts said. “We will play for her on Sunday and try to do her proud.”

The news is better on superstar ruck Soriah Moon, who missed the second semi with a groin complaint and was eased back into the action from the interchange bench against Sturt. “She’s cherry ripe and ready to go,” Watts said.

And there’s plenty more star power. Emma Charlton and Caitlin Couch are in SANFLW’s top 10 for possessions and tackles, showing how strong they are offensively and defensively. Lily Baxter shone against Sturt with 24 disposals, seven marks and a goal, while Lauren Clifton had 21 touches.

Tiffany King is a power of strength in defence, while veteran defender Jaslynne Smith, who made history this year as the first player to reach 100 SANFLW games, was like a brick wall against Sturt as she set up play well with her 18 disposals and seven marks.

The Eagles also have a player who’s like part of the SANFLW furniture. Ruck giant Leah Cutting is lining up for her 99th game, looking to bring the curtain down on a remarkable career in the best possible way, as will Rosette Zerella, who also will be hanging up her boots after the big game.

Cutting, the leading hit-out winner this year and forever, continually gets the Eagles moving. Lucy Moore is a fierce clearance winner and tackler, Imogen Trengove keeps taking her game to a higher level and O’Neill is threatening long-time SANFLW goalkicking leader Katelyn Rosenzweig’s reign as powerhouse in front of the big sticks.

With 24 goals she’s within three of the Central superstar’s season tally. And Brianna Walling is certain to have a memorable 50th game.

Both coaches admire the way their 2025 rival goes about it, Smith lauding how the Panthers “are such a well-drilled side” and Watts impressed with how the Eagles “stood up in the big moments” in the second semi.

He’s confident the Panthers will stand up this time but reckons the decider “might come down to the last two minutes again”. That wouldn’t be a surprise as, apart from the fact these two standout sides are so evenly matched, four of the eight SANFLW grand finals have been decided by seven points or less.

EAGLES

Leah Cutting

Has been dominating hit-outs since the first SANFLW game back in 2017, when she won 30 for Norwood against North, and the first grand final, with another 30 in the Redlegs’ historic flag win.

Has a phenomenal 2127 hit-outs in 98 games all up and this year is still leading the way, with 510 (average 34).

Also earning 15 disposals a game, the fact she’s third in 2025 for ranking points (average 97.5) shows she remains hugely influential. Huge day looms for the veteran after announcing she will retire after the final siren on Sunday.

Klaudia O’Neill

Showed what a big-moment player she is by calmly slotting the last-gasp matchwinner in the second semi-final thriller against South.

Also kicked four goals in the Round 14 clash against the Panthers.

With 24 goals this season – including a best of 6.0 against Glenelg in Round 7– she is second behind Central star Katelyn Rosenzweig (27). Her strong marking and accurate goalkicking could again prove a key in the decider.

SOUTH

Soriah Moon

Dynamic, enthusiastic and a super athlete, the Best and Fairest Medal runner-up is averaging 30 hit-outs a game – but that’s not all.

While she’s second to Cutting for hit-outs, she’s also fifth in the league for disposals, third for clearances and fourth in ranking points, averaging 85.

A groin issue has been a concern but if she’s at anything near peak fitness her handballs will be setting the Panthers on their way.

Emma Charlton

The younger sister of Crows star Teah, the composed 17-year-old ball magnet is seventh in the league for disposals, averaging 21 per game.

And she’s also sixth for tackles, with eight per game, showing for someone of her tender years she can defend as well as attack.

Has shown her star quality for SA’s under-18s as best against Vic Metro with 31 disposals, before tallying 17 disposals and 12 tackles in a win against WA.