SANFLW Coach Catch-Up – Sturt’s Bruce Dawes

By ZAC MILBANK

Sturt Women’s coach Bruce Dawes has revealed co-captain Georgia Bevan has benefited from the Covid-19 break after shrugging off a lingering thigh strain.

The former Crows AFLW midfielder was hampered by the issue in the Double Blues’ opening four matches but the 27-year-old has now freshened up for the second half of the season beginning on June 27.

Speaking on SANFL Radio, Dawes also said valuable half-forward Kate Harris had recovered from a broken finger suffered in their last outing against Central District in Round 4.

Set to resume in Round 5 with a 2-2 win-loss record placing them in fourth spot, the Double Blues will be looking to rekindle the form which earned them two victories in Round 3 and 4.

Exciting young prospects Zoe Prowse and Izzy Kuiper can expect to have significant roles leading into the major round, with the latter impressing in Round 3 when she earned the Powerade Breakthrough Player nominatation.

Prowse, a member of the AFLW Academy, steadily built her form across the first four rounds, culminating in a Round 4 performance which yielded 23 disposals, 20 hit outs, 10 clearances and a goal in the win against the Bulldogs.

Still only 16 years old, Prowse can expect to continue leading the ruck in the absence of American basketball convert Stephanie Ratliff, who returned home to the US in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.