SANFLW Stars Ready to Shine in Perth

14 May 2026

By ALEXANDRA BULL

Narelle Smith grew up watching SANFL religiously.

Originally a Norwood supporter due to growing up in the north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide, the current Woodville-West Torrens SANFLW coach, and SANFLW State Team coach, recalls watching the classics between Norwood and Port Adelaide and has been entrenched in footy ever since.

“I had boys all around my street when I was growing up, and we just kicked the footy,” Narelle said.

“I went to Kildare College – which is an all-girls school – and the first time I took my footy to school I had it confiscated by one of the nuns and was told that football is ‘un-ladylike’, but I kept kicking.”

Narelle forged quite an impressive career in the now-defunct SAWFL, playing 130 games in her 12-year career, and is often hailed as a pioneer of women’s football.

It’s this label, which she wears with pride, that has driven her to provide more opportunities for SANFLW players on a national stage, including state games.

“I feel like I am a really strong voice and I advocate for women to be recognised and state footy is one of those platforms to push forward the women’s game,” Narelle said.

“(Women’s football) is a really fast developing product with the athletes’ profile changing so quickly. High-performance environments are really turning girls into strong athletes who can move the ball with pace.”

After defeating the VFLW by two points in the State Game during Gather Round, there have been several changes made to the squad ahead of the clash with the WAFLW in the KIA State Game this Saturday in Perth.

“I feel like the depth of the SANFLW is really going to be on display this Saturday,” Narelle said.

“We have been able to cover with like-for-like and give some players opportunities to show their brand and get themselves on a bigger stage, potentially with some recruiters’ eyes on them.

“I think the team we have put together in the first four rounds of SANFLW, they have really shown some great form, hopefully we can keep that momentum going and connect well and play a nice brand of footy.”

The Croweaters have won both their encounters with the Sandgropers, and looking ahead to Saturday’s game, Narelle said she wants to make sure everyone has their moment.

“Obviously Mikaylah Antony was a standout and got BOG last time and she was able to get herself drafted to the AFLW,” Narelle said.

“There’s some players who have some hot minutes and are able to show what they can do and put their name forward to be the next player taken from SANFLW and put into the AFLW system, which would be fantastic.

“Even if it gets a player on the radar of recruiters that hasn’t been on the radar before; for me it’s about every player having an opportunity to have their moment and show what they can do on the field.”

The SANFLW will take on the WAFLW in the KIA State Game at Sullivan Logistics Stadium (Perth) from 2:10pm ACST (12:40pm AWST) on Saturday, 16 May.