Team Selections

SANFLW State Team to host WAFLW

West Adelaide's Ruby Ballard is among three inclusions to the SANFLW State team line-up to face the WAFLW on Saturday. Picture - Cory Sutton

By ZAC MILBANK

Three new faces will make their debut for the SANFLW State Team in its historic clash against the WAFLW at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon.

North Adelaide pair Aprille Crooks and Julia Clark, together with West Adelaide’s Ruby Ballard, have been selected in the final 22 to confront the WAFLW in a curtain-raiser to the Adelaide v Carlton AFL match.

Starting at 12.45pm, the contest will mark the first time the Croweaters host their Nullarbor rivals on home soil after they triumphed by 16 points at Optus Stadium in Perth last year.

Coached by Courtney Cramey, the SANFLW side will be looking to atone for its 27-point loss to the VFLW at Alberton as part of the Gather Round festivities on April 11.

Crooks has been named at half-forward while Clark and Ballard, the younger sister of Crows AFLW player Abbie, form part of the six-player interchange rotation.

South Adelaide premiership captain Jordann Rugless (nee Hickey) had also been added to the squad but is unavailable after experiencing knee soreness after the SANFLW’s main training session at Glenelg.
The SANFLW team will again be captained by reliable defender Annie Falkenberg, with star midfielder Jess Bates continuing as vice captain.

Bates will again look to team up in the centre square with Christina Leuzzi, who was awarded the medal for best SANFLW player against the VFL after collecting a team-high 23 disposals while also laying 13 tackles to go with her eye-catching goal.

The SANFLW’s clash with the WAFLW will be streamed live and free via SANFL Now. A ticket to the Adelaide Crows v Carlton AFL match is required for spectators. 

STATE GAME UMPIRES

Field – Henry Lodge (SANFLW), Josh Abbott (SANFLW), Amir Cooper (WAFLW)

Boundary – Hannah Timpani (SANFLW), Emma Jones (SANFLW), Naomi Andersen (SANFLW), Mackenzie Scholes (WAFLW)

Goal – Isabelle Rawsthorne (SANFLW), Dylan Blaxill (WAFLW)

North Adelaide’s Julia Clark training for the SANFLW State team at Stratarama Stadium. Picture – Cory Sutton

SANFLW State Team v WAFLW

Saturday May 3 at Adelaide Oval – 12.45pm
Streamed live and free on SANFL Now

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

F: (24) Katelyn Rosenzweig (Central), (20) Kiana Lee (Norwood)

HF: (11) Aprille Crooks (North), (6) Mel Anderson (South), (13) Lauren Breguet (Central)

C: (2) Laitiah Huynh (Central), (19) Christina Leuzzi (Eagles), (14) Emma Kilpatrick (West)

HB: (3) Sarah Branford (Norwood), (8) Annie Falkenberg (Eagles), (4) Laela Ebert (North)

B: (5) Marie Martino (Glenelg), (21) Tiffany King (South)

 

R: (23) Leah Cutting (Eagles), (16) Jess Bates (Glenelg), (22) Jade Halfpenny (Norwood)

INT: (26) Soriah Moon (South), (12) Ruby Ballard (West), (7) Julia Clark (North), (9) Zoe Venning (West), (15) Sophie Zuill (Eagles), (10) Madison Lane (Central)

EMG: (18) Zara Walsh (Sturt), (27) Klaudia O’Neill (Eagles)

NEW – Julia Clark, Ruby Ballard, Aprille Crooks

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