Statewide Super Women’s League – Preliminary Final Preview & Teams

Sunday August 16
South Adelaide v West Adelaide | 11:30am | Thebarton Oval | SANFL Digital Pass

SOUTH

F: Gore, Kirk, Munyard

HF: Tahau, Cavouras, Schirmer

C: Hammond, Campbell, Charlton

HB: Flanagan-Sjoberg, Pennifold, Buchanan

B: Haylock, Smith, Northcott

R: McKinnon, Meyer, Whiteley

INT: Copley, Bennett, Nijuis, Kraft, Gibbs, Clifton, Ross

IN: Flanagan-Sjoberg, Gibbs, Nijuis, Clifton

OUT: Pratt (knee), Wedding (back)

WEST

F: Scholar, Rodato, James

HF: Thompson, Biddell, Venning

C: Martin, Ballard, Greer

HB: Newman, Killian, Kustermann

B: Maidment, Culhane, Doupis

R: Walsh, O. Smith, E. Smith

INT: Scutchings, Mason, Griffiths, Davis, Hooper, Harfield

IN: Griffiths, Harfield

SOUTH
Cheyenne Hammond
The Gold Coast Suns-listed midfielder has come back from the AFLW refreshed and ready to make an impact. The winner of the 2018 GF Medal for best afield certainly displayed this in the Second Semi-Final, racking up 19 disposals and a goal while enjoying her freedom on the wing.

Indy Tahau
One of the most damaging, and versatile, players in the competition, Tahau can turn a game in the blink of an eye. Almost produced a match-winning piece of play in the Second Semi-Final when she crumbed perfectly off hands, took a bounce and let fly from 35m only to have shot touched on the goalline.

Jess Kirk
Leading the competition’s goalkicking list until pipped by Ashleigh Woodland in Round 10, Kirk missed the final two minor round games with a sore toe. Should be better for the run in the Second Semi-Final so expect the strong marking forward to create scoreboard pressure against the Bloods.

WEST
Rachelle Martin
Arguably best afield in the First Semi-Final, Martin is a fearless warrior for the Bloods at the bottom of the packs. And if there is inclement weather on Sunday, this is certainly a place where the ball will be, making West’s star rover an extremely important player.

Stevie-Lee Thompson
The Crows AFLW premiership forward displayed what she can do in the First Semi-Final with three goals from her five scoring shots against Norwood. Quick and powerful, Thompson is tough to match up on such is her workrate and willingness to charge through tackles.

Madison Newman
An elite disposer of the football, particularly by foot, Newman is extremely constructive playing across half-back or through the midfield. Racked up 23 disposals in the First Semi-Final and her running ability was underlined by recording seven rebound 50s and four inside 50s.

The Statewide Super Women’s League Preliminary Final promises to be an intriguing match.

South Adelaide has suffered just two losses all season – both to North Adelaide – and is stacked full of local and AFLW talent.

The Panthers have also dominated West in past contests, winning all six of their meetings since their inception in 2018.

But the Bloods are full of confidence after banking their first finals win by a record margin of 43 points against the Redlegs.

Their 9.4 (58) was also the club’s record score in any match, proving they boast plenty of potency if allowed space.

If South doesn’t come focused, an upset could be on the cards if West continue to play with great confidence.