SANFLW Prelim Final Team & Preview

Norwood will take on Central District at Elizabeth’s X Convenience Oval on Sunday in the SANFLW Preliminary Final. 

The Preliminary Final will take place from 12pm on Sunday, June 4.

Finishing off the minor round season in third place, the Redlegs had to face off with Sturt in last Sunday’s Elimination Semi Final in Noarlunga, defeating the Double Blues by six points, 4.3-27 to 2.9-21.

Sturt won the disposal (224-182), mark (55-30), tackle (102-89), hitouts (45-28), clearance (32-28), scoring shot (11-7) and inside 50m (33-19) numbers, but Norwood was able to hit the scoreboard when it counted to take the six-point win.

State U18 representative Molly Brooksby was outstanding with 23 disposals and an important goal in the first term, while Lana Schwerdt had 15 disposals and matched it with 15 tackles.

Read the full Elimination Semi Final match report here

Central District were defeated by minor premiers South Adelaide in the Qualifying Semi Final on Sunday, 4.4-28 to 2.5-17.

The Panthers as a result progressed through to the Grand Final, with the winner of this Sunday’s Prelim to face them.

In what beckons to be a close Preliminary Final, the number one and two ranked attacks will face off for a place in the Grand Final.

Centrals have the top rated forward line, averaging 41.2 points per game, with Norwood possessing the second best forward line with an average of 38.5 points per game.

Norwood also has the second best defence (28.1 points against), with South Adelaide having the best defencive numbers (24.5 points against). Centrals are ranked fifth in defence (34.5 points against).

The Redlegs and Bulldogs have played eachother just once in 2023, back in Round 3 with Central District pulling off a classic come from behind win, 4.7-31 to 5.3-33.

Norwood led by 10 points with five minutes to go before Caitlen Teague and Jasmine Evans booted late goals to steal victory.

This loss put the Redlegs at a 0-3 win-loss ratio, before they won seven of their next eight games to get their season back on track.

Find Norwood’s Preliminary Final team below.

The Redlegs have named an extended squad for Sunday’s game, with Sophie Arkun, Ashlee Gould, Grace Whittaker, Kaitey Whittaker and Elle Lineage amongst the ins.

Georgina Birchall is out of the team following a head knock in the Semi Final.

The Preliminary Final will also be Tesharna Maher’s 50th SANFLW game.