SANFL’s ZAC MILBANK breaks down all you need to know about the Double Blues heading into the 2023 SANFL Women’s League season.
Finished – 2nd (Lost Grand Final to North Adelaide)
Record – 9 wins, 3 losses (Minor Round)
Best and Fairest – Georgia Bevan
Runner Up – Elsie Dawes
Third Place – Alisha Gepp
The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year – Georgia Bevan (Half-Forward Flank), Kiera Mueller (Back Pocket), Isabelle Kuiper (Interchange), Michael O’Connor (Coach)
COMING
Lucy Earl (Goolwa/Glenelg), Jasmin Fejo (Adelaide Lightning basketball), Amber Hopkins (Pembroke), Abby Pengelly (Pembroke), Neriah Milis (Victor Harbor), Lane Trenorden (returned)
GOING
Allani Dawes (West Adelaide), Georgia Hamilton (North Adelaide), Ellen Lynch (overseas), Nicole Baker (retired), Lucy Griffiths (retired)
Round 1
Saturday February 18
South v Sturt (Flinders University Stadium) – 6pm
Round 2
Saturday February 25
Sturt v Central (Thebarton Oval) – 12pm
Round 3
Sunday March 5
Sturt v Glenelg (Thebarton Oval) – 12pm
Round 4
Sunday March 19
West v Sturt (Hisense Stadium) – 12pm
Round 5
Saturday March 25
Norwood v Sturt (The Parade) – 12pm
The Double Blues rarely recruit from outside the confines of Unley but when Glenelg premiership player Lucy Earl showed interest in a transfer, Sturt was happy to accommodate the 26-year-old.
Measuring in at 178cm, Earl, who has played 32 SANFLW League games, will give Sturt some size in the back half, with an ability to play on the talls and smalls.
Earl is keen to continue her family’s tradition at Oxford Terrace given her uncle Andrew Downes played 154 games for Sturt between 1978 and 1989.
Sophie Thredgold is a prime example of the exciting young talent continuing to flow through the ranks at Sturt.
A member of SANFL’s SA U16 Girls Academy, the niece of former club captain Chris Thredgold will be pushing for a SANFLW League debut in 2023.
The teenager’s running power has impressed coach Michael O’Connor, together with her ability to play multiple roles if required.
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