SANFL’s ZAC MILBANK breaks down all you need to know about the Bloods heading into the 2024 Hostplus SANFL Women’s League season.
Finished – 8th
Record – 2 wins, 9 losses, 1 draw
Best and Fairest – Zoe Venning
Runner Up – Lauren Young
Player’s Player – Illish Ross
The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year – Lauren Young (Centre Half-Forward), Zoe Venning (Interchange)
COMING
Hannah Button (returned/Adelaide AFLW), Nicola Biagi (Central District), Jemma Ellis (South Adelaide), Jasmine White (Mount Gambier), Philippa Worthley (Port Noarlunga), Gracie Sim (West juniors), Izzy Spooner (West juniors), Emma Chapman (North Adelaide), Brydie Mannion (Morphettville Park), Baylee Cooper (Hahndorf)
GOING
Lauren Young (Port Adelaide AFLW), Sariad Kustermann (retired), Abbie Butler (Woodville-West Torrens)
Round 1
Friday March 1
West v South at Thebarton Oval – 7.40pm
Round 2
Saturday March 9
West v North at Hisense Stadium – 12pm
Round 3
Saturday March 16
West v Sturt at Hisense Stadium – 6pm
Round 4
Saturday March 23
West v Glenelg at Hisense Stadium – 12pm
Round 5
Friday March 29
Eagles v West at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval – 12pm
West Adelaide has been quick to roll out the welcome mat for dual premiership Crow Hannah Button, after she was delisted in December.
The 27-year-old burst onto the scene with the Bloods in 2018, winning the SANFLW best-and-fairest award which ensured she would be snapped up by Adelaide, where she featured in 39 AFLW games and the club’s 2019 and 2022 flags.
Button will be keen to impress through the midfield for Westies, after missing the entire 2023 campaign due to a torn ACL suffered in March last year.
One of Bruce Dawes’ toughest calls in the coaching box this year will be where to play exciting youngster Lucy Boyd.
A member of last year’s SA U18 team, where she was played chiefly in attack, Boyd has again been selected in the SA U18 squad for 2024.
But Dawes is leaning towards using Boyd – who managed just six League games last year due to an ankle injury – as an intercept-marking defender while playing for the Bloods.
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