Four new coaches, lots of new players – get set for a close and unpredictable 2020 SANFLW season
Four new coaches plus plenty of new players is going to make this year’s SANFLW season close and unpredictable. See what the coaches have to say ahead of round one this Friday.
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THIS year’s SANFLW campaign is set to be close and unpredictable, according to club coaches.
The 2020 state league women’s competition gets underway this Friday night with plenty of new players plus four new faces in the coaching box.
Reigning premier South opens the campaign against Woodville-West Torrens at Noarlunga Oval.
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It’s going to be a tough ask for the Eagles, who finished their debut season as wooden-spooners.
But coach Tess Baxter is confident her team will be better after having a year under its belt.
“I’m excited see our improvement from last season,” Baxter says.
“I am expecting the whole competition to be fresh and unpredictable.
“Glenelg look to be stronger again, there’s going to be new-look teams with coaching changes at North, West and Sturt and South looking to continue their good form even though they have had some big changes in key personnel.”
West Adelaide plays Sturt at Elizabeth in its first match for premiership points under new coach Mark Moody.
The Bloods’ mentor says his side is “coming together “very nicely”.
“We are all very excited for round one,” Moody says.
“Women’s footy is on the up. I’ve seen some good skills in the trial games.”
Panthers coach Rick Watts says his side – after losing a few players to the AFLW – will be quite different from the one that beat North in last year’s grand final.
“I think the competition will really become more balanced,” he says.
“I’d imagine we’d have 11 or 12 new players in for round one compared to our grand final team.”
Glenelg takes on 2019 grand finalist North on Saturday at Elizabeth Oval.
Tigers coach Jason Fairall believes this campaign will be tight, with all teams improving.
“I know you can’t read too much into pre-season form but I think some of the bottom teams have performed exceptionally well throughout this pre-season in the trial games,” Fairall says.
“I can see they’ve bridged the gap significantly.
“That said, South is probably still going to be the benchmark.”
New Roosters coach Krissie Steen, who guided South to its first premiership in 2018, is glad to be back in the state league after spending last year as an assistant with GWS in the AFLW.
“I reckon we will do all right,” Steen says.
“We’ve learnt a new game style – it’s going to be a really exciting year.”
Sturt plays West Adelaide at Elizabeth straight after the Tigers v Roosters clash before Central District and Norwood’s game, also at Elizabeth, ends round one.
Sturt’s new mentor Bruce Dawes is keen for the season to start.
“It’s all very exciting but there’s a little bit of unknown there as well being a new coach.”