The 2023 Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year

BY ZAC MILBANK

Central District’s breakthrough campaign has been reflected in the 2023 The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year, with five Bulldogs and coach Ben Hunt selected in the elite line-up. Surging into its inaugural Hostplus SANFLW League grand final, Central leads the way for the class of 2023 with fellow finalists South Adelaide, Norwood and Sturt each having three players chosen.

There are three Central players inside the attacking 50m arc, including the competition’s leading goalkicker Katelyn Rosenzweig. Speedy goalsneaks Caitlin Wendland and Elaine Grigg were also rewarded for their consistency while unheralded Georgia Madigan starts in defence with Bulldogs captain Shelby Smith returning to the line-up, this time on the interchange. Minor premier South has ruck Soriah Moon and consistent midfielder Brooke Boileau in the centre square, with 16-year-old Esther Schirmer at full back.

Glenelg dynamo Piper Window, named as follower, on Tuesday night was rewarded for her stunning season, winning the SANFLW best-and-fairest award. The third Tiger to be crowned the competition’s most brilliant after Courtney Gum in 2017 and Jess Bates last season, Window polled 19 votes, edging out West Adelaide’s Zoe Venning (17) and North on-baller Jess Edwards (13). Star Norwood recruit Tahlita Buethke lines up on a wing while team-mates Tesharna Maher (half-forward flank) and Lana Schwerdt (interchange) also played roles in earning a top-three finish. Sturt skipper Kate Harris (centre) is captain thanks to her inspirational leadership at Unley, while team-mates Georgia Swan (half-back

flank) and Isobel Kuiper (interchange) had influences in lifting the Blues into the major round. The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year was selected by SANFL female talent manager Robbie Neill, football operations coordinator Daniel Joyce, head of football operations Sean Toohey, football administrator Lucy Herde and media producer Zac Milbank.