Panthers make presence felt in SANFLW Advertiser Team of the Year

There was a strong South Adelaide premiership flavour present when the inaugural Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year was revealed at Wednesday night's Women's Best & Fairest count.

Five Panthers players were handed guernseys, while premiership mentor Krissie Steen was elected to lead the charges as coach.

South Adelaide co-captain Kristi Harvey, on-ballers Nikki Gore and Elyse Haussen as well as defensive duo Cheyenne Hammond and Jaslynne Smith made up the Panthers five selections.

Named at centre half forward, Panthers inspirational leader Harvey averaged 15 possessions per game while playing as a physical link up forward in South's often devastating forward half.

Star midfielder Gore's selection as ruck rover backed up receiving the Powerade Breakthrough Player Award earlier in the evening and capped off a brilliant season from the 17-year-old Christies Beach product. Gore averaged a competition best 19.5 touches per game and was a key contributor on Grand Final day with her poise and precision by both hand and foot.

Another talented junior, 17-year-old Smith was a consistent presence in the Panthers backline, racking up 13 touches a game and impressing with her accuracy by foot rebounding out of defence.

One of the surprise packets of the season, dashing defender Hammond burst onto the SANFLW scene with her explosive pace and ability to break the lines. She can add her Team of the Year selection to her already impressive list of 2018 accolades, which includes a Breakthrough Player nomination, a premiership and best afield medal in the SANFLW Grand Final.

Last season Elyse Haussen was playing Div 3 SAWFL football. After an impressive preseason she worked her way to becoming a key component of South Adelaide's midfield group, gathering the fifth most possessions in the competition and playing all 11 games in just her first SANFLW campaign.

The only female coach in the SANFLW, Steen's selection caps off an impressive individual 18 months as she guided her second premiership in this time (after leading Adelaide University to SAWFL Div 1 honours in 2017) and losing only one match in her last 23. Her professional approach and passion for improvement played a major role in the Panthers premiership success.

The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year was selected by SANFL General Manager of Football Adam Kelly, SANFL Football Operations Manager Tom Hurley, SANFL Female Talent Manager Robbie Neill, SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank and Chief Advertiser SANFLW Writer Dani Abbracciavento.