Eastern Mavericks v Forestville Eagles
Saturday March 31, 6:30pm at Adelaide Hills Recreation Centre

It will be reigning champions against wooden-spooners in the opening round, with the Forestville Eagles travelling to Adelaide Hills to visit the Eastern Mavericks.

After failing to win a game in Season 2011, the Mavericks have undergone a complete makeover.

Their biggest signing is 2010 Halls Medallist Tess Madgen, back at the club after a year with Sturt.  7 juniors have also been added to the squad, while former Centre Tracey Beatty is off to NSW.

The Eagles have a very slim roster.  Only three players have been added, including the younger Robinson (Hannah) from juniors, while dynamic duo Monica Bello and Carla Borrego will not begin the season with the club.

Jamie-Lee Bow and Megan Kermond, who both started in last year’s Grand Final, are also out of the line-up.

The Eagles will still have plenty of talent, with Georgia Minear, Jess Fergus, rising youngster Jasmine Trimboli and many others back for a tilt at a fourth successive title.

The last time these sides met, the Eagles won 96-50. However, the last time Madgen played for the Mavericks, the Mavericks won.

This should give the hosts some confidence, and maybe a win is not out of the equation.

Still, it is hard to go against the Eagles.

Norwood Flames v Central District Lions
Saturday March 31, 6:30pm at Mars Sporting Complex

In the Match of the Round, 2011 Minor Premiers and eventual Runners-up Norwood will play host to last year’s Cinderella team, the Central District Lions, on Saturday at Mars.

Star players Jess Foley and Kelsey Ireland are back for the Flames, while Nadeen Payne (Queensland), Stephanie Talbot (AIS), Kate Shierlaw (West) and Lisa Ackroyd (West) have departed.

Amy Lewis (Adelaide Lightning) is the big name signing, while several youngsters have signed with the senior side.

The Lions have retained the cream of the crop from 2011, minus Alisha Heglund, who is back in the US.

However, she has been-well replaced by scoring and rebounding machine Elizabeth Keane, previously with South. The Lions are also hopeful of suiting D’Lesha Llloyed, a US import who played most recently in Norway.

Jess Mahony should go hammer-and-tongs with Foley in a match-up worth watching, and one that could decide the game.

When the Flames and Lions last faced off, the Flames got up 70-50. Being at home, the Flames will likely get the W, but expect a close game.

Sturt Sabres v West Adelaide Bearcats,
Saturday March 31, 6:30pm at Pasadena

The West Adelaide Bearcats will be hoping to continue their recent success against the Sturt Sabres when the two sides meet at Pasadena on Saturday.

The Bearcats, who won the pre-season tournament, have successfully beaten the Sabres on the road in their last two finals campaigns.

The absence of Nikita-Lee Martin (Perth) and Kerrin Webber will hurt the Bearcats, and the Bearcats have also lost Irene Sourlatzi.

A range of players from rival clubs have joined, including Vida Bojanic (Woodville), and Lisa Ackroyd. In addition, former Bearcat Kate Shierlaw rejoins the team after time at Norwood.

The Sabres will have a completely different look.

The core of the team is gone, with Tess Madgen (Eastern), Nicole Seekamp (US College), Monique Bowley (injury), Caroline Burgess (time off), Conor Holmes (Townsville) and Hannah Richards (injury) all departing.

Natalie Chaloner, a Scottish import who last played in Spain, joins the team and Jess McPhail has returned from a stint in the US. The Sabres have also added 5 others to the team.

With the Sabres’ depleted roster, it is hard to go against the Bearcats here.

Woodville Warriors v South Adelaide Panthers,
Saturday March 31, 6:30pm at St Clair

The South Adelaide Panthers, who made a genuine push for a finals berth last season, will field a new look side for their opening round away match against the Woodville Warriors.

The Panthers established a big four last season in Elizabeth Keane, Sarah Peddle, Claire Johnson and Simone Nelson.

However, Keane and Nelson have chosen other clubs, Peddle is having time off and Johnson has moved to WA.

10 other players are also gone, but there are only six replacements, leaving the roster much thinner.

Juniors Holly Braidwood and Sophie Byrne are two of the inclusions.

The Warriors, who won just two games last season, have added Premiership player Tara Buttress from Forestville, but have lost Vida Bojanic to West.

The Warriors relied heavily on Ursula Richards for scoring last season, and one would expect a similar game plan this season.

The Panthers beat the Warriors 70-52 at St Clair last season, but with all the player movement in the off-season, the Warriors appear primed to turn things around on Saturday.

Southern Tigers v North Adelaide Rockets,
Saturday March 31, 2:00pm @ Morphett Vale

The Southern Tigers and North Adelaide Rockets split their fixtures last season, which proved costly to each side’s chances of participating in finals.

The two sides will square off at Morphett Vale on Sunday, in a match that could set the tone for each team’s respective seasons.

The Tigers have been strengthened up front via the addition of Simone Nelson from South, but have lost Madeline Cunningham, Rosalie Cutri, Ashleigh Spencer and Jess Nolan to College.

Lauren Mansfield, currently playing with Ohio State, will hopefully join North later in the season, while seven other players have been added to the Rockets’ list, including Jamie-lee Peris from the Northern Territory.

Kate Gladstone has left the Rockets for Sturt.

Jo Hill has been a dominant force in the Rocket front court, and her matchup with Nelson will go a long way to deciding the winner of this contest.

The Rockets thrashed the Tigers 86-57 in the matchup down south last season.

Success should be repeated for the Rockets, but expect a much tighter battle.