South Adelaide Panthers v North Adelaide Rockets
Saturday April 6, 6.30pm at Marion

The North Adelaide Rockets, minus star guard Lauren Mansfield (13.4 ppg, 5.6 apg, 5.2 rpg in 2012) and Tania Dhu, will be hoping to carry their stellar 2012 form into Round 1 when they visit the South Adelaide Panthers.

While the Rockets have weakened somewhat, the 2012 wooden spooners have strengthened, with former Forestville premiership player Jamie-Lee Bow and ex-Tiger Teresa Kinross (10.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg) now on board.

The Panthers lost both matches to the Rockets last season, and in fact went the whole season without winning a home game.

In what should be a tight game, the Rockets’ star duo of Jo Hill and Jamie-Lee Peris should get them the W.


Norwood Flames v Southern Tigers
Saturday April 6, 6.30pm at Mars

The Norwood Flames, with a very familiar look, will have a great chance to start their premiership defence on a high when they tackle the Southern Tigers, who are undergoing a youth movement process.

Aside from centre Rachel Herrick (7.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg), the Flames have retained all of their key players from last season, including former Halls Medallist Jess Foley and Grand Final MVP Amy Lewis. They have also brought former Lightning player Rebecca Duke back to the club.

The Tigers, who have not beaten the Flames since the 2010 Elimination Final, have got much younger after losing Genna Anderson (12.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and Alexandra Ciabattoni (19.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.1 apg) amongst others.

The Tigers could not have asked for a tougher start.


Sturt Sabres v Central District Lions
Saturday April 6, 6.30pm at Pasadena

On Saturday, the reinvigorated Sturt Sabres will take on a Central District Lions team that will sorely miss 2012 Halls Medallist Jess Mahony (who also won the award while with Sturt exactly a decade earlier).

The Sabres, who finished seventh in 2012, have Brigid Bowley returning from Lithuania, along with Lightning duo Hannah Bowley and Molly Lewis. This should lead to a revamped and more successful offence.

The Lions have imported Tamika Dukes who last played in Germany, but have not covered the loss of Mahony, Elizabeth Keane (14.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg), Fiona Perso (6.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Lisa Wilson and Desinta Cummins, all of whom were bit-part players for last season’s Semi Finalists.

After losing to the Lions twice in 2012, the Sabres should get back to their regular habit of knocking off the team from the far north.


West Adelaide Bearcats v Forestville Eagles
Saturday April 6, 6.30pm at Port Adelaide

At Port Adelaide, the Match of the Round double-header begins with the West Adelaide Bearcats welcoming the Forestville Eagles.

Following an uncharacteristic bottom three finish in 2012, the Bearcats have signed star point guard Jess Mahony (13.2 ppg, 8 rpg, 6.2 apg) in the hope of quickly moving back up the ladder. They have also brought over her backcourt teammate from the Centrals sides of 2011-12 in Desinta Cummins, but lost Trudy Holland.

The Eagles, whose sweep of the Bearcats last season helped them on their way to a Preliminary Final, have replaced stars Georgia Minear and Carla Borrego with Monica Bello and Mia Newley.

In the corresponding match on St Vincent St last year, it took the much more potent Eagles until overtime to overcome the Bearcats. With the teams now much more evenly matched, one cannot rule out a repeat; Eagles to win but only just.  


Woodville Warriors v Eastern Mavericks
Saturday April 6, 6.30pm at St Clair

Preseason runners-up the Woodville Warriors will begin their 2013 campaign by hosting the Eastern Mavericks.

The Warriors, who have won just five matches the past two seasons, have made a host of changes, with import Jessica Koch perhaps their biggest scalp, while young gun Ursula Richards is their biggest loss.

The most vital signing for the Mavericks is Amanda McDermott (career averages of 12.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.4 apg), who should provide a decent number two option on offence to star Tess Madgen (30.1 ppg, 14.6 rpg, 5.2 apg in 2012).

The Mavericks swept last season’s series and so long as Madgen is on song, they should be halfway there to doing the same once the final buzzer goes off on Saturday.

By James Woite