AS the final few weeks of the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s season approaches, Norwood and South Adelaide look settled in the top two, while North Adelaide is coming with a bullet. The remaining teams are fighting it out for fourth, with West Adelaide in the prime spot ahead of Glenelg.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 2.0 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 6.7 (43)
GLENELG 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 (15)

GOALS:

South: Madison Bennett 3, Danielle Goding, Elyse Haussen, Hannah Munyard.
Glenelg: Lucy Bellinger 2.

DISPOSALS:

South: Hannah Munyard 23, Czenya Cavouras, Teah Charlton 20
Glenelg: Cass Hartley 18, Lucy Bellinger 16

South Adelaide’s winning streak stretched to six on the weekend, whilst also sentencing Glenelg to its fourth straight defeat, following the Panthers’ 28-point victory. Madison Bennett and Danielle Goding got the visitors off to the perfect start early, booting two goals before Lucy Bellinger got the Tigers on the board. By half-time the writing was on the wall as Elyse Haussen, Bennett and Hannah Munyard all converted opportunities as Glenelg registered the three behinds. To Glenelg’s credit the Tigers tightened the screws in the second half, booting the only goal of the third term – another major to Bellinger, and holding the Panthers goalless until the 15-minute mark of the final term when Bennett converted her third to put the icing on the cake. Munyard was the top disposal winner for the Panthers, collecting 23 disposals, three marks, three clearances, two tackles and booting a goal, while Czenya Cavouras and Teah Charlton were again busy for the visitors, combining for 40 disposals, 23 tackles and nine inside 50s, constantly bringing pressure to the ball carrier. Bennett was the most influential forward, booting the three goals as well as having 11 disposals, three tackles and three inside 50s. For Glenelg, Bellinger had 16 touches, six marks and five tackles to go with her two majors, while Cassie Hartley finished with 18 disposals and eight marks – the most of any Tiger – as well as six tackles and four rebounds. Caitlin Gould‘s strong season continued with 13 disposals, seven tackles, 16 hitouts, five clearances and three inside 50s. These teams will not have to wait too long to face off again, with a Saturday evening clash scheduled in a fixture anomaly.

STURT 1.1 | 1.7 | 3.10 | 8.14 (62)
WWT EAGLES 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.4 (28)

GOALS:

Sturt: Alexandra Ballard 2, Georgia Swan, Nicole Baker, Lauren Lovell, Taylor Prenzler, Maya Rigter, Caitlyn Swanson.
Eagles: Kiana Lee 2, Natasha Farrier, Chloe Forby.

DISPOSALS:

Sturt: Georgia Bevan 19, Lauren Lovell 17
Eagles: Kiana Lee, Stephanie Walker 13

Sturt has overcome a sluggish start to storm home against Woodville-West Torrens and claim a memorable 34-point win. It took until the final term to finally open the floodgates, but the result was glorious after the Eagles kicked four of the first five goals, including two to Kiana Lee, to lead by 17 points. The Double Blues had all the play in the second term but could not convert on the scoreboard, booting six straight behinds to still trail by 13 points at the main break. Nicole Baker finally broke the drought five minutes into the third term, and then Alexandra Ballard converted on her third opportunity, as Sturt drew level at the final break. With all the momentum firmly with Sturt, the Double Blues stormed home, albeit with some more inaccuracy early, booting three straight behinds before five final-quarter goals in 12 minutes put an exclamation mark on Sturt’s best performance to-date. Georgia Bevan was the top possession winner for the Double Blues with 19, while laying fierce tackles totalling 11, as well as five marks, seven clearances and five inside 50s. Lauren Lovell finished with 17 touches, two marks, three tackles and three inside 50s, while Ballard booted 2.3 from 10 disposals and four marks. Caitlyn Swanson was another who stood up in the win, booting a goal from 13 disposals, four tackles, five clearances and three inside 50s. For the Eagles, Lee was the standout performer, booting two goals from 13 touches, three marks (two contested) and three tackles. Stephanie Walker also had 13 touches as well as three tackles, while Abby Pengelly finished with 12 disposals, three clearances and two rebounds, and Jovanka Zecevic worked hard in defence for four rebounds from 10 touches. Next week, Sturt hosts the top-of-the-table Norwood, while the Eagles head into a home clash against the in-form North Adelaide.

NORTH ADELAIDE 4.0 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 8.5 (53)
WEST ADELAIDE 2.1 | 2.1 | 5.2 | 5.3 (33)

GOALS:

North: Christie Castle, Emma Sampson 3, Kathryn Reynolds, Leah Tynan.
West: Megan Rich, Abbie Ballard, Melanie Elsegood, Alexandra Mason, Mary Smith.

DISPOSALS:

North: Erica Greet 19, Lauren Daniel 17, Leah Tynan 16
West: Abbie Ballard, Madison Newman 17

North Adelaide have leapfrogged West Adelaide into third spot following a convincing 20-point win over the Bloods. The Roosters showed their intent early with the first four goals, including three to Emma Sampson, before Melanie Elsegood and Alexandra Mason converted chances for the visitors to cut the deficit to 11 points at the first break. Leah Tynan and Cristie Castle booted the next three goals of the match to extend the deficit out to five goals, before West Adelaide answered with three of their own in the premiership quarter to cut the deficit to just 12 points. In a tighter final term, Kathryn Reynolds booted the only major of the quarter less than four minutes in as the Roosters controlled most of the play and enjoyed the 8.5 (53) to 5.3 (33) victory. Erica Greet had a game-high 19 touches for the Roosters, as well as five marks and six inside 50s, while Tynan was prolific in midfield with seven clearances and 16 disposals. Lauren Daniel (15 disposals, five inside 50s) and Castle (13 disposals, three goals) were also busy in the front half for the winners. Abbie Ballard and Madison Newman were again the top stars for the Westies, amassing 17 disposals each, as well as a combined eight inside 50s and seven rebounds, while Ballard found the big sticks with one major. In round 8, North Adelaide travel to face the winless Woodville-West Torrens, while West Adelaide hit the road in a clash with Central District.

NORWOOD 1.4 | 3.6 | 5.6 | 7.9 (51)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.1 (13)

GOALS:

Norwood: Najwa Allen, Erika Sporn, Matilda Zander 2, Leah Cutting.
Central: Abbey Scheer, Isabella Wilson.

DISPOSALS:

Norwood: Najwah Allen 30, Hannah Dunn, Monique Hollick 22, Thalia Meyer 18, Matilda Zander 16
Central: Laitiah Huynh 15

It was a grind, but premiership favourites Norwood eventually shook off the early challenge from newcomers Central District to post an impressive 38-point win and remain undefeated after seven rounds. The Redlegs have already booked their finals spot and indeed look locked in to the top two. Matilda Zander scored a goal in the first 41 seconds to give Norwood something to celebrate early, before Abbey Scheer put a major through after missing just prior. Leading by three points at the first break, Zander booted the first of the second term, shortly followed by high possession getter, Najwah Allen. When Leah Cutting and Erika Sporn booted the next three goals of the game, the result was beyond doubt and as Allen made it two, the margin was seven goals. Isabella Wilson booted a late consolation goal for the Bulldogs, with the final margin sitting at 38. Unsurprisingly, Allen received leather poisoning again for her 30 disposals, two clearances, three inside 50s, two rebounds, two goals and nine marks. Fellow midfielder, Hannah Dunn also found plenty of it with 22 touches, three clearances and six tackles, while Monique Hollick was busy on the outside with 22 disposals and five inside 50s. Zander had 16 disposals and four inside 50s to accompany her two majors. For the Bulldogs, Jayme-Lee Sonneman had a big day in the ruck with 17 hitouts and eight clearances as well as 13 disposals, while Gemma Doughty had four rebounds with 13 touches, five tackles and two clearances. Latiah Huynh had a team-high 15 disposals, as well as three clearances, four tackles and two inside 50s.