SOUTH Adelaide has gone back-to-back in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s competition, following a 22-point win over North Adelaide Roosters in challenging conditions, which included three goals in red time across the quarters. The victory is a historic one for the club, with it being the first time South Adelaide had overcome North Adelaide in a senior league final. Indy Tahau was named best on ground for her two-goal haul in the low-scoring affair, while also picking up 20 disposals, five tackles, six inside 50s, three hitouts, one clearance and one rebound in the win.

Tamara Page booted the only goal of the first term late in the quarter as two of the more prolific scoring teams were putting in strong defensive efforts. The Panthers nudged ahead but the second term was the complete opposite early as Tahau took just 36 seconds to get on the board and hand them a 12-point lead. That advantage was cut to five by the time Lauren Daniel hit the scoreboard. A couple of behinds in favour of the Panthers, and then a second Tahau goal in the dying minutes meant the Panthers headed into the main break with a handy 15-point lead. The third quarter saw chances by Kathryn Reynolds and Leah Tynan go begging, as the Roosters desperately tried to hold on to the premiership dream, forcing a couple of rushed behinds before Teah Charlton broke through with a third red-time goal for the favourites and the margin was 21 points. Charlton missed a chance in the opening three minutes to ice the game, but with North Adelaide only managing a behind through Paige Allan midway through the term, the Panthers fans would head home happy, securing their second consecutive premiership in the SANFL Women’s competition.

Across the board the disposals were fairly evenly split between the teams, but it was very much an attack-versus-defence game with a whopping differential of 43 inside 50s to 21 in favour of the victors. Remarkably, the Roosters were able to rebound the ball 39 times, and also dominated the clearances, 25-16 against such a strong Panthers midfield. South Adelaide won the hitouts 21-18, and marks 30-23, but otherwise the teams were evenly matched around the ground. Czenya Cavouras had a team-high 22 disposals, two marks, five tackles, four clearances and five inside 50s, while Charlton not only booted a goal, but also helped herself to 18 touches, four marks, five tackles and three inside 50s. Nikki Gore (16 disposals, 10 tackles, three clearances and two inside 50s) was huge defensively, while Hannah Munyard again played well with 14 disposals, two tackles, three inside 50s and two rebounds. Montana McKinnon was the number one ruck with 18 hitouts, 11 touches and a massive four contested marks of her six total marks, while also laying four tackles, having four inside 50s and three rebounds. For the Roosters, Nadia Von Bertouch had a game-high 23 disposals, as well as two marks, two tackles, three clearances, two inside 50s and three rebounds, while Kendall Howell and Amber Ward were superb in defence. Howell had 19 disposals and six rebounds, while Ward finished the game with 16 disposals, three marks, eight rebounds and five tackles. Sarah Ellis was also prominent with 16 disposals, two marks, two tackles and two rebounds, while Adrienne Davis was important at stoppages, picking up five clearances to go with her 14 disposals, two marks, three tackles and three rebounds. While the loss was disappointing for North Adelaide, South Adelaide was the better team on the day and dominated the time in forward half which ultimately was the difference between the sides.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 1.0 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 (31)
NORTH ADELAIDE 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.3 (9)

GOALS:

South: Indy Tahau 2, Teah Charlton, Tamara Page.
North: Lauren Daniel.

DISPOSALS:

South: Czenya Cavouras 22, Indy Tahau 20, Teah Charlton 18, Nikki Gore 16
North: Nadia Von Bertouch 23, Kendall Howell 19, Sarah Ellis 16, Amber Ward 16, Lauren Daniel 15, Brittany Perry 15

Best on Ground: Indy Tahau (South Adelaide)