WITH the COVID-19 global pandemic impacting sports across the world, the SANFL Women’s competition abruptly came to a halt after four rounds. While it is yet to be publicly confirmed if and when the season will be completed, Draft Central will take a look back at the opening four rounds, how they went down and where each team sat. From tomorrow, we will be reviewing each of the SANFL Women’s sides, starting with Central District and working our way up the ladder over the next two weeks.

Round 1

The opening round of the season signalled just how far teams could improve in 12 months with one of last year’s inaugural sides, Central District upsetting the 2019 minor premiers, Norwood by four points. The Bulldogs trailed by a point at the final break and indeed at each break, but booted two goals to one in the final term to win by four points. Katelyn Rosenzweig booted four goals in a stunning effort, as Shelby Smith topped the disposals with 20, as well as five clearances. Matilda Zander picked up 20 herself in a losing side for Norwood, while Alison Ferrall had six inside 50s from 16 disposals.

In what was almost a huge upset, Woodville-West Torrens Eagles pushed South Adelaide all the way before falling short by four points. Montana McKinnon was electric for the Panthers with 20 hitouts to fo with 17 disposals, seven marks (five contested), two tackles, four clearances, six inside 50s and two rebounds, while Czenya Cavouras and Indy Tahau combined for 35 touches and 13 clearances. For the Eagles, Jaimi Tabb was fierce across the ground with 12 disposals, seven tackles and three rebounds, while Allison Evans had a team-high 15 touches, three marks, nine tackles and three rebounds.

Meanwhile the Roosters had a comfortable 26-point win over Glenelg as Cristie Castle had 16 touches, six marks – three contested, five clearances, four inside 50s and a goal, while Kristi Harvey was a rock at full-back with five rebounds. Glenelg young guns Madisyn Freeman and Tessa Kohn were strong in midfield, combining for 26 disposals and four clearances doing all they could in a losing effort.

In the other game, West Adelaide had an imposing 21-point victory over Sturt, holding the Double Blues goalless in the opening three terms. Abbie Ballard suffered leather poisoning with 27 touches, five marks, nine clearances and three inside 50s, teaming up with Rachelle Martin (15 disposals, 11 tackles, five clearances and two inside 50s in midfield). Co-captains Georgia Bevan and Maya Rigter did their best despite the defeat, combining for 37 disposals, 12 tackles and five clearances.

Round 2

A couple of teams were sent crashing back to earth in Round 2, with North Adelaide flexing its muscles with a massive nine-goal win over Central District. Ashleigh Woodland had a best on ground performance for the Roosters, booting four goals from 20 touches, five marks and three inside 50s, while Round 1 Breakthrough Player Hannah Ewings had nine inside 50s and a goal from 17 touches. There were plenty of contributors though, as Lauren Daniel and Castle both had more than 20 touches and booted a goal each. For the Bulldogs, Demi Sonneman had 12 disposals and three rebounds, while Danielle Stewart worked hard in midfield for 12 touches and five clearances.

West Adelaide also had a big win, defeating Glenelg by 40 points when the two clashed. Martin had a game-high 21 disposals, five clearances and four inside 50s, while Zoe Greer (18 disposals, eight clearances) and Emma Smith (15 disposals, 10 tackles) were also impressive in the win. Kohn was strong once again in midfield with a team-high four clearances for the Tigers, while Chelsea Packer racked up 17 disposals, six tackles and three rebounds in the loss.

South Adelaide picked up an easy win to match the other two sides with a 43-9 triumph over Sturt. Teah Charlton looked impressive with 24 touches, three marks, six tackles, four clearances and five inside 50s, while Courtney Barry (22 disposals, nine clearances), McKinnon (15 touches, 17 hitouts and six inside 50s) and Jess Kirk (three goals) were also outstanding in victory. Bevan was consistent once again with 19 disposals and 10 tackles as Rigter picked up 12 and 12, while Hannah Prenzler impressed in defence with 15 touches, six marks and four rebounds under pressure.

In the only tight game of the round, Norwood came from behind to post a victory applying more pain to the Eagles with a solitary one-point win. Jo Hill and Kiana Lee booted three majors for their respective sides, as Mattea Breed stood out for the Redlegs with 21 touches, three marks, five tackles, four clearances and six inside 50s. Leah Cutting was also strong in the ruck, while Zander continued her strong form around the ground.For the Eagles, Tabb had another impressive game with 16 disposals, 10 tackles and six inside 50s, while Stephanie Walker (13 disposals, six tackles and four inside 50s) and Tesharna Maher (12 disposals, four rebounds) were also impressive.

Round 3

The Roosters handed West Adelaide its first loss of the season with an impressive 21-point victory to signal their premiership aspirations. Woodland continued her amazing fortnight with 22 touches, seven marks, three clearances and three goals, while Leah Tynan (18 disposals, six tackles, three clearances and four inside 50s) and Katelyn Pope (15 disposals, eight inside 50s) were among a host of Roosters who shone in the big win. Zoe Venning had a massive game for the losing side with 28 touches, six marks (two contested), four clearances, two inside 50s and three rebounds, while Keely Kustermann was electric in defence with 13 touches and seven rebounds, as Ballard and Martin worked hard in midfield.

South Adelaide set up a huge top of the table clash in Round 4 after sending home Norwood with a five-goal win. Charlton again racked up the ball with 27 touches, seven tackles and five inside 50s, while Tahlia Meyer (22 disposals, three tackles, four inside 50s and a goal) and Samantha Pratt (18 disposals, eight tackles and six rebounds) were also among the top players on the ground. For the Redlegs, Jade Halfpenny managed a team-high 19 disposals, while Zander (18 touches, nine marks – four contested – three tackles and four inside 50s) and Cutting (11 disposals, seven tackles, 19 hitouts and seven inside 50s) were strong.

In the other two games, the victors won their first games of the season with Sturt getting up in an eight-point win over the unlucky Eagles. Bevan had 19 touches, six tackles, four clearances and three inside 50s in the win, while Isobel Kuiper (18 disposals, five marks, six tackles, five clearances and two rebounds) and Zoe Prowse (14 disposals, three marks, 16 hitouts, four clearances and three inside 50s were among the best. For the Eagles, Walker had a team-high 17 disposals, nine tackles and three clearances, while Maher (12 disposals, four rebounds) and Ashlee Reid (11 disposals, five rebounds) were desperate in the back half.

Finally it was not as close in the other contest as a returning Caitlin Gould dominated the match for Glenelg to help her side run away with a 50-point victory over Central District. Gould booted 4.4 from 13 disposals, six marks – two contested – four tackles, 18 hitouts, four clearances and two inside 50s to be the clear best on ground. Lucy Armitage provided great support with a goal from 13 touches, seven tackles and four inside 50s, while Kohn had another five clearances to go with 13 disposals, five tackles and three inside 50s.For the Bulldogs, Sonneman had 19 disposals and six rebounds in another consistent effort, while Smith (14 disposals, four marks, four tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s) and Kimberley Fry (11 disposals, four rebounds) tried hard.

Round 4

In the final completed round, North Adelaide won a top of the table thriller against South Adelaide to finish the halted season on top. Lauren Gauci helped herself to 19 touches, four tackles and three rebounds, as Daniel (18 disposals, four marks, three tackles, three clearances and three rebounds), Pope (17 touches, four tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and four rebounds) and Harvey (15 disposals, eight marks – two contested – six tackles and eight rebounds) all stood out working hard defensively and finding plenty of the ball. Courtney Barry (23 disposals, five tackles, eight clearances and three inside 50s) and Cavouras (21 disposals, 12 tackles, seven clearances, five inside 50s and a goal) were dominant in midfield, while Nicole Campbell helped herself to 23 touches, nine tackles, three clearances and five inside 50s.

The round also provided the season’s first draw with West Adelaide and Norwood splitting the points. Martin (21 disposals, nine tackles and five clearances) was the dominant midfielder for the bloods as Madison Newman returned from the AFL Women’s to have 18 disposals, four marks, four inside 50s and four rebounds. Kasia Culhane (15 disposals, five inside 50s and a goal) and Rachael Killian (17 disposals, five inside 50s) were other crucial inclusions in the 23-all draw. Zander was the highest disposal winner on the ground with 22 touches for the Redlegs, while Breed (17 disposals, four marks – three contested – five clearances, three rebounds and a goal) and Cutting (15 disposals, 22 hitouts, four marks, six tackles and four inside 50s) also impressed.

In another first, Woodville-West Torrens ensured all teams had a win on the board with an impressive 25-point victory over Glenelg. It was the Eagles’ first win in their history and they made it count with Lee and Nicole Collie both snagging three goals. Rhiannon Metcalfe returned to the side after a long-term injury with 16 disposals, 26 hitouts, four clearances and four inside 50s, while Chloe Forby was busy across the ground with 11 disposals, seven tackles, five clearances and five inside 50s. For the Tigers, Kohn won the Breakthrough Player Award for another big effort, picking up 18 touches, five tackles, seven clearances and three inside 50s, while Armitage was once again strong in midfield with 13 disposals, 10 tackles and seven clearances.

Sturt went back-to-back in its season with an 11-point win over Central District, handing the Bulldogs their third consecutive loss. Prowse was the standout on the ground with a ridiculous 23 disposals, four marks, three tackles, 20 hitouts, 10 clearances and a goal on the day. Bevan was impressive again with 14 touches, three tackles and four clearances, while Jo-Anna Baltais had 10 touches and four rebounds. Smith had a team-high 15 disposals and 10 tackles, as well as three clearances and four inside 50s, while Rosenzweig booted both goals from 13 disposals and four marks – three contested.

Summary

The season ended with North Adelaide on top of the table as the only undefeated side, two points clear of South Adelaide, who were a point ahead of West Adelaide in third. Sturt finished with a 50 per cent win-loss ratio thanks to back-to-back wins in Rounds 3 and 4, while Norwood was a point ahead of the bottom three thanks to the draw with the Bloods. The bottom three stand as Woodville-West Torrens, Glenelg and Central District after each side had wins in Rounds 4, 3 and 1 respectively, but lost their other three contests.