NORWOOD secured outright top spot, Woodville-West Torrens Eagles won their third straight game, Central District had a massive win to bounce back from three consecutive losses, and South Adelaide and North Adelaide played out the season’s first draw.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 3.3 (21)
NORTH ADELAIDE 1.0 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 3.3 (21)

GOALS:

South: M. Bennett, S. Peters, A. Rochow.
North: T. Gordon, J. Tabb, L. Tynan.

DC BEST:

South: M. McKinnon. N. Campbell, C. Cavouras, L. Whiteley, J. Smith
North: L. Daniel, P. Waterford, J. Tabb, K. Harvey, B. Arthur

A Tayla Thorn behind in the dying seconds of the match has saved North Adelaide from back-to-back losses, instead playing out the first draw of the 2021 season with South Adelaide. Leading by seven points at the final break, the Panthers scoring 1.2 to hit the front with a couple of minutes to go, only for North to go down the other end and Thorn have a chance to win it for the Roosters. It registered just the one behind, but it handed the teams a point each, in a low-scoring contest for 3.3 (21) apiece. The teams were fairly even across the board, as the Roosters had a higher kick-to-handball ratio compared to the Panthers, and led in the clearances (21-15) and inside 50s (31-25), but the home team took out the hitouts (22-18) and rebound 50s (25-21).

Montana McKinnon continued her red-hot form this season with a whopping 25 disposals to go alongside 16 hitouts, also picking up eight marks, four inside 50s, four rebound 50s and two clearances. Nicole Campbell worked well in tandem with 24 touches, six marks, six tackles, three inside 50s, two rebound 50s and two clearances. Czenya Cavouras (19 disposals, five tackles and three clearances) and Lisa Whiteley (16 disposals, four tackles, five marks – two contested – and three rebounds) were also impressive. For the Roosters, Lauren Daniel picked up 21 disposals, five clearances, three marks and three inside 50s, with Poppy Waterford (17 disposals, four marks, four tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s) and Chelsea Farr (14 disposals, four clearances and three inside 50s) and Jaimi Tabb (15 disposals, three marks, five inside 50s and one goal) busy in midfield, while Kristi Harvey and Talia Radan were again strong across the board.

Across at the quadruple header at Adelaide Oval, North Adelaide take on Central District in the second game, and South Adelaide face West Adelaide in the final clash.

STURT 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.7 (19)
WWT EAGLES 0.2 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 3.5 (23)

GOALS:

Sturt: A. Brooks-Birve, C. Forby.
Eagles: J. Sedunary 2, K. Lee.

DC BEST:

Sturt: A. Gepp, J. Wittervan, I. Kuiper, J. Good, K. Mueller
Eagles: J. Sedunary, A. Falkenberg, N. Holmes, R. Forth, J. Zecevic

Woodville-West Torrens Eagles have claimed a third consecutive win to make 2021 their most successful season to-date, just midway through the season. The relatively new side in its third year, held off Sturt to win by just four points in a tight contest despite some remarkable individual efforts from the Double Blues’ teenage midfield. Jess Sedunary kicked two majors – including the first of the final term to give her side some breathing space, before ex-Eagle Chloe Forby almost broke her former teammates’ hearts with a goal midway through the quarter. Despite the goal in the ninth minute, the Eagles held firm to win in a low-scoring encounter, 3.5 (23) to 2.7 (19). Sturt had more marks (41-29) and tackles (69-50), and absolutely slaughtered the Eagles in hitouts (39-9) and clearances (24-14), but the visitors managed to win the inside 50s by 10 (30-20) to have enough scoring opportunities to get the job done.

Sedunary starred with two goals from 21 touches, three marks, two clearances and three inside 50s, whilst it was an even team effort across the board. The usual suspects in Anastasia Falkenberg (17 disposals, five tackles and three clearances), Natasha Holmes (12 disposals, five inside 50s and three rebound 50s), and Jovanka Zecevic (17 disposals, three tackles and two marks) were all impressive, as Renee Forth had 12 disposals, two marks, four tackles, two inside 50s and three rebound 50s. Sturt had some mind-boggling individual performances led by teenage star Alisha Gepp, racking up 35 touches, four marks, six tackles, four clearances and six rebound 50s in the highest disposal game of the year. Jaimee Wittervan (21 disposals, five clearances, three inside 50s and three tackles), Izzy Kuiper (14 disposals, four clearances, four inside 50s, five rebound 50s and 14 tackles) and Jess Good (13 disposals, 31 hitouts and six tackles) were all outstanding in the loss.

Next week Sturt takes on Glenelg in the first game at Adelaide Oval, whilst the Eagles test themselves against top of the table Norwood in the third match of the day.

CENTRAL DISTRICT 2.6 | 2.6 | 7.7 | 8.9 (57)
WEST ADELAIDE 0.0 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 5.5 (35)

GOALS:

Central: C. Reynolds 3, K. Rosenzweig, N. Biagi, A. James, G. Madigan.
West: A. Considine 2, S. Whiting 2, L. McCarthy.

DC BEST:

Central: K. Rosenzweig, S. Smith, C. Reynodlds, A. Butler, C. Teague. I Starmer
West: A. Considine, S. Whiting, T. Jayne, B. Owen K. Culhane

A five goals to one second quarter was the catalyst for a memorable Central District win, getting back on the board after three consecutive losses to defeat West Adelaide by 22 points. The Bulldogs took advantage of a Bloods outfit missing a host of its in-form players, piling on the pressure in the third term and running away with a 8.9 (57) to 5.5 (35) victory and hand West Adelaide its third straight loss in the process. Both sides moved to 2-3 for the season, with Chantel Reynolds slotting three goals for the match, and the the Bulldogs four consecutive goals in the space of six minutes during the third term to secure the four points. They dominated possession (228-141), took 24 more marks (55-31) including seven more contested marks (11-4) and controlled the hitouts (20-16), clearances (18-15) and had plenty of inside 50s (28-16), whilst West Adelaide won the tackle (46-36) and rebound 50 (19-11) counts.

The key forwards of Katelyn Rosenzweig (17 disposals, eight marks – three contested – four hitouts, two inside 50s and 1.3) and Reynolds (17 disposals, five marks – four contested – and 3.0) were unstoppable, as captain Shelby Smith again led from the front with a game-high 26 disposals, as well as three marks, four tackles, two clearances and four inside 50s. Alicia Butler (19 disposals, seven marks and four inside 50s) provided some class, while Isabelle Starmer (11 disposals, 16 hitouts and four tackles) and Caitlen Teague (15 disposals, four clearances and three inside 50s) were among the best players once again. Ailish Considine made a promising return to state level with a dominant 17 disposals, six clearances, three tackles, two inside 50s and three rebound 50s, while Sharnie Whiting played forward and slotted 2.2 herself from 12 touches, four marks and three inside 50s. Taylah Jayne (13 disposals, four rebounds), Bec Owen (nine disposals, six tackles and five inside 50s) and Kasia Culhane (10 touches, two clearances and two inside 50s) also worked hard in the loss.

Central District takes on North Adelaide in the second game next Saturday at Adelaide Oval, while West Adelaide faces South Adelaide in the late game in the quadruple header.

NORWOOD 0.0 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 3.11 (29)
GLENELG 1.1 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 4.3 (27)

GOALS:

Norwood: E. Clark, E. Sporn, R. Zerella.
Glenelg: L. Armitage, M. Freeman, E. Kellock, S. Partington.

BEST:

Norwood: L. Cutting, E. Murison, M. Breed, S. Armitstead, E. Gallagher
Glenelg: E. Kellock, J. Bates, C. Packer, T. Kohn, M. Freeman

Norwood has secured outright top spot with a hard-fought come-from-behind victory over Glenelg. The Redlegs trailed by 12 points early in the fourth term, and inaccuracy threatened to spoil the party for the home team, but 2.2 to 0.0 in the last 15 minutes of the final term saw them flip the deficit into an eventual two-point win. When Madisyn Freeman converted a goal three minutes into the last quarter – which was the Bays’ third consecutive major, the Redlegs were on the back foot. But back-to-back goals to Rosette Zerella and Erika Sporn resulted in them coming back and running over the top of their opponents, 3.11 (29) to 4.3 (27). Norwood led the disposal count (194-169), as well as the marks in a low-marking game, 24-17. Whilst Glenelg’s defence did hold up for the most part, the Redlegs dominated the hitouts (40-13) and won the clearances (28-21) and inside 50s (27-22).

Emma Clark led the disposal count for the Redlegs with 15, as well as six tackles, three clearances, two rebound 50s and a goal, as Leah Cutting dominated the ruck yet again, picking up 14 disposals, laying 15 tackles and amassing 35 hitouts and four inside 50s. Mattea Breed (14 disposals, three marks and four inside 50s), Ella Murison (14 disposals, three marks, four tackles, three inside 50s and five rebound 50s) and midfield duo Sophie Armitstead (11 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances and two inside 50s) and Elisha Gallagher (11 disposals, four tackles, five clearances and three inside 50s were all prolific. For the Bays, Jessica Bates again had a day out with a whopping 16 tackles to go with nine disposals and two inside 50s, as Ellie Kellock kicked a goal from an even 12 disposals, six tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s. Tessa Kohn (11 disposals, six tackles and six inside 50s), Chelsea Packer (11 disposals, two tackles and three inside 50s) and Freeman (10 disposals, four rebounds) were others who stood out.

Next week Norwood takes on Woodville-West Torrens Eagles in the third game at Adelaide Oval, while Glenelg opens the day against Sturt from 10.30am.

Picture credit: SANFL / John Emery