THE evenness of the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s competition was on display over the weekend, with the end result being seven of the eight teams separated by just two points – one win – while Norwood streaked away at the top of the table.

NORWOOD 2.0 | 3.2 | 5.2 | 6.3 (39)
NORTH ADELAIDE 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 (8)

GOALS:

Norwood: R. Zerella 2, E. Gallagher, J. Macolino, E. Sporn, S. Syme.
North: K. Reynolds.

DC BEST:

Norwood: L. Cutting, E. Gallagher, S. Syme, S. Armitstead, E. Clark.
North: B. Arthur, J. Tabb, K. Pope, E. Sundstrom, E. Greet

Norwood brought up the half dozen straight victories with a dominant 31-point victory over North Adelaide to solidify the Redlegs’ spot at the top of the table. The Redlegs kicked the only two goals of the first term, and kept the Roosters to just one goal for the match, booting the final four goals of the game during the 6.3 (39) to 1.2 (8) win. They dominated possession (215-156) and kept the ball off their opponents with a massive mark differential (46-17), also doubling the inside 50s count (32-16), and controlling the hitouts (37-17). The Roosters defence held up best it could with 25 rebound 50s to 14, and also laid 15 more tackles (69-54).

Leah Cutting led the way in the ruck with 34 hitouts to go with 12 disposals, two marks, 10 tackles and two clearances, as the likes of Elisha Gallagher (16 disposals, four clearances, four marks and a goal), Sachi Syme (17 disposals, three clearances, four inside 50s and a goal) and Jess Macolino (13 disposals, eight tackles and a goal) all hit the scoreboard. Rosette Zerella slotted two majors with her 10 touches and four marks – three contested – while Sophie Armitstead (13 disposals, nine tackles, three clearances and four inside 50s) and Emma Clark (19 disposals, four tackles, three clearances) were also impressive. For the Roosters, Brianna Arthur stood out with seven clearances to match her seven tackles, as well as 15 disposals, whilst Jaimi Tabb laid 13 tackles with nine touches, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s. Erin Sundstrom (nine disposals, seven tackles) and Katelyn Pope (13 disposals, five tackles) were also fierce around the ball carrier.

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GLENELG 2.2 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 5.5 (35)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 4.8 (32)

GOALS:

Glenelg: S. Wilton 2, C. Packer 2, G. Duffy.
Central: C. Reynolds 2, G. Madigan, N. Biagi.

DC BEST:

Glenelg: J. Bates, T. Kohn, E. Kellock, S. Franson, S. Goodwin
Central: S. Smith, I. Starmer, P. Allen, N. Mark, E. Mickan,

Glenelg has held on to bounce back with an important win against a fast-finishing Central District outfit that gave the Bays a real scare at ACH Group Stadium on Friday night. The home team booted the first two goals of the game and led by 13 points at the first break, before six consecutive behinds to the Bulldogs over the next quarter and a minute had them within seven points. Chantel Reynolds kicked the drought-breaking goal two minutes into the third term for the Bulldogs to claw to within one point, but the next five scoring shots – and three goals including two to Sarah Wilton  – went the way of Glenelg to open up a 35-13 lead. Looking down and out, the Bulldogs found a way to get back with three last quarter goals, but would ultimately fall three points short.

Jessica Bates was outstanding once again, amassing 14 disposals, two marks, 10 tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s for the winners, teaming up well with Tessa Kohn (16 disposals, three marks, eight tackles and two clearances), and Ellie Kellock (13 disposals, four tackles, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s) around the ground. Wilton slotted the two goals from five disposals, as did Chelsea Packer, while Sam Franson had an impact thanks to nine disposals, eight tackles, two clearances and three inside 50s. For the Bulldogs, Shelby Smith led from the front with a match-high 19 disposals, as well as two marks, four tackles, two clearances and two inside 50s, while Isabelle Starmer was terrific in the ruck, finishing with 10 disposals, 27 hitouts, six tackles, four clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s. Katelyn Rosenzweig (eight disposals, two marks, six tackles, five hitouts, two inside 50s and three rebound 50s) and Reynolds (five disposals, three marks and two goals) again looked lively.

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WWT EAGLES 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 (24)
SOUTH ADELAIDE 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 5.3 (33)

GOALS:

Eagles: P. Pipinis 2, A. Gooley, J. Zecevic.
South: J. Hooper 2, L. Buchanan, C. Cavouras, T. Meyer

DC BEST:

Eagles: J. Zecevic, S. Goody, K. Lee, A. Falkenberg, Z. Anthony
South: C. Cavouras, T. Meyer, N. Campbell, S. Moon, J. Smith

A momentum-swinging match has gone in the favour of the visitors, with South Adelaide triumphing over Woodville-West Torrens Eagles by just nine points at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval on Saturday morning. The teams traded goals in the opening half, with the only five scoring shots of the first half all being goals. The Eagles led by as much as 12 points early in the second term, but back-to-back goals by South had them a point up early in the third. The Eagles again responded to hit the front at the final break, but South kicked on in the last term to boot 2.2 to 0.0 and run out 5.3 (33) to 4.0 (24) winners. The teams were evenly matched with the Panthers ahead in the tackles (71-53), hitouts (23-17) and clearances (19-15), but most crucially the inside 50s (28-17), whilst the Eagles held firm in the back half with 21 rebound 50s to 13.

Tahlia Meyer was welcomed back to the Panthers after her terrific season with St Kilda in the AFL Women’s, amassing 25 touches, five marks, nine tackles, three inside 50s and a goal, only bested by Czenya Cavouras who feasted with 26 disposals, five marks, six tackles, three clearances, five inside 50s, two rebound 50s and a goal. Nicole Campbell also dominated through the midfield with 18 disposals, five clearances, six tackles, four inside 50s and two rebound 50s, while Soriah Moon fed them the ball all day with 20 hitouts to accompany 13 disposals, three marks, three tackles and three clearances. Jaslynne Smith (18 disposals, five marks and three tackles) and Elyse Haylock (15 disposals, four tackles and three inside 50s) were other prominent Panthers in the match. Jovanka Zecevic suffered leather poisoning with a match equal-high 26 touches, as well as six marks, three clearances and a goal, while young gun Shineah Goody had 15 disposals, nine tackles, three clearances and three rebound 50s. Anastasia Falkenberg (16 disposals, six marks and five tackles) and Zahn Anthony (16 disposals, four marks, four tackles and three rebound 50s) were busy, while Kiana Lee showcased her contested marking ability with five contested grabs from seven marks, as well as 13 disposals.

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STURT 3.2 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 9.8 (62)
WEST ADELAIDE 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 2.5 (17)

GOALS:

Sturt: N. Baker 3, A. Healy 2, A. Jericho, S. Wallace, J. Good.
West: K. Culhane, I. Loftes.

DC BEST:

Sturt: J. Good, J. Wittervan, I. Kuiper, N. Baker, A. Healy
West: S. Dargan, M. Russell, I. Loftes, S. Whiting, B. Owen

A seven goals to zero first half has set up a memorable victory for Sturt, piling on the Double Blues’ highest score with a huge 45-point win over West Adelaide to move within a win of the top four. The home team kept the Westies goalless until three minutes into the third term, where the visitors kicked two goals in the space of five minutes, and had the majority of their score within that time. But it was the seven straight goals to open proceedings – and that final two of the match – that secured Sturt its second win of the season. The Double Blues dominated possession, winning almost 100 more touches (217-138), had 19 more marks (47-28), and won the hitouts (26-18), clearances (21-18) and thrashed their opponents in the inside 50s count (27-12). West Adelaide did lay more tackles (53-38) and had four more rebound 50s (15-11) in a low-rebound game.

Nicole Baker was the chief destroyer with three goals from five scoring shots, also picking up seven touches, two marks and three tackles in the win. Alysha Healy slotted the two majors from nine touches and three marks – two contested – whilst ruck Jess Good was fantastic kicking a goal and having 16 disposals, four marks, 21 hitouts, four clearances, three tackles and two inside 50s. Kate Harris (12 disposals, three marks – two contested, five tackles and three clearances) and Aajiah Jericho (11 disposals, four marks – one contested) both found plenty of the ball and hit the scoreboard, whilst Jaimee Wittervan (14 disposals, five clearances and five tackles), Isobel Kuiper (20 disposals, four marks, two clearances and three inside 50s) and Alisha Gepp (17 disposals, five marks, three tackles and three rebound 50s) were all busy for the Double Blues. Just four players hit double-figure disposals for the Westies, led by Madi Russell (14 disposals, eight marks), while Sarah Dargan (13 disposals, nine tackles and four clearances) was the standout on her SANFL Women’s debut. Sharnie Whiting (12 disposals, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s), Bec Owen (10 disposals, three tackles and two inside 50s) and Imogen Loftes (six disposals, five tackles and a goal) were also among the visitors’ best in the loss.

Picture credit: SANFL / Cory Sutton