NORWOOD and Glenelg have confirmed their spots as the top two sides in the South Australian Football League (SANFL) Women’s competition following wins on the weekend. It left two spots up for grabs, with third placed South Adelaide saluting to have one foot in the post-season series, whilst West Adelaide temporarily dislodged North Adelaide in fourth spot thanks to a victory over the Roosters.

STURT 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.1 (13)
SOUTH ADELAIDE 2.3 | 5.6 | 7.6 | 9.6 (60)

GOALS:

Sturt: A. Ballard, C. Forby.
South: J. Hickey 3, J. Hooper 2, N. Campbell 2, S. Flanagan-Sjoberg, J. Kirk.

DC BEST:

Sturt: K. Mueller, J. Good, J. Wittervan, K. Harris, H. Prenzler
South: T. Charlton, T. Buethke, M. McKinnon, J. Hickey, C. Hammond

South Adelaide has moved into third spot on the SANFL Women’s ladder with a commanding 47-point win over Sturt to all but secure yet another finals series for the two-time premier and reigning runner-up. The Panthers piled on seven of the first eight goals – including three to Jordann Hickey and two to Jorja Hooper – to lead by as much as 42 points at the final break. Chloe Forby kicked the first of the final term, but a couple of late ones in favour of the visitors secured the win, 9.6 (60) to 2.1 (13).

Cheyenne Hammond (16 disposals, five marks, four tackles and three rebound 50s) and Jaslynne Smith (15 disposals, six marks, four tackles, three clearances and two rebound 50s) were both lively out of the back half, while Teah Charlton (15 disposals, six marks, three tackles, two clearances and two rebound 50s) and Nicole Campbell (14 disposals, three marks, seven tackles, three inside 50s and two goals) got it done in opposites halves of the ground roaming through the midfield. Tahlita Buethke (13 disposals, four tackles, five clearances and three inside 50s) was again influential, whilst Montana McKinnon (nine disposals, 31 hitouts, four clearances and four inside 50s) stood tall.

Kiera Mueller led the Double Blues out of defence with 20 disposals, three marks, two tackles and four rebound 50s, whilst Hannah Prenzler (16 disposals, four marks, two clearances and two rebound 50s) was also solid back there. Jess Good (18 disposals, four marks, 23 hitouts and five clearances) was influential around the ground having a great battle with McKinnon, while Jaimee Wittervan (19 disposals, six clearances and three inside 50s) and Kate Harris (16 disposals, two tackles and four clearances) were prolific at the stoppages.

South Adelaide take on West Adelaide next week, with the winner to play finals, and the loser to wait on other results. For Sturt, the Double Blues are a part of those other results, with the chance to stop reigning premiers North Adelaide from entering the top four when they host them at Unley Oval.

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NORTH ADELAIDE 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.7 (19)
WEST ADELAIDE 0.1 | 2.3 | 4.3 | 6.3 (39)

GOALS:

North: E. Greet, K. Pope.
West: L. Young, C. Biddell, A. Considine, S. Griffiths, B. Owen.

DC BEST:

North: K. Pope, L. Gauci, A. Ward, M. Ney, P. Waterford
West: L. Young, S. Whiting, C. Biddell, Z. Venning, S. Dargan

West Adelaide has kept its finals hopes alive by knocking off reigning premiers North Adelaide and securing fourth spot heading into the final round. Both sides took a while to get going with the ridiculously strong defences standing tall and not allowing much through. It took until young gun Lauren Young split the big sticks in the second term to break the drought, with the Bloods booting the first four goals of the game to lead by 23 points midway through the third term. North Adelaide kicked the next two of the match – and could have had more with the likes of Ash Woodland (three behinds) and Tayla Thorn (two) both having chances, but late majors to State Academy members Young and Scarlett Griffiths sealed the 20-point win.

Young was outstanding once again, collecting 20 disposals, taking seven marks – three contested – laying six tackles, and having two clearances, two inside 50s and two rebound 50s, as well as slotting her two goals. In defence, Sharni Whiting was back to her best, racking up a match-high 22 disposals, as well as seven marks – two contested – and six rebound 50s. The AFLW experience of Ailish Considine (15 disposals, two marks and a goal), Sarah Dargan (15 disposals, two marks, 11 tackles and two clearances) and Chelsea Biddell (14 disposals, five marks – two contested – three tackles, eight hitouts, four inside 50s and a goal) counted for plenty, while Zoe Venning was fierce around the ground picking up 15 disposals, five marks, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s.

For North, Katelyn Pope kicked a goal and had a team-high 19 disposals, as well as two marks, three tackles and two clearances, while Lauren Gauci (15 disposals, four marks, two tackles, two inside 50s and two rebound 50s) and Amber Ward (14 disposals, three marks and three rebound 50s) were superb bringing back their AFLW experience. Woodland had chances with her three behinds, but still put together a solid performance of 13 disposals, two marks, four tackles and two inside 50s while Poppy Waterford (12 disposals, two marks, two clearances, four inside 50s and two rebound 50s) and debutant Monika Ney (10 disposals, five tackles and five clearances) also impressed.

The final round is huge for both these teams, with West Adelaide needing a win to secure a finals spot when they take on the Panthers, while if they lose, they will need Sturt to knock off North Adelaide, otherwise North will take fourth position back and knock the Bloods out of the finals.

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NORWOOD 4.0 | 4.0 | 5.1 | 6.2 (38)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 0.1 | 2.3 | 4.4 | 5.5 (35)

GOALS:

Norwood: E. Drake 2, R. Zerella 2, N. Allen, J. Halfpenny.
Central: A. Butler, K. Rosenzweig, C. Scheer, L. Breguet, C. Wendland.

DC BEST:

Norwood: L. Cutting, N. Allen, A. Ferrall, S. Armitstead, J. Halfpenny
Central: S. Smith. C. Scheer, K. Rosenzweig, L. Breguet, K. Searle

A fast start has helped Norwood secure the minor premiership and sit pretty heading into the final round to prepare for Glenelg in the first week of finals. The Redlegs piled on four goals in the opening term to race out to a 23-point lead at quarter time. Central District showed the amount of development over the past 12 months by fighting back to boot four of the next five goals over the two quarters to head into the final break just three points down. Norwood kicked a steadier early in the quarter, before Katelyn Rosenzweig almost stole the win for the Bulldogs with a couple of chances on goal to boot 1.1, with her second shot in the remaining 10 seconds missing for the Redlegs to win 6.2 (38) to 5.5 (35).

Leah Cutting was enormous around the ground, dominating in the ruck with 17 disposals, six marks – two contested – 10 tackles, 38 hitouts, four clearances, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s in a clear best afield effort. Najwa Allen (18 disposals, two marks, two clearances and 1.2) also impressed in the midfield, while Sophie Armitstead (10 disposals, five tackles, five clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s) aided her cause. Youngsters Jade Halfpenny (11 disposals, four marks, three tackles, three inside 50s and a goal) and Alana Lishmund (13 disposals, seven tackles) found their fair share of the ball, as did Alison Ferrall (12 disposals, two marks, three tackles and six rebound 50s) in defence.

Captain Shelby Smith led from the front for the Bulldogs, picking up 14 touches, laying nine tackles and having two clearances and two inside 50s. Rosenzweig (13 disposals, four marks – two contested – four tackles, two hitouts, two clearances and two inside 50s) and Chloe Scheer (13 disposals, three marks – one contested – four tackles, two clearances, four inside 50s and one goal) both hit the scoreboard. State Academy players Lauren Breguet (10 disposals, three marks – one contested – four tackles, two inside 50s and a goal) and Laitiah Huynh (nine disposals, three tackles) had solid performances, while Karissa Searle (eight disposals, four inside 50s and Caitlen Teague (seven disposals, three marks three tackles and two inside 50s) also tried hard throughout the contest.

Norwood takes on Woodville-West Torrens Eagles in the final round in a battle of top-against-bottom, with the result effectively negligible for the Redlegs who have secured top spot. They will still want to head into the post-season series with a win, whilst for the Eagles, a victory could keep them from the wooden spoon. Central District has done enough to ensure they cannot win the wooden spoon in 2021, but are not completely out of the race for finals. They need West Adelaide to lose to South Adelaide, and Sturt to upset North Adelaide in order to grab fourth spot.

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WWT EAGLES 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 (4)
GLENELG 2.2 | 3.3 | 7.5 | 11.6 (72)

GOALS:

Eagles: Nil.
Glenelg: M. Freeman 3, M. Girvan 2, E. Kellock 2, C. Swanson, C. Gould, S. Franson, C. Packer.

DC BEST:

Eagles: A. Falkenberg, S. Goody, K. Lee, N. Collie, R. Forth
Glenelg: E. Marinoff, M. Girvan, T. Kohn, C. Gould, B. Tonon

In the most one-sided game of the season, Glenelg has stormed to an easy 68-point belting of last placed Woodville-West Torrens Eagles to secure second spot on the SANFL Women’s ladder heading into the finals. The Bays booted eight goals in the second half after only leading by 21 points at the main break, restricting the home side to just two behinds in each quarter. Glenelg had 58 more disposals, 30 more hitouts, 28 more clearances and 25 more inside 50s in an old fashioned shellacking.

A player by the name of Ebony Marinoff did alright upon her return to state level from the AFLW, racking up a casual 30 touches, three marks, five tackles, 10 clearances and five inside 50s, having more clearances than the entire opposition team (10-9). She had plenty of support around her though, with Tessa Kohn (16 disposals, four tackles, six clearances and three inside 50s) and Ellie Kellock (12 disposals, two marks, two tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and two goals) both influential at the stoppages, and Meara Girvan (15 disposals, five marks – two contested – 23 hitouts, three clearances and two goals) and Caitlin Gould (13 disposals, five marks – one contested – four tackles, 22 hitouts, two clearances, two inside 50s and a goal) taking control through the ruck. Brooke Tonon (14 disposals, two marks, five tackles, two clearances and four rebound 50s was again impressive off half-back, while Jessica Bates (13 disposals, three marks, 10 tackles and two inside 50s) was consistent yet again.

Anastasia Falkenberg was a clear standout of the Eagles in the heavy loss, collecting a team-high 18 disposals, five marks and 10 tackles, while Shineah Goody continued her strong debut season with 17 touches, four marks, three tackles and two rebound 50s. Kiana Lee (14 disposals, two marks, three tackles and three rebound 50s), Nicole Collie (12 disposals, three marks and five rebound 50s) and Renee Forth (16 disposals, four marks – two contested – and three tackles) also tried hard against stiff opposition.

Woodville-West Torrens Eagles finish their season up against minor premiers Norwood who come in winning eight of the past nine games, and the Eagles’ hope that the chance of missing the wooden spoon will spur them onto victory against a Redlegs side that already has locked up top spot. For the Bays, second place is secure, but they can knock Central District out of the finals race of they get up in the Saturday afternoon clash at ACH Group Stadium.

Picture credit: John Emery / SANFL