WEST Adelaide has won a nail-biter against South Adelaide in the final round of the regular South Australian National Football League (SANFL) season, as top two sides Norwood and Glenelg both posted victories, and North Adelaide won to give itself a finals chance, only for the Bloods’ result to effectively negate that win.

NORWOOD 2.3 | 6.6 | 9.6 | 11.7 (73)
WWT EAGLES 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 (14)

GOALS:

Norwood: R. Zerella 3, E. Sporn 3, N. Allen, E. Drake, S. Branford
Eagles: J. Zecevic, M. Fiegert.

DC BEST:

Norwood: J. Macolino, L. Cutting, S. Armitstead, N. Allen, L. Schwerdt
Eagles: K. Lee, A. Blanden, M. Fiegert, N. Collie, A. Falkenberg

Booting the first six goals of the game, and nine of 11 by three quarter time, minor premiers Norwood never looked like losing against Woodville-West Torrens Eagles. Aside from a burst of two out of three goals early in the third term for the visitors, the Eagles had to accept the 2021 wooden spoon as the Redlegs piled on 18 scoring shots to four, booting the final four goals of the game as well to win by 59 points.

Rosette Zerella and Erika Sporn both booted three goals in the win, whilst it was the midfield of the Redlegs that really stood up. Leah Cutting had 36 hitouts to go with 11 disposals and six tackles, while Najwa Allen (19 disposals, five marks, four tackles, four inside 50s, two rebound 50s and a goal), Sophie Armitstead (16 disposals, four tackles, two clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s), Jess Macolino (13 disposals, three marks, five tackles, three clearances and seven inside 50s) and Lana Schwerdt (11disposals, five tackles, four clearances and three inside 50s) all stood out.

Kiana Lee was outstanding in defence for the Eagles, racking up 18 disposals, nine marks – two contested – six rebound 50s, five hitouts, two tackles and two clearances. Teaming up with her back there was Nicole Collie (13 disposals, five marks, three tackles and four rebound 50s), while Amie Blanden (15 disposals, two marks, four tackles, nine hitouts, six clearances and four inside 50s), Marlie Fiegert (14 disposals, two marks, four tackles, five clearances, three inside 50s and a goal) and Anastasia Falkenberg (16 disposals, five marks, seven tackles, two clearances and two inside 50s).

Norwood now takes on Glenelg in the semi-finals for a spot in the 2021 SANFL Women’s Grand Final, as the Eagles’ season comes to an end.

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SOUTH ADELAIDE 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 5.3 (33)
WEST ADELAIDE 1.2 | 2.4 | 5.4 | 5.4 (34)

GOALS:

South: J. Hooper 2, J. Hickey, J. Kirk, G. Schirmer.
West: M. Elsegood, C. Biddell, L. Young, I. Loftes.

DC BEST:

South: N. Campbell, T. Charlton, M. McKinnon, G. Schirmer, T. Meyer
West: L. Young, A. Considine, S. Whiting, Z. Venning, A. Ballard

In the most thrilling match of the weekend, the third against fourth contest lived up to its billing, as West Adelaide held on against a fast-finishing South Adelaide outfit. The teams were fairly even as early as the third term, before West piled on three goals in seven minutes to race out to a 21-point lead at the final break. Looking home and hosed, the Bloods could not manage to score in the final term, as they watch South boot the last three majors of the contest, only to fall a point short, 5.4 (34) to 5.3 (33).

West’s youth stood up in the win, as Lauren Young had a game-high 22 touches to go with four marks – two contested – eight tackles, two clearances, two inside 50s and a goal. Fellow State Academy members Zoe Venning (18 disposals, six tackles, three clearances and four inside 50s) and Abbie Ballard (11 disposals, nine tackles, four clearances and two rebound 50s) both impressed, while the experience of Ailish Considine (19 disposals, two marks, four tackles, six clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s) and Sharnie Whiting (15 disposals, four marks, two tackles, two inside 50s and six rebound 50s) stood out.

For South, Nicole Campbell (21 disposals, nine marks – two contested – three tackles, five clearances and six inside 50s) was outstanding alongside Teah Charlton (21 disposals, three marks, five tackles, four clearances and six inside 50s). Tahlia Meyer (15 disposals, two marks and four tackles) and Gypsy Schirmer (15 disposals, four tackles and a goal) both found plenty of the ball, while Montana McKinnon (14 disposals, 27 hitouts, five tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s) was strong.

These two sides lock horns again next weekend in a do-or-die semi-final that promises to go down to the wire, with the Bloods securing the home ground advantage with this win.

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STURT 1.2 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 (22)
NORTH ADELAIDE 1.2 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 7.5 (47)

GOALS:

Sturt: Z. Prowse, K. Harris, A. Ladas.
North: A. Woodland 6, T. Thorn.

DC BEST:

Sturt: K. Mueller, J. Good, I. Kuiper, J. Wittervan, Z. Prowse
North: A. Woodland, J. Tabb, T. Gordon, B. Arthure, K. Harvey

Despite the West Adelaide result meaning North Adelaide missed out on a chance to defend its title in the final series, a six-goal performance from Ashleigh Woodland ensured the reigning premiers ended their season on a high note. The teams were even in the first term, before three consecutive goals to Woodland in the second broke the game open. Sturt continued to press and move to within seven points at the final break – and as low as six points early in the fourth, for Woodland to stand up again, and along with Tayla Thorn kick the last three goals of the game to win by 25 points.

Along with six majors, Woodland had the 13 disposals, four marks – one contested – and three tackles, while Thorn finished with 10 disposals, two hitouts, four inside 50s and a goal. Through the middle and forward half, Tayla Gordon (18 disposals, three marks, three clearances, two tackles and two inside 50s), Jaimi Tabb (12 disposals, 12 tackles, five clearances, four inside 50s and two rebound 50s) and Kristi Harvey (10 disposals, four marks – two contested – four tackles and four inside 50s) were all lively.

For the Double Blues, Kiera Mueller was again the standout for the second week in a row, picking up 17 disposals, eight marks, eight rebound 50s and four tackles coming out of defence. Jess Good (14 disposals, four marks, 42 hitouts, four clearances and three inside 50s) dominated the ruck, as the midfield of Jaimee Wittervan (15 disposals, two marks, six clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s), Isobel Kuiper (21 disposals, two marks, six tackles and four clearances) and Zoe Prowse (nine disposals, two marks, five tackles, seven hitouts, five clearances and one goal) went to work.

Both these teams end their 2021 campaigns and will head back to their local clubs before a big preseason looking towards 2022.

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GLENELG 2.1 | 3.2 | 5.3 | 6.4 (40)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 1.0 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 4.5 (29)

GOALS:

Glenelg: C. Gould 2, M. Green 2, C. Swanson, E. Marinoff.
Central: K. Rosenzweig 2, C. Scheer, N. Biagi.

DC BEST:

Glenelg: E. Marinoff, C. Gould, J. Bates, B. Tonon, E. Kellock
Central: C. Scheer, S. Smith. K. Rosenzweig, L. Smith, L. Breguet

Whilst the result mattered little to Glenelg in terms of ladder positioning – the Bays had already secured second spot heading into the round – the home team still came away with a morale-boosting victory over Central District. After Chloe Scheer slotted the first major for the Bulldogs inside the first two minutes, the Bays booted five of the next six goals to lead by as much as 18 points. Katelyn Rosenzweig kicked back-to-back goals in the final term to cut the deficit to within a single kick before a last minute major to Caitlin Gould saved the day and handed Glenelg the win.

Ebony Marinoff led the way again with 24 disposals, five marks – three contested, five clearances, five inside 50s and a goal, while Gould slotted two majors from 18 touches, six marks, 23 hitouts, three clearances and three rebound 50s. Jessica Bates (18 disposals, four marks, four tackles, four clearances, two inside 50s and two rebound 50s) and Ellie Kellock (13 disposals, three tackles, three clearances and four inside 50s) were both impressive in midfield, while Brooke Tonon (15 disposals, two marks, three tackles and five rebound 50s) impressed again for Glenelg.

The forward combination of Rosenzweig (12 disposals, three marks, six hitouts, three clearances, three inside 50s and two goals) and Scheer (18 disposals, three marks – two contested – six tackles, four clearances, four inside 50s and a goal) were both dangerous, while captain Shelby Smith (12 disposals, 11 tackles, three clearances, two inside 50s and two rebounds 50s), Lauren Smith (nine disposals, two tackles and three rebound 50s) and Lauren Breguet (10 disposals, two marks and three tackles) were among a group of even contributors for the Dogs.

Glenelg now takes on Norwood in a top of the table clash for a spot in the 2021 SANFL Women’s Grand Final, as the Bulldogs impressive season comes to a close.

Picture credit: Cory Sutton / SANFL