IN summarising the 2021 South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s season, Draft Central will run through a team-by-team review of how each of the sides fared, and who some of the standout performers throughout the clubs were. The final team in the firing line is Glenelg.

Position: 2nd (Premiers)
Wins: 7
Losses: 3
Draws: 1
Points For: 379 (2nd)
Points Against: 261 (2nd)

Season in a Sentence: “A consistent team all season, the Bays stood tall at the pointy end of the year to claim their maiden SANFL Women’s premiership.

TOP PERFORMERS:

Jessica Bates

As consistent as ever, the midfielder had an outstanding 2021 season, earning a place in the SANFL Women’s Team of the Year. Averaging 15.4 disposals, 2.2 marks, 3.0 clearances, 2.2 inside 50s, 1.7 rebound 50s and 8.5 tackles, Bates was able to influence in multiple parts of the ground. Playing all 13 matches, Bates only dipped into single-digit disposals once, and had back-to-back games of 24 disposals against South Adelaide and North Adelaide, where she also averaged 6.0 clearances, 6.5 tackles and 5.0 inside 50s in those matches.

Ellie Kellock

Captaining the SANFL Women’s Team of the Year, Kellock proved she could play anywhere on the field in 2021, averaging 13.8 disposals, 1.6 marks, 3.5 clearances, 3.1 inside 50s, 1.2 rebound 50s, 2.9 tackles and booting six goals. She only had less than 10 disposals once, and had a memorable finals series, averaging 15.5 disposals, 6.0 clearances and 4.5 inside 50s against Norwood and West Adelaide. Kellock also made history by becoming the first Glenelg SANFLW captain and did it with a ray of consistency all season.

Brooke Tonon

The State Academy member had an outstanding season and really raised her draft stocks, proven by the fact she earned and AFLW Draft Combine invitation. Tonon earned a place at half-back in the SANFL Women’s Team of the Year, a role she made her own after playing in multiple positions in her debut season. Now in her draft-eligible year, Tonon provided great run out of the back 50 and could push up to a win to impact as well. In her 11 games, Tonon averaged 14.7 disposals – at 78 per cent efficiency – 2.5 marks, 3.1 tackles and 2.5 rebound 50s.

Tessa Kohn

After a solid debut season, Kohn stepped it up a notch in her second year at SANFL Women’s level, playing 13 matches and relishing the inside midfield role amongst some incredibly consistent performers. Kohn herself earned Draft Central SANFL Women’s Team of the Year honours, racking up 12.4 disposals, 5.4 tackles and 3.5 clearances, doing her best work at the coal face and impacting regularly for her side. In a purple patch between Rounds 8-10, Kohn averaged 18.7 disposals, 4.7 tackles and 6.3 clearances.

OTHERS:

Glenelg earned the premiership off some terrific contributors across the board, as the returning AFL Women’s talents in Ebony Marinoff and Caitlin Gould bolstered the already impressive outfit. State Academy member Tamsyn Morriss, 15-year-old Piper Window and the versatile Madisyn Freeman all impressed, with Sam Franson, Chelsea Packer and Meara Girvan all amongst a host of Glenelg talents who stood up when it counted, and helped the Bays win their last seven games of the season and romp to a premiership.

Picture credit: SANFL