IT was a record-breaking day for Sturt in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s competition, as the Double Blues produced a huge win over West Adelaide. In other results, reigning premiers Glenelg, and Norwood both moved to 3-1 records, as North Adelaide grabbed outright fourth spot.

Reigning premiers Glenelg have survived a scare from the new and improved Woodville-West Torrens thanks to a four-goal haul from classy forward Caitlyn Swanson. Missing captain Ellie Kellock heading into the game, the Bays seemed to have control after a slow start, but had to overcome a sharpshooter up the other end in McKenzie Dowrick to eventually post a 10-point win over the Eagles. In what was a thrilling contest that went right down to the wire, the Bays got up, 6.11 (47) to 5.7 (37).

The Eagles got off to a hot start in the contest after a tight opening few minutes, with Dowrick snapping around her body from a forward stoppage to kick the first of the game. She almost had a chance not long after off the left but just missed. Two minutes later, Sophie Zuill made it two for the home side, making up for a couple of poor kicks going inside 50 with one perfectly timed off the boot to sail home, and the Eagles were 14-0 up before the Bays had a chance to fire a shot.

That shot soon came through Swanson who kicked her first of the day from a set shot, and then Franson had a flying chance of her own, only to miss and the Bays headed into quarter time with a six-point deficit. The Eagles momentum continued early into the third term but the team could not quite capitalise from its opportunities. Dowrick missed a set shot that was gettable and then the next shot just fell short, before she hit up Jordann Hickey who marked close to go and turned around to slam it home.

After seven minutes Glenelg had its first chance inside 50 but the Eagles immediately cleared as they maintained a 15-point lead after Zuill had a great chance close to goal almost beating multiple opponents but could not cleanly take it. Instead Glenelg managed to take it up the other end and Franson hit the woodwork. But soon, Sarah Goodwin came to the party, and after a promising start, set up two goals in the next seven minutes. She won an intercept at half-forward to get it to Swanson who hit-up Tessa Kohn for the first one, then set up a goal to Swanson with an elite pass inboard to centre half-forward, opening the game up just before the half-time siren.

All of a sudden, the Bays were just two points down and had the momentum themselves. There were danger signs through the third term as Kohn this time gave it to Swanson for her third just three minuets into the quarter to hand the reigning premiers their first lead of the game. Piper Window had a great chance to extend the lead but hit the woodwork on the run, a feat matched by Hickey up the other end for the Eagles. in their first score of the quarter. The Bays would continue to control play in the forward half, with Chelsea Packer doubling back after overrunning a ball in the goalsquare and kicking truly.

Heading into the final minute of the last term, the Bays lead by 14 points, but then some impressive recovery work from Jemma Whitington-Charity – who almost got run down on the wing – managed to get it to Dowrick to snap and goal to cut the three quarter time deficit to eight points with the final kick of the term. The Eagles should have had a huge chance to go up when Brianna Hyde received back-to-back 25m penalties and went to 15m out straight in front, but she pulled the kick for a behind. A minute later however, Dowrick would mark and slammed home a flying shot on goal and the margin was back within a kick.

Right up until the final few minutes, Glenelg only had a three-point lead, and then came some great forward work from the Bays. Bates fired out a handball to Kohn inside 50 who bombed it towards goal. A number of players flew on the line and once they dispersed, it was fittingly Swanson who held onto the ball. She went back and put through the goal – her fourth of the contest – and any hope of a comeback was dashed, particularly when the Eagles were pinged for an anti-density free kick and the Bays held it in their forward half until the final siren rang with Glenelg ahead, 6.11 (47) to Woodville-West Torrens 5.7 (37).

Swanson was best on ground booting 4.1 from 18 disposals, five marks and three inside 50s, setting up a couple of scoring chances as well. Bates racked up more of the ball than anyone else with 26 touches, eight tackles, six clearances and three inside 50s, whilst Goodwin’s slick ball use from the defensive half lead to her recording 25 disposals, four marks – one contested, two tackles, two clearances, five inside 50s and five rebound 50s. Window (19 disposals, seven tackles, eight clearances and five inside 50s) and Kohn (22 disposals, three marks – one contested – 11 tackles, three clearances and 1.1) were strong contributors.

For the Eagles, Dowrick booted 3.2 from 11 disposals, four marks – one contested – two tackles, two clearances and two inside 50s, as Shineah Goody (23 disposals, seven marks, four tackles and six rebound 50s) worked hard between midfield and the defensive 50. Renee Forth (18 disposals, eight marks, five tackles and six inside 50s) and Charlotte Dolan (14 disposals, three marks and nine rebound 50s) tried for four quarters against Swanson’s class, while Zuill and Marlie Fiegert also had their fair share of the ball.

GLENELG 1.2 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 6.11 (47)
WWT EAGLES 2.2 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 5.7 (37)

GOALS:

Glenelg: C. Swanson 4, T. Kohn, C. Packer
Eagles: M. Dowrick 3, S. Zuill, J. Hickey

RMC BEST:

Glenelg: C. Swanson. S. Goodwin, J. Bates, P. Window, T. Kohn
Eagles: M. Dowrick, S. Goody, R. Forth, S. Zuill, M. Fiegert

In what could only be described as its greatest performance in club history, Sturt smashed all kinds of club records during a dominant 52-point victory over West Adelaide. Despite heading into the clash missing two of its young key forwards in India Rasheed and Tahlia Walker, and tall talent Zoe Prowse, Sturt found plenty of other avenues to goal on its way to a club-record winning score, margin and season streak, to remain undefeated from four rounds.

In fairness to West Adelaide, Abbie Ballard joined Jess Macolino out of the side and it dealt a harsh blow to a normally strong inside midfield, but the Double Blues dominated the clearances and inside 50s throughout the match to just run away with the contest, 10.5 (65) to 2.1 (13). Despite this, the writing was not necessarily on the wall early, with the Double Blues scoring just 1.2, and that first goal coming in the final minute of the match after Abbey Rigter received the handball off Ally Ladas to give the visitors a well deserved result for effort.

Heading into the first break, the play had all been up Sturt’s end, but there was still a chance for Westies to regroup and come out firing in the second term. Aside from a rare forward foray by Charlie Scutchings – whose inside 50 at the 13 and a half minute mark of the term was the first and only of the quarter – which resulted in a goal to Louella McCarthy – there was no much to celebrate from a home team perspective. Sturt dominated forward half possession and the goals came from Rigter and Georgia Bevan, and the latter seemed to be involved in every scoring passage.

Just after McCarthy kicked that drought-breaking goal, Ladas kicked her second and the Double Blues extended the lead out to 22 points. Despite that margin, it could have been far greater with the half-time inside 50 count at 33-3. Though the midfield was struggling, the West Adelaide defence was on another level, with the likes of Beatrice Devlyn, Madelyn Zacher, Madi Russell and Emma Kilpatrick holding up under intense scrutiny.

Over the next 16 minutes, Sturt just put the final nails in the West Adelaide coffin, slotting 3.1 to 0.0 and having 12 inside 50s to one to make it 45-4 for that game. Bevan, Ladas and Jasmyn Hewett all slotted majors, before Lucy Boyd pegged back a consolation goal for the home side in the final few minutes to cut the deficit to 35 points at three quarter time. The final term was just capping off the result, with Sturt slotting another three majors, with Bevan slotting her third and Alysha Healy getting on the board. Perhaps the Doubles Blues mindset and hunger was best encapsulated in the final 30 seconds when Healy won a free kick for a tackle at half-forward, booted it inside 50 where Rigter ran onto the end of it and kicked her third right before the final siren for a 52-point win.

There was no shortage of top performers for Sturt, with Bevan (17 disposals, three marks, five tackles, three inside 50s and three goals) and Hewett (20 disposals, five marks – one contested – 24 hitouts, four clearances, five inside 50s and 1.2) the two standouts. Up forward, Ladas and Rigter combined for five goals, whilst Isobel Kuiper (20 disposals, three marks, five tackles, five clearances and three inside 50s) and Ellie Lynch (21 disposals, three marks, four tackles, three clearances and seven inside 50s) were productive in midfield. Though not under as much pressure as previous weeks, defender Kiera Mueller still held a high line with 16 disposals, three marks, two tackles, three clearances and three inside 50s. Fellow defender Alex Ballard seemed to roll an ankle midway through the game and was taken from the ground as a precaution.

West Adelaide’s loss was compounded by more injuries with youngsters Keeley Kustermann and Boyd going down. Kustermann was one of the more prolific midfielders despite being under constant pressure, picking up 15 disposals, six tackles and two clearances, whilst the defence of Devlyn (20 disposals, four marks, six tackles and seven rebound 50s), Kilpatrick (17 disposals, seven tackles and seven rebound 50s), Zacher (14 disposals, seven rebound 50s) and Russell (14 disposals, four tackles and three rebound 50s) were all outstanding. In the forward half, McCarthy tried hard with a goal from 19 touches, seven tackles, three clearances and two inside 50s.

Sturt will host the in-form Norwood at Thebarton Oval next Saturday from 1:20pm, whilst West Adelaide will look to lick its wounds and head south to Flinders University Stadium where the Bloods take on a South Adelaide side also on a three-game losing streak.

WEST ADELAIDE 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.1 (13)
STURT 1.2 | 4.4 | 7.5 | 10.5 (65)

GOALS:

West: L. Boyd, L. McCarthy
Sturt:  G. Bevan 3, A. Ladas 3, A. Rigter 2, A. Healy, J. Hewett

RMC BEST:

West: B. Devlyn, M. Zacher, E. Kilpatrick, M. Russell, L. McCarthy
Sturt: G. Bevan, J. Hewett, E. Lynch, I. Kuiper, K. Harris

A six goals to one second half has resulted in North Adelaide running away with a 45-point victory over Central District at X Convenience Oval to sit in fourth spot on the table with a 2-2 record. Both sides headed into the clash with a 1-2 record from three games, with the Roosters coming off a low-scoring narrow loss to Sturt, and the Bulldogs recording a Georgia McKee-inspired victory over West Adelaide in Round 3. North Adelaide the had less of he ball in the game (-10 disposals) and lost the clearances (22-27), but more inside 50s (29-27) and made the most of their chances. By the end of the game, the Roosters scored 65.5 per cent of the time they went inside 50, whilst the Bulldogs managed it just 29.6 per cent of the time in the 10.9 (69) to 3.5 (23) result.

That was largely due to another super performance from co-captain Kristi Harvey who racked up 15 disposals, five marks and 10 of her side’s 23 rebound 50s, teaming up well with ex-Carlton AFLW talent Jessica Edwards in the back 50. North Adelaide certainly had plenty of chances early, particularly in the first half of the opening quarter, with Hannah Ewings busy for the Roosters, and eventually Doreena Hansen getting it to Katelyn Pope who slotted the game’s first major. Despite the Roosters having more of the attacking, it took last week’s hero McKee with back-to-back goals in a minute to read the ball off hands and slam home majors to help her side to a six-point lead at quarter time.

Unfortunately for the home side, from there the Bulldogs could only manage 1.3 for the rest of the game, as North Adelaide found its rhythm. It was far from a one-sided contest, but more the Roosters looked the more damaging of the pair going inside 50, and made more of their chances. Even late in the last term Central District had more inside 50s, showing it was capable of doing damage, with captain Shelby Smith working hard at the coalface in tandem with the likes of Caitlin Wendland and Caitlen Teague, whilst Isabelle Starmer dominated the ruck.

From the ninth minute mark of the second term until the 16th minute of the third term, the Roosters kicked four consecutive goals, as Jaimi Tabb slotting two in a purple patch either side of half-time, which followed on from winger Erica Greet and Cristie Castle also hitting the scoreboard. Lauren Breguet had been a shining light for the Bulldogs, but the Roosters ran in waves, and Harvey and Edwards were just too strong in defence, weathering the storm in the third term which saw the Bulldogs throw everything at the visitors.

Eventually Teague got some bang for her buck, running to the left then stepping back onto her trusty right, slotting a much needed major for the Bulldogs, having had plenty of forward half entries through the third term. Unfortunately for the home team, the very next clearance saw Ewings win it, bomb it forward, Edwards won a loose ball and got to Hansen who snapped her first to put the margin back out to 21 points.

The final term was more of a procession as the dam wall broke and the Roosters slotted 4.2 to 0.1, with Hansen and Pope both scoring their second majors, and prolific ball-winners Edwards and Ewings getting on the scoresheet with late majors. By the final siren, the Roosters head emerged victorious, 10.9 (69) to 3.5 (23).

Though she has had more dominant games, Ewings still ended up as arguably the most influential Rooster forward of centre, finishing with 18 touches, four marks, five tackles, five clearances, four inside 50s and a goal, matched in her disposal count by Edwards (18 touches, four tackles, four clearances and a goal). Harvey was outstanding once again in defence, picking up 15 disposals, five marks – one contested – and 10 rebound 50s, whilst Tabb (17 disposals, three marks and five inside 50s) and Pope (15 disposals, five marks – two contested – four inside 50s and two goals) both slotted multiple majors.

For Central District, Starmer was arguably the Dogs best, dominating the ruck with 24 hitouts, and still having four clearances, worrying the opposition into a massive 10 free kicks. She finished with 16 touches, four marks – one contested – and four clearances to-boot. Though Smith was her usually consistent self with five clearances and 16 touches, the likes of Karissa Searle (16 disposals, four marks – two contested – three tackles and five inside 50s), Breguet (12 disposals, three marks, three tackles and three inside 50s) and Teague (14 disposals, two marks, five clearances and four rebound 50s) provided extra run. Wendland (15 touches, five tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s) and Laitiah Huynh (14 disposals, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s) also covered plenty of ground.

North Adelaide will eye off back-to-back wins next Saturday back at X Convenience Oval when the Roosters clash with Woodville-West Torrens Eagles, whilst Central District hosts reigning premiers Glenelg in the second game of the double-header at Elizabeth.

CENTRAL DISTRICT 2.2 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 (23)
NORTH ADELAIDE 1.2 | 4.5 | 6.7 | 10.9 (69)

GOALS:

Central: G. McKee 2, C. Teague
North: D. Hansen 2, J. Tabb 2, K. Pope 2, J. Edwards, H. Ewings

RMC BEST:

Central: I. Starmer, C. Wendland, C. Teague, L. Breguet, K. Searle
North: H. Ewings, K. Harvey, J. Edwards, J. Tabb, K. Pope

Norwood has won its third consecutive match in the 2022 SANFL Women’s season with a 17-point victory over South Adelaide in another tight encounter at Noarlunga. After falling short against Glenelg despite putting in a terrific defensive effort after quarter time – allowing just two goals in the last three quarters – the Panthers only conceded one – and none after half-time – but still fell short by 17 points. Norwood could have won by a greater margin had the Redlegs been on target, having 14 scoring shots to seven, but that was as much credit to the South defence as it was the Redlegs shooting woes.

The first goal just took four minutes to manifest, when the in-form Jade Halfpenny got it to Lindsay Bigg who snapped around her body and converted. Though only down by a goal, more pain was to come for the Panthers, who lost captain Brianna Wedding to what appeared to be a knee injury after landing heavily from a ruck stoppage. Stretchered off, the ruck duties fell to teenager Jemma Ellis who stepped up throughout the game and held her own with another superb tap display.

The Redlends would kick another midway through the term when Shai Hiscock busted congestion and then some dance moves after slotting her first goal from point blank running in past the defence. Norwood continued to pepper as they went 16 points up – including a poster from Steph Simmonds – before South finally go on the end of one through a fantastic coast-to-coast play leading Nikki Gore to give it off to the deadly Shae Archbold who made no mistake off her trusty cannon of a left boot from a few steps. Up the other end, fellow State Academy member and Round 4 inclusion Rosie Boon showed some class going inside 50, hitting up Erika Sporn who converted the Redlegs’ third goal of the day. When Sachi Syme missed on the eve of quarter time, the Redlegs were 18 points clear.

Over the next three quarters just two more goals were scored, with Alana Lishmund crumbing off hands midway through the second term off a Hiscock inside 50 to push the lead out to a game-high 30 points. Though South would have a few chances late, they managed the three consecutive behinds to trail by 27 at half-time.

An armwrestle ensued over the second half, with the Redlegs kicking 0.4 to the Panthers’ 1.2, and that sole major coming midway through the premiership quarter. Lucy Northcott quick fired a handball out to the debutant Ella Radbone on the overlap. The high-tackling game descended into multiple stoppages and play between the arcs, as both sides could not find much space to run and gun, and the respective defences holding up well. In the end, a late behind to Ellis saved the final term from being a scoreless quarter, but that suited Norwood just fine, getting up 4.10 (34) to 2.5 (17).

Halfpenny continued her fantastic form with 20 disposals, three marks – one contested – six tackles, five clearances, four inside 50s and three rebound 50s, working well in a young midfield. Lana Schwerdt (25 disposals, two marks, nine tackles, three clearances, four inside 50s and two rebound 50s) and Syme (19 disposals, seven tackles, two clearances and two inside 50s both prolific. In defence, Alison Ferrall again lead rom the front with 22 disposals, four marks – one contested – four rebound 50s and three rebound 50s, as Sophie Armitstead and Hiscock were also among the better Redlegs in a team effort.

South Adelaide had some top contributors as well, with the AFLW-experienced Nicole Campbell and Nikki Gore combining for a whopping 32 tackles, as well as 42 disposals, 11 marks – four contested – five clearances, four inside 50s and six rebound 50s. The Schirmer sisters Gypsy and Esther had 30 touches and 15 rebound 50s between them, as leading goalkicker Jess Waterhouse spent time further afield. Samantha Pratt and Ellis were also impressive i defeat for the Panthers.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 (17)
NORWOOD 3.6 | 4.6 | 4.10 | 4.10 (34)

GOALS:

South: S. Archbold, E. Radbone
Norwood: A. Lishmund, L. Bigg, S. Hiscock, E. Sporn

RMC BEST:

South: N. Campbell, G. Schirmer, N. Gore, E. Schirmer, S. Pratt
Norwood: J. Halfpenny, L. Schwerdt, A. Ferrall, S. Hiscock, S. Syme