NORTH Adelaide has grabbed top spot on the 2022 South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s ladder after seven rounds. The Roosters did so with an impressive win over Glenelg to leapfrog both the Bays and Sturt, with the latter suffering a second straight defeat at the hands of fourth placed South Adelaide. In other results, Central District won its second consecutive game with a victory over Woodville-West Torrens Eagles to keep its finals hopes alive, whilst Norwood crushed West Adelaide in a dominant display and big response to back-to-back losses in the last two weeks.

Norwood gained some crucial percentage back after suffering two consecutive heavy losses, coming away with a comprehensive 58-point victory over West Adelaide. Both sides were missing some crucial players for the game, with a mix of Adelaide Crows duties, injuries and COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols all having an impact on team selection. When the final siren sounded though, it was the Redlegs who proved far too good, running away with the 10.6 (66) to 1.2 (8) win.

The opening term started with Norwood on top, as Jade Halfpenny took a strong contested mark straight in front of goal and made no mistake in opening the Redlegs’ account. Though the Redlegs did the bulk of the attacking, the West Adelaide defence lead by Madison Russell and Beatrice Devlyn held up strongly, with Shai Hiscock and Alana Lishmund having chances, but neither able to capitalise, keeping the quarter time deficit at six points.

West flew out of the blocks with Paris Francis launching from 50m in the opening play but just missing, before Lucy Boyd had a chance from 30m out to give her side the lead, but also missed the shot. They would be two of only three scoring shots for the Bloods, as the Redlegs took control. Though Grace Mulvahil looked dangerous up forward throughout, she would not come to the fore until the final term, as the youth of Molly Brooksby, Lana Schwerdt and Alana Lishmund would all convert majors – as would Celestina Dona last in the second term – over the next 25 minutes to race out to a 34-point advantage.

Boyd would finally add her name to the goalkickers list with a hard-running effort from the defensive half allowing her to get on the end of a clever handball from Jess Macolino standing up in a tackle inside 50. That would be the only scoring shot for the Bloods in the second half, with Norwood slotting the last four goals of the game, three of which would got to Mulvahil in the final term, matching Lishund’s trio of majors. The Redlegs would also go from 6.0 to start the game, to kick 1.6, before Mulvahil slotted three consecutive majors in the final 13 minutes of the match.

In a career-best game, Sachi Syme had a day out, racking up 27 disposals, two marks, eight tackles, 12 clearances, four inside 50s and four rebound 50s, teaming up well with fellow State Academy midfielder Schwerdt (23 disposals, three marks, eight tackles, two clearances, three inside 50s, one goal). Also prolific were Halfpenny (19 disposals, four marks – all contested – five tackles, four clearances, two inside 50s, two rebound 50s and a goal) and Lishmund (17 disposals, four marks, four tackles, three inside 50s and 3.2) in a show of the youth at the club. Brooksby (14 disposals, two marks, four tackles, two clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal) and Mulvahil (13 disposals, six marks and three goals) were so dangerous, whilst Tesharna Maher and Sophie Armitstead combined for 35 disposals and 11 clearances.

For the Bloods, Devlyn was a standout with 23 disposals, eight tackles, four inside 50s and nine rebounds, whilst Boyd also caught the eye thanks to her 13 disposals, three marks – two contested – six tackles, four inside 50s and a goal. Louella McCarthy (20 disposals, five tackles, four clearances and two rebound 50s) and Keeley Kustermann (18 disposals two marks – one contested – nine tackles, four clearances, four inside 50s and two rebound 50s) were among the other more prolific ball-winners in the loss.

Norwood has a massive challenge next week, coming up against Glenelg on Saturday in a rematch of the Round 1 contest which saw the Bays completely destroy the Redlegs thanks to a Brooke Tonon six-goal haul. Meanwhile West Adelaide hosts Sturt in what should be a huge test for the last-placed Bloods.

NORWOOD 1.0 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 10.6 (66)
WEST ADELAIDE 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 (8)

GOALS:

Norwood: A. Lishmund 3, G. Mulvahil 3, C. Dona, M. Brooksby, J. Halfpenny
West: L. Boyd

RMC BEST:

Norwood: S. Syme, L. Schwerdt, A. Lishmund, T. Maher, J. Halfpenny
West: B. Devlyn, L. Boyd, N. McKay, L. McCarthy, K. Kustermann

North Adelaide took full advantage of a Glenelg side missing some of its key players through the midfield, dominating the clearances and inside 50 counts to record a 32-point victory. Despite losing the hitouts (29-7), the Roosters easily took control in both the clearances (25-17) and inside 50s (45-30) to have plenty of opportunities going forward. They did not always take them though, kicking 6.13 to 2.5, having 12 more scoring shots but effectively only icing the game in the final term. The inaccuracy was not just on the Roosters kicking for goal, with credit needing to go to the Glenelg defence for applying immense pressure across the course of the match.

North Adelaide looked ominous from the get-go, with Jessica Edwards scoring a behind from a set shot in the opening two minutes. What looked to be a critical and rare turnover from the Roosters defence straight in front of goal to Jessica Bates did not pay the full price, but Hannah Ewings cashed in that luck with a terrific goal shaking off an opponent, turning goalside and making no mistake on the move. The State Academy member then managed to produce a pinpoint pass under pressure to Cristie Castle who got on the board and North was starting to build a lead. No sooner had that happened, and Glenelg applied some of their own forward half pressure, with Caitlyn Swanson getting it to Madisyn Freeman for the Bays’ first, and Glenelg cut the quarter time deficit to seven points.

When captain Ellie Kellock snapped around her body three minutes into the second term, the Bays had drawn within a point and it looked like the game was going to be a cracker. Unfortunately for the Bays, the Roosters would kick the last four goals of the game – albeit making hard work of it – to secure a fairly comfortable win. The Glenelg defence made sure that North never had it easy, exemplified by the 4.9 kicked after quarter time, in particular the 1.5 kicked in the second term. That one was State Academy member Elaine Grigg who kicked an exciting goal on the run.

The Roosters’ fourth goal did not come until the 16th minute of the third term, when Katelyn Pope hit up Julia Clark inside 50, and to that point, it looked like the Bays were weathering the storm. Teenage talent Sarah Goodwin in particular was dominating across half-back on her way to a career-best game, and she set up ex-Panther Madison Bennett for what looked to be a goal off the deck, but Bennett’s kick cannoned into the post. It would just not be the Tigers’ day, as Grigg would effectively put the nail in the coffin early in the fourth term, sidestepping an opponent close to the goal line and putting her side 26 points up before Castle leapt over Goodwin midway through the last stanza to clunk a grab and convert the set shot, eventually leading to the 32-point win.

Edwards had another huge game of 28 disposals, eight marks, five tackles, four clearances, four inside 50s and four rebound 50s, teaming up well with Brianna Arthur (26 disposals, three tackles, three clearances and five inside 50s). Pope (19 disposals, four marks, four tackles and five inside 50s and Jade De Melo (18 disposals, four marks, two tackles and three inside 50s) constantly looked dangerous in the forward half, as Castle and Grigg both slotted a couple of goals in the win.

Goodwin was far and away the standout for the Bays, racking up a whopping 32 disposals, 10 marks – three contested – three inside 50s and 12 rebound 50s to be a rebounding machine from defence. Bates (26 disposals, five marks, nine tackles, three clearances, four inside 50s and three rebound 50s) was the next best, whilst the likes of Kellock (18 disposals, three marks, seven tackles, four inside 50s and three rebound 50s) and Sheridan Howell (13 disposals, two tackles and five rebound 50s) tried hard throughout the contest.

North Adelaide will head across to Maughan Thiem Kia Oval to take on Woodville-West Torrens Eagles next Saturday night, with Glenelg hosting Norwood an hour earlier at ACH Group Stadium.

NORTH ADELAIDE 2.4 | 3.9 | 4.12 | 6.13 (49)
GLENELG 1.3 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 (17)

GOALS:

North: E. Grigg 2, C. Castle 2, H. Ewings, J. Clark
Glenelg: M. Freeman, E. Kellock

RMC BEST:

North: J. Edwards, B. Arthur, C. Castle K. Pope, K. Harvey
Glenelg: S. Goodwin, J. Bates, S. Howell, E. Kellock, M. Freeman

Central District has claimed back-to-back wins and moved to within two points of a top four spot following an impressive run-away 28-point win over Woodville-West Torrens. The Bulldogs had to come from behind at quarter time and half-time, before slotting the last six goals of the game and holding the Eagles to just five behinds in the last three quarters to record the 7.2 (44) to 2.6 (18) victory.

The Bulldogs were thrown a curveball pre-game with a late withdrawal of captain Shelby Smith, whilst a late season inclusion for the Eagles in Subiaco’s Abbey Dowrick got her side on the board with a clever soccer off the deck. Dowrick joined her sister McKenzie – missing for this clash – at the Eagles, and topped the equal-most votes in the WAFL Women’s Dhara Kerr Medal last season (league best and fairest) but was ineligible to win due to suspension. Early on, it looked like her and the eagles were in for a good only, as they took an early seven-point lead after Ashley Baker hit the post. Up the other end, Jessica Walker-Smith slotted her first SANFL Women’s goal from a set shot 25m out, before the Eagles responded through Grace Martin who marked off a clever Brianna Hyde snap.

At quarter time the Eagles lead by seven points, but little did anyone know, they would score just five behinds for the remainder of the game, as the Bulldogs would kick 5.2 in a show of contrasting accuracies. Both sides had plenty of turnovers in the second term, and only some Georgia McKee magic to set up a goal to Paige Allan would break up the deadlock. Eagles’ forward Amie Blanden had a couple of set shots that both missed, whilst Dogs’ ruck Isabelle Starmer was dominating around the ground, and the likes of youngsters Laitiah Huynh and Madison Lane finding plenty of the ball.

The third term was much of the same for the first 15 minutes, with Central starting to have the majority of the forward half possession, but the game still being a stale mate with an Astrid Gooley behind nudging the Eagles five points ahead. Then back-to-back Doggies goals to McKee – from a set shot straight. in front – and Walker-Smith – following an encroachment – gave Central District an eight-point lead at the final break. They took that momentum from the final five minutes of the third term, to slot three more goals and run away with the contest in the second half of the last quarter.

Switch players Demi Sonneman and Karissa Searle – who had both spent time in defence – kicked majors, with Caitlen Teague running in and sealing the deal with 90 seconds on the clock. Despite having some inside 50 chances, the Eagles scoring had dried up, and a shot from Gooley after the siren saw the kick touched on the line, and the final margin being 28 points.

Starmer was a clear standout on the day, racking up 25 disposals, seven marks, five tackles, 28 hitouts and three clearances in the win, as Huynh (19 disposals, four marks, four tackles, two clearances and three inside 50s) and McKee (17 disposals, three marks, five tackles, four inside 50s and a goal) created some great dash. In defence, Charlotte Riggs clunked seven marks – two contested – as well as 17 disposals and three rebound 50s, whilst Searle managed 18 disposals, four marks – one contested – three tackles, two clearances and two inside 50s.

For the Eagles, Dowrick’s debut was a good one with 27 touches, five marks, two tackles, seven clearances, six inside 50s, two rebound 50s and a goal. Jessica Sedunary (22 disposals, four marks, four tackles, four clearances, two inside 50s and two rebound 50) and Shineah Goody (20 disposals three marks – one contested – two tackles, three clearances, two inside 50s and two rebound 50s) covered the ground well whilst Annie Falkenberg worked hard in defence for 19 touches, two marks, eight tackles and four rebound 50s.

Central District travels to Flinders University Stadium on Saturday evening for a clash with South Adelaide, whilst the Eagles host North Adelaide that night.

CENTRAL DISTRICT 1.0 | 2.0 | 4.1 | 7.2 (44)
WWT EAGLES 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.6 (18)

GOALS:

Central: J. Walker-Smith 2, C. Teague, P. Allan, G. McKee, K. Searle
Eagles: A. Dowrick, G. Martin

RMC BEST:

Central: I. Starmer, L. Huynh, G. McKee, C. Riggs, K. Searle
Eagles: A. Dowrick, J. Sedunary, S. Goody, J. Hickey, A. Blanden

South Adelaide has retained its place inside the top four of the SANFL Women’s competition by handing Sturt its second consecutive loss, in front of a home crowd at Flinders University Stadium. In what was a hard-fought contest – that featured just 10 scoring shots in total – the Panthers took the chocolates home with a 5.2 (32) to 2.1 (13) victory. Led brilliantly by Nicole Campbell in the midfield, South Adelaide showed it can still be a threat in the run home to the finals – and maybe even sneak in – by toppling the albeit understrength Double Blues.

The first shot took almost nine minutes to manifest, and that was a poster up the South end. Though the poster was a behind post, so the first actual score did not happen until five minutes later when the dynamic Jess Waterhouse got goalside and stood up in a tackle to kick a goal and get her side on the board. Despite only having the four inside 50s to Sturt’s 13, the Panthers lead by that sole straight kick.

Taking advantage of the breeze, South Adelaide slotted two more goals in the second term, with Campbell fittingly nailing a goal from 30m after a free kick in the first five minutes. She and Sturt midfielder Georgia Bevan had been the clear standouts across the ground, but the moment of the term – and perhaps the game – came when defender Jaslynne Smith snuck forward to hold a high line. She took a mark outside 50, then was gifted two back-to-back 25m penalties which enabled the 55-game defender to be within range. She converted the set shot to kick her first goal of her career, which prompted celebrations from all of her teammates.

The third term belonged to Sturt, as the Double Blues ferociously attacked with the breeze, and Abbey Rigter walked away with two goals in the first seven minutes. She kicked one from a couple of minutes straight in front, then converted her next one cleverly to cut the deficit to just six points. Luckily for the home side they got a steadier from Lauren Clifton midway through the quarter, and almost had a second themselves with an Alysha Healy snap, but the ball bounced up and went back into play.

Holding a two-goal buffer with the breeze in the final term, the Panthers were not able to penetrate the Double Blues defence for the most part, as Jaimee Wittervan and Kiera Mueller dug their heals. It was the same up the other end though, as Gypsy Schirmer and Smith had both been impressive, whilst Tahlita Buethke had a late chance for the home side but just missed, and another then fell short. After having a solid debut, Kiahni Russell capped off a win with a clever snap out of the pack with the last kick of the game to put the icing on the cake for South Adelaide, as the Panthers won, 5.2 (32) to 2.1 (13).

Campbell was a clear best on ground, racking up 31 touches, four marks – one contested – four clearances, six inside 50s, six rebound 50s, kicking a goal and laying a whopping 17 tackles. Buethke (23 disposals, four marks, five tackles, three clearances, two inside 50s and two rebound 50s) also accumulated the pill well, whilst the defensive pairing of Smith (18 disposals, seven marks – one contested – six tackles, four rebound 50s and a goal) and Schirmer (16 disposals, eight marks and five rebound 50s) also provided great offensive run. Jess Waterhouse (19 disposals, two marks, six tackles, five clearances, four inside 50s and a goal) was again damaging in the forward half, whilst Caitlin Ross (11 disposals, five marks, three tackles and four rebound 50s) stood up well in the back 50.

Bevan had the 24 touches, four marks, seven tackles and two rebound 50s to work really hard around the ground, whilst Ellie Lynch (18 disposals, six tackles, six clearances, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s), Elsie Dawes, Alisha Gepp and Isobel Kuiper all had more than 16 disposals. Alysha Healy had a team-high six inside 50s to go with 14 disposals and five marks, whilst Rigter capitalised with 2.1 from 13 disposals, four tackles, four hitouts and four inside 50s in the loss.

South Adelaide hosts Central District next week in a massive game with finals implications, whilst Sturt will try and turnaround its two-game losing streak when it travels to Hisense Stadium to take on West Adelaide.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 5.2 (32)
STURT 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 (13)

GOALS:

South: J. Waterhouse, N. Campbell, L. Clifton, K. Russell, J. Smith
Sturt: A. Rigter 2

RMC BEST:

South: N. Campbell, J. Waterhouse, J. Smith, G. Schirmer, T. Buethke
Sturt: G. Bevan, E. Lynch, E. Dawes, A. Rigter, I. Kuiper