AN incredible finish from teenager Jasmine Evans helped guide Central District to its second win of the season, defeating Norwood in the dying stages of the Round 3 SANFL Women’s clash. The Bulldogs looked in trouble when the Redlegs kicked away in the third term, and even midway through the fourth quarter had work to do. But late goals to Caitlen Teague and then Evans turned a 10-point deficit into a two-point win. The victory meant Central District started the season 2-1 for the first time in women’s club history.

CENTRAL DISTRICT 1.2 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 5.3 (33)
NORWOOD 0.1 | 2.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 (31)

GOALS:

Central District: J. Evans, C. Reynolds, C. Teague, D. Williams, J. Zecevic
Norwood: N. Allen, J. Halfpenny, A. Lishmund, G. Mulvahil

RMC BEST:

Central District: C. Wendland, S. Smith, C. Teague, J. Evans, K. Searle
Norwood: M. Johnston, T. Maher, E. Bartsch, N. Allen, G. Jaques

KEY MOMENTS:

Q1:

Central District raced out of the blocks in the opening term to take an eight-point lead and put Norwood on the back foot early. Chantel Reynolds became the first of five individual goalkickers for the Dogs by slotting the only major of the first term.

Defender Sarah Branford continued her terrific Round 2 performance with seven first quarter disposals to lead her side, while Teague picked up seven of her own.

Q2:

Reigning competition leading goalkicker Alana Lishmund was having plenty of chances, but not having much luck, with a number of near misses or rushed chances going begging. By the seventh minute mark of the second term, she would have 1.3 to her name in an almost game-breaking effort had those behinds been goals.

After a dominant patch from the Redlegs, it was the youth of the Dogs who regained control, with a handball from Evans to Dakota Williams to snap Central’s second goal, and that triggered a nice run with Jovanka Zecevic converting from a free kick and Katelyn Rosenzweig running into an open goal but uncharacteristically spraying it.

Q3:

The third term belonged to Norwood as the Redlegs kicked two more goals through Grace Mulvahil and Jade Halfpenny with the former looking to have kicked a second major but was deemed a behind.

The Mulvahil goal was the standout play of the day for the Redlegs, with Tesharna Maher bursting out of defence to hit up Coby Morgan in midfield. The teenager burst off herself and kicked to Najwa Allen inside 50 who handballed to the hard-running Mulvahil to slot the goal.

Q4:

Norwood did a lot of the attacking early, and it looked like the visitors were set to ice the game with just one more major. Halfpenny stepped up to have a quick shot but just missed, though it did push the margin out to a game-high 10 points.

For the first 14 minutes, it largely belonged to Norwood, but slowly but surely Central worked its way back into the game, with Teague winning a free kick and converting the set shot goal. Then, in the last 90 seconds of the match, Evans showed her class from a marking contest, tapping it to space for her to scoop up and kick off the outside of the boot for a match-winning goal.

THE STAR: Caitlin Wendland

In truth it was hard to split the Bulldogs’ starting midfield of Wendland, Teague and captain Shelby Smith. Wendland is becoming a bonafide star in the SANFL Women’s, and has a deadly left foot kick. One of the most precise users in the midfield, she had another outstanding game, collecting 17 disposals, four clearances, five inside 50s and laying nine tackles.

SURPRISE PACKET: Emily Bartsch

Though she will not necessarily get the credit outside the Redlegs’ four walls, Bartsch was very impressive with her work, particularly in the back half of the ground. She finished with 14 disposals, two marks – one contested and two tackles, and while her stats do not jump off the page, she played an important role.

YOUNG GUN WATCH: Jasmine Evans

It was hard to go past the matchwinner who kicked her first ever SANFL Women’s goal with that sensational effort. Though she will be remembered for that kick to win the game, she played a really consistent four quarters, and showed plenty of talent leading out at half-forward, taking some good marks and delivering inside 50.