GLENELG has sent an ominous message to the rest of the SANFL Women’s competition after the Bays dismantled Central District en route to a seven-goal win over the reigning premiers. In what was built up as a huge contest between the top two sides in the competition, some key outs for the Dogs proved costly as Glenelg piled on a 48-1 lead at half-time to eventually run out 11.9 (75) to 4.9 (33) winners.

>> MOTR: Woodville-West Torrens 7.1 (43) defeated Norwood 5.8 (38)

Bays tame wounded Dogs

GLENELG produced an outstanding first half of football against Central District to leave the home crowd shellshocked and lead by 47 points at half-time. It was an incredible domination by the Tigers who had the normally settled and reliable Dogs’ defence making uncharacteristic mistakes which saw 13 scoring shots go past them during the 42-point result.

In fairness to the Dogs, they were not only missing spiritual leader Shelby Smith and number one ruck Olivia Levicki, but late withdrawal Charlotte Riggs joined fellow defender Madison Lane as others missing. It mean the advantage in the ruck, around the contest and rebounding from defence was severely impacted, as the class of Jasmin Stewart, and the hardness of Jessica Bates and Piper Window took full control.

By half-time, the inside 50s count was 27-3, with a 13-1 differential in the second term following a 14-2 effort in the first all but putting the Dogs’ defence under the pump. Minus the intercepting machine of Riggs, Central District had some young talents such as Tarly Borgas and Mikaylah Antony in their second and first games respectively, and they had some impressive moments.

But the top-end talent of the Bays lead by a dominant Bates with 20 first half disposals was too much. Stewart’s left foot along with Brooke Tonon and Eloise Mackereth up forward meant there was plenty of options to go to inside 50. Dogs coach Ben Hunt managed to shut down Bates via a Tess Gerhardy tag in the third term, and Tonon’s impact was reduced by swinging former defender Lauren Breguet back.

Perhaps the biggest switch was moving Sophie Eaton inside 50, with the Under 16s MVP kicking an incredible four goals in a quarter and giving the Dogs the most unlikeliest of sniffs. Though Central’s reputation for comebacks was well known, it was a bridge too far, with the experienced Glenelg outfit settling down in the final term to ensure they came away with a big win, and remain unbeaten against the Dogs in SANFLW history.

Bates finished the match with 34 disposals, eight clearances, eight tackles, five inside 50s and a goal despite being shut out of it in the third term, while Stewart’s left boot racked up 28 disposals, three marks, five clearances and three inside 50s. Young gun Violet Patterson was also outstanding, as was Window, Tonon and ruck/forward Shay’Lee Dayman.

For the Dogs, Eaton’s four goals in a term from seven disposals – at 100 per cent efficiency – was the massive positive, while Borgas and Antony learnt plenty alongside defender Georgia Madigan who was arguably her side’s best with Eaton and Caitlin Wendland (20 disposals, two marks, six clearances and four inside 50s).

CENTRAL DISTRICT 0.1 | 0.1 | 4.3 | 4.9 (33)
GLENELG 5.1 | 7.6 | 8.7 | 11.9 (75)

GOALS:
Central District: S. Eaton 4.
Glenelg: B. Tonon 2, S. Franson 2, J. Eldridge 2, E. Mackereth 2, S. Dayman, J. Bates, J. Searle.

RMC BEST:
Central District: G. Madigan, S. Eaton, C. Wendland, L. Breguet, M. Antony
Glenelg: J. Stewart, J. Bates, V. Patterson. P. Window, B. Tonon

Brockhurst breaks open game as Panthers pounce on points

SOUTH Adelaide joined Woodville-West Torrens as a first-time winner in 2024 after taking care of fellow winless side North Adelaide by 42 points on the weekend. The Panthers produced a dominant five goals to one opening term to open up a 25-point lead at the first break, quelling the celebrations of Brianna Arthur kicking a goal in her first game back from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

After quarter time the Roosters only conceded two more goals for the rest of the game, but as has been the issue this season, were unable to connect inside 50, only kicking two behinds in the final three quarters. Compounding the woes for North Adelaide was star top-ager Jemma Charity going down with what looked like a serious knee injury in the first term.

Off the back of clearance domination (26-11) and winning the inside 50s count comprehensively (44-21), South controlled field position which is something the Panthers failed to do the week before in the loss to Norwood. This time though, the home side looked the goods, and while North Adelaide’s backline held up for the most part considering the weight of inside 50s, the reigning grand finalists and minor premiers were just a bit too strong.

Brockhurst’s wonderful season playing as a forward continued for the Panthers, slotting 3.2 rom 15 disposals, while the AFLW-experienced Nikki Nield was a standout across the match. Crows-listed duo Brooke Boileau and Jess Waterhouse were sensational throughout the game, while former Redleg Morgan Johnston and the experienced Jordann Hickey were crucial across the four quarters.

For the Roosters, Maddy Guerin stepped up in the absence of Kristi Harvey in defence, while Port Adelaide-listed defender Amelie Borg also had some incredible moments against Brockhurst in the most intriguing one-on-one for the evening. Katelyn Pope and Julia Clark combined for 48 disposals and 12 marks in a controlling performance through the middle of the ground, while Laela Ebert was again busy off half-back.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 5.2 | 5.3 | 7.7 | 7.9 (51)
NORTH ADELAIDE 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 (9)

GOALS:
South Adelaide: E. Brockhurst 3, E. Charlton, Laq. Cockatoo-Motlap, L. Clifton, J. Waterhouse.
North Adelaide: B. Arthur.

RMC BEST:
South Adelaide: N. Nield, E. Brockhurst, B. Boileau, J. Waterhouse, J. Hickey
North Adelaide: J. Clark, K. Pope, M. Guerin, AM. Borg, L. Ebert

West bests Sturt to remain unbeaten

A FAST start by West Adelaide helped keep Sturt at arms-length during a hard-fought 5.5 (35) to 3.6 (18) victory at Hisense Stadium on the weekend. The Bloods kicked the first three goals of the match, and while Sturt closed to within a kick at the main break, West Adelaide always seemed to be a step ahead, eventually coming away with the 5.5 (35) to 3.6 (24) victory.

Round 1 match-winner Emma Kilpatrick and Port Adelaide AFLW draftee Lauren Young combined for four of their side’s five majors, with a consolation goal to Georgia Swan in the dying minutes of the match handing the Double Blues forward a second major too.

Across the board the stats were fairly even, with West Adelaide ahead in the hitouts (32-23), but Sturt able to control play at times with 58 marks to 42. The key difference was in the Bloods willingness to release by hand, recording 42 more handballs for the match and gain field position in the win.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect for coach Bruce Dawes was the even contribution of his side, as 15 players had double-digit disposals in the win, highlighted by consistent midfielder Zoe Venning with 22. She did well on the inside laying nine tackles, the same amount as Hannah Button who had an enormous first half, while Keeley Kustermann and Ruby Ballard were particularly clean on the inside.

Double bottom-ager Emily Mableson played her best game of the season amassing 18 touches and three marks, using good decisions by hand or foot and showing composure in the defensive half of the ground and pushing up when required.

Sturt top-ager India Rasheed had the ball on a string, picking up 24 disposals, two marks, seven clearances, nine tackles, two inside 50s and three rebound 50s, setting up several scoring chances, including Monique Bessen‘s major. Ruck Jasmin Fejo was again prominent with 14 touches and 18 hitouts, while Alysha Healy looked dangerous, but her shots on goal only amounted to three behinds. Debutant Grace Powell caught the eye with her aerial ability in particular, clunking two contested marks from a total of five for 11 disposals.

WEST ADELAIDE 2.0 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 5.5 (35)
STURT 0.1 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3.6 (24)

GOALS:
West Adelaide: E. Kilpatrick 2, L. Young 2, J. Ellis.
Sturt: G. Swan 2, M. Bessen.

RMC BEST:
West Adelaide: Z. Venning, E. Mableson, R. Ballard, K. Kustermann, E. Kilpatrick
Sturt: I. Rasheed, J. Fejo, G. Powell, M. Bessen, A. Healy