NORWOOD will look to defy the odds to win the 2024 SANFL Women’s premiership from fourth spot after reach the grand final following a hard-fought win over Glenelg on Saturday. The Redlegs stormed ahead after a remarkable three-goal second term from Kiana Lee, only for the Bays to catch them and the visitors needing a second burst in the last quarter to secure the win, 8.7 (55) to 5.6 (36).

The 19-point margin was not indicative of just how close the match was throughout the contest, though it was just one shy of the half-time lead the Redlegs held. At a wind-affected Stratarama Stadium, it took until the final few minutes of the game to finally shake off a determined Glenelg side that would rue missed shots on goal and bow out of the finals series in straight sets.

While disappointing for the Bays, the Redlegs were deserved winners, and when Lee was pulling out the party tricks in the second term, the signs were ominous. She slotted a goal from the boundary on both sides, threading the needle perfectly, before dancing around Violet Patterson on the mark inside 50 and slotting a third on the run, having been the only player to record a score in that quarter.

The match was largely a contested one between both sides, which is why Glenelg ball-winner Jessica Bates thrived, racking up 12 disposals in the opening term, and while Norwood co-captain Sophie Armistead was sent to her at times around the stoppage, Bates still managed to get her hands to it. Lee, who started in defence and pushed forward, also went onto Bates in the last quarter, but the clinches is where the Glenelg star had the advantage, racking up another 10 touches in that term to finish with 34.

It was neck-and-neck throughout the opening quarter as the teams traded blows, and by the first break, they were as that started on level scores with two straight kicks apiece. Lee’s unforgettable second term helped Norwood put one foot in the grand final, but as good teams do, Glenelg was not going down without a fight.

Having the swirling breeze to their advantage, premiership skipper Ellie Kellock kicked a much needed goal and almost head a second in the opening few minutes. But when utility Poppy Scholz – a surprise inclusion from an ankle injury – slotted on the run, the Bays were back in business. Bates kicked her second goal to level the scores midway through the term, before bottom-ager Jordan Horne peppered the goals with a couple of behinds.

Those misses – as well as a couple of near goals that were rushed through – would come back to haunt Glenelg. Late in the third term, Norwood worked it forward for a rare foray, and defender Charli Hazelhurst had pushed up the ground to win it and then put it into the path of co-captain Steph Simmonds who slotted a timely goal against the flow to put her team up by two points at the last change.

Entering the last quarter with the breeze, Norwood had the ascendancy, and within the first five minutes, Georgina Birchall nailed a set shot. The Redlegs would also miss a few opportunities, but had the ball camped in their forward end and Glenelg barely got a look-in. That enabled the Redlegs to kill the clock, and when Emma Clark converted a checkside goal on the tightest of angle with a couple of minutes left, it was party time.

Norwood was able to ensure the clock ran out of time, and the margin stretched to 19 by the final siren, with a Simmonds tackle on Scholz late in the game symbolic of the defensive hunger and determination from the red and blue players.

Incredibly Glenelg dominated clearances in the loss, having 18 more, while splitting the inside 50s at 26 apiece. That came despite Norwood having way more hitouts (59-31) thanks to Rosie Boon (36) and Kate Alexander (21) winning the battle against Shay’Lee Dayman (19) and Alex Pearce (11).

Few could doubt that Lee’s second term was the difference, as her three goals broke open the game and forced Glenelg to use tickets just to catch up. Even without getting a touch in the final term, Lee finished the game with a rare low team-high of 14 disposals, but also clunking nine marks – four contested – and having five rebound 50s after some nice work in the first and third terms.

Outside of Lee, it was an even contribution from the Redlegs with Georgina Birchall (13 disposals, six clearances and a goal) the clear standout midfielder, while Emma Clark and Simmonds both kicked goals too. Shai Hiscock‘s defensive pressure – 14 tackles – in the front half was also key in the win.

For the Bays, it was impossible to go past Bates who had video game numbers of 34 disposals, 11 tackles, 14 clearances and two goals, including 22 touches combined in the first and fourth terms, and 20 more than the highest on the opposition.

Kellock (20 disposals, four tackles, four clearances and a goal) was superb and showed her experience, while Jo Miller (21 disposals, nine tackles, eight clearances, four inside 50s and four rebound 50s) had an influence across the ground. Patterson, Horne and Marie Martino also tried hard throughout the contest and were the other players to notch up double-digit disposals.

Norwood now advances to the 2024 SANFLW Grand Final where it takes on South Adelaide. The Redlegs will be buoyed by the fact the game is at Norwood Oval – a predetermined grand final venue – which has not been lost on opposition fans. Regardless, the game looms as a cracker with both sides having plenty of experience in the last game of the season.

GLENELG 2.0 | 2.0 | 5.6 | 5.6 (36)
NORWOOD 2.0 | 5.2 | 6.2 | 8.7 (55)

GOALS:
Glenelg: J. Bates 2, J. Horne, E. Kellock, P. Scholz
Norwood: K. Lee 3, G. Birchall, E. Clark, A. Davies, A. Rusden, S. Simmonds

RMC BEST:
Glenelg: J. Bates, E. Kellock, J. Miller, J. Horne, J. Martino
Norwood: K. Lee, S. Simmonds, G. Birchall, S. Hiscock, E. Clark