NORWOOD advanced through to the SANFL Women’s Grand Final after an impressive hard-fought win over Glenelg, coming from fourth spot to send out the Bays in straight sets. We took note of the 10 State Academy members in action through the match and how each of them performed.

Glenelg:

#6 Violet Patterson (Midfielder/Wing)

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Patterson started the game relatively quietly but still applied good pressure, and started to win more of the ball as the game went on. Rotating between on-ball and the wing, Patterson kept cracking in, and had a few ‘almost moments’ where she could not cleanly get it away. Still, the potential Collingwood father-daughter prospect ended her SANFLW season not taking a backwards step.

#9 Eloise Mackereth (Forward)

Stats: 1 disposal, 2 tackles

It was a tough day out for the talented bottom-ager who just could not get her hands on the ball, and when she did she was immediately tackled. Her one touch came early gathering off the bounce on the attacking side of the wing and bombing it high into the corridor. Mackereth still applied some great pressure however.

#19 Matilda Wilmore (Forward/Wing)

Stats: 4 disposals, 1 mark (1 contested), 3 tackles, 1 rebound 50

Working hard in the attacking half for the ground and running back to assist the defence, Wilmore had a shot on goal in the third term after a great tackle that was unluckily stopped on the line. She kept her pressure up throughout the game and did take a strong contested mark late in the first half.

#20 Poppy Scholz (Defender/Forward)

Stats: 5 disposals, 3 marks (1 contested), 2 tackles, 1 goal

Returning from an ankle injury that threatened to curtail her season, Scholz started in defence and then was thrown forward in the second half before going back to half-back midway through the last quarter. The rust was still there for Scholz, but she took a great mark one-on-one then sidestepped her opponent and slotted a nice goal on the run.

#59 Georgie Fielder (Defender/Wing)

Stats: 2 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50

Another player who couldn’t get her hands on the ball this game after a few strong performances. She kept running hard and worked up the ground to add another number to the stoppage at times. She only finished with the couple of touches – which both game in the second term which was a long kick inside 50 and handball away – but never stopped running.

Norwood:

#2 Coby Morgan (Wing)

Stats: 3 disposals, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50

Morgan’s defensive pressure was on show during the game even if not rewarded for tackles at times. She worked up and down the ground, won a couple of clearances when heading into the stoppage while being on the wing, and had a few nice moments. Ultimately she couldn’t find much of the ball, but still presented as a running option.

#39 Charli Hazelhurst (Defender)

Stats: 7 disposals, 2 marks (1 contested), 3 tackles, 2 inside 50, 1 rebound 50)

The tall defender did not need to do much at times, but featured through the third term on Scholz as Glenelg started to get more forward 50 entries. She laid a fantastic tackle on Ash Dyer at half-forward to win a free and kick inside 50 late in the third quarter, and had another eye-catching moment with a lovely kick into Adrienne Davies.

#61 Kate Alexander (Ruck)

Stats: 5 disposals, 2 marks (2 contested), 5 tackles, 21 hitouts, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The Under 16s ruck did well at the ruck stoppages, taking control and sharing the load with Rosie Boon. Norwood dominated the hitout count, and Alexander also clunked a couple of contested marks and applied strong pressure once the ball hit the deck, with her biggest moment coming via a kick inside 50 to co-skipper Steph Simmonds to slot the go-ahead goal.