A THREE-goal performance from Woodville-West Torrens‘ Mia Smith helped see off North Adelaide in an entertaining and tight contest in the opening round of the SANFL Women’s Development League over the weekend.

While Smith’s eye-catching three majors and elite defensive pressure in the front half was the major talking point, the game was soured by an injury to Roosters skipper and fellow State Academy top-ager Sarcha Taylor 10 minutes into the second term.

Taylor was hurt when her head hit the ground in a sling tackle, and while there was absolutely no malice in the tackle, the Roosters midfielder/forward had to come off due to concussion protocols. At that stage, her side trailed by seven points during the Roosters’ 10-point defeat to the Eagles.

Woodville-West Torrens came away with the 6.6 (42) to 4.8 (32) victory thanks to five of the next six goals after Taylor snapped the game’s opener. While the scores were level at quarter time, by the midway point of the third term when Smith had earned a free kick for holding the ball and converted the close range set shot, the margin was out to 18 points with 5.3 (33) to 1.2 (8) since the Roosters scored the first seven points of the match.

With Taylor off, it was the work of fellow midfielder Caitlin Hardin who stepped up and was a clear eye-catcher for the Roosters, battling hard as her side gt within six points early in the fourth term. Having kicked 2.7 since quarter time, the visitors rued missed opportunities, particularly in the last stanza, kicking 1.4 with plenty of opportunities.

Instead, the icing goal ended up coming off the boot of talented utility Chantelle Mitchell who never looked like missing from a set shot after a great mark. North had a couple of late chances in the final few minutes, but had to settle for the 10-point loss.

WWT EAGLES 2.1 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 6.6 (42)
NORTH ADELAIDE 2.1 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 4.8 (32)

GOALS:
WWT Eagles: M. Smith 3, J. Watson, F. Ward, C. Mitchell
North Adelaide: S. Taylor, B. Lukich, G. Robertson, E. Cooper

BEST:
WWT Eagles: M. Smith, S. Saunders, E. Gikas, M. Turner, L. Farnsworth
North Adelaide: C. Hardin, I. Cunningham, C. Pricesmith, M. Fuller, H. Taheny

STATE ACADEMY WATCH

Woodville-West Torrens:

#29 Lucy Farnsworth (Ruck)

The bottom-ager started in the ruck and worked hard throughout the day getting back to help out the defence when required and even winning a free kick there. Her follow-up work looked strong and for a tall was clean off the deck more often than not. Still a raw talent, but as a late year birth and bottom-ager, there is a great foundational base to work with going forward.

#35 Felicity Ward (Forward)

Had some moments particularly during the second term, though rushed a quick shot on goal at the eight-minute mark. A moment later she put one through the big sticks after sneaking out the back and slamming home the easiest of goals from point-blank range. Showed strong hands and a willingness to work hard. A bottom-ager with room to grow over the next 18 months.

#54 Mia Smith (Forward)

As mentioned above, Smith was the star of the day and with those kind of performances, will not be at Development League level for long. Her first major was a clean take off the deck to throw the ball on the boot and it sail home, before her second moments later was poetry in motion. Reading it off hands at the forward stoppage, Smith took it at full speed and slammed home a goal on the run, while her third was from a holding the ball free kick up the same end and a regulation 20m set shot. Her clean hands, forward pressure, goal sense and forward craft all shone.

North Adelaide:

#35 Caitlin Hardin (Midfielder)

Hardin was the prime mover for the Roosters, particularly in Taylor’s absence throughout the second half. She has the ability to break from the stoppages and use power to shrug off would-be tacklers well. A clean player, her technique was strong, and it was just a case of refining the final execution for the next step. Still, her ability to sidestep and motor away from opponents to get the ball forward was very impressive and was clearly the best-on for her side across the course of the match.

#52 Sarcha Taylor (Midfielder/Forward)

Until she had to come off, Taylor was well on her way to being best-on for North Adelaide, using her elite athletic traits to sidestep, sell candy, spin and evade a variety of opponents. She kicked the game’s opener off a classy snap and though sometimes she can execute a little quickly where added composure could be used, it is hard not to enjoy what she brings to the table. Her experience at League level really shone through when she had the ball, being able to run hard and find space to win the ball, then set up teammates inside 50. Rotated forward after starting midfield.

Others

North Adelaide’s Maya Fuller had some exciting moments coming onto a wing and running up and down the ground. Her aggression at the opposition and winning the ball was impressive, with her defensive pressure superb. She could turn on a dime easily, and while raw and needing to develop some fundamentals, she is a double bottom-ager.

Her tall teammate and defender Isabella Beaumont also popped up to win a holding the ball free kick in defence and showed good intent. Another tall who rotated through the ruck was Macey Hewitson for the Eagles, coming in for her first Development League game having played SANFL Juniors at SMOSH West Lakes and spent time rotating with Farnsworth through the ruck.