IT TOOK eight rounds, an incredible comeback and a goal after the siren, but Glenelg is finally on the board in the 2025 SANFL Women’s season. The Bays refused to give up against a Central District side hungry to get back inside the top four, and despite the Dogs leading by nine points towards the end of the fourth quarter, Glenelg – though some match-winning plays from Georgie Fielder – secured the three-point win, 7.7 (49) to 6.10 (46).

The match took on more significance for the Bays, with Glenelg hosting proceedings at Stratarama Stadium in what was the club’s 100th women’s match. As a slew of past players watched on from the stands, the last placed winless side did what is has throughout the season and fought tooth-and-nail. Unlike every other chapter thus far – that involved the opposition kicking away or the Bays failing to convert their opportunities – this one was different.

Heading into the final few minutes down by nine points, it took some finishing class from one of the youngest on the ground in Fielder – who had been lifting throughout the second half – to slot the goal on the run and cut the deficit to just three points. Then, with 20 seconds left on the clock and a stoppage at the half-forward flank, Fielder was again the architect, handballing to a running Madisyn Freeman.

The experienced SANFLW utility spotted Northern Territory tall Kaitey Whittaker with a height advantage, and thanks to some shrewd blocking from her teammates, stuck the two mits up to clunk the grab with a superior reach. Seconds later the siren sounded and everyone flocked to Glenelg’s forward 50 with the tension palpable around the ground.

Lining up from 25m out straight in front, Whittaker went back calmly and drove the ball straight through the big sticks, prompting incredible scenes around the ground. The 21-year-old in just her seventh SANFLW game and fifth for the year, was mobbed by yellow and black, with the staunch contrast of jubilation and heartbreak on the respective faces. Metres from where a sea of yellow and black jumpers were piling on each other sat dejected defender Liz Wilson contemplating what she could have done differently.

In the end, the answer was probably little, with Whittaker having the 10cm height advantage as well as her natural athleticism and reach. Both sides had their chances, but at the end of the day, the script seemed like it was straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster. The winless side, celebrating its 100th game came from behind late in the last quarter to win with a goal after the siren.

Glenelg deserved the two points, having dominated clearances all day, winning them 31-17 despite Central District young gun Miyu Endersby having it her own way in the ruck, recording 36 of her side’s 43 hitouts, with a plus-18 differential in the stat. Most other areas were even, but Glenelg’s 71 tackles to 57 showed a great intent all game.

The midfield trio of Fielder (19 disposals, two marks, four tackles, seven clearances, five inside 50s and a goal), Asha Dufour (20 disposals, six marks, six tackles, three clearances, two inside 50s and a goal) and Jessica Bates (24 disposals, seven marks, 14 tackles, four clearances, three inside 50s and a goal) all spent time forward to hit he scoreboard, while Whittakers scored three majors from limited opportunities.

While Endersby controlled the ruck, the Central District midfield was not able to get first hands on it too often, and relied on turnovers in the back half to then shoot the ball down the field. Katelyn Rosenzweig booted 3.3 from 13 disposals and five marks – four contested – including the one that looked like the match-winner midway through the last term.

Lauren Breguet (11 disposals, three marks, five inside 50s and 1.3) was dangerous, while the defensive work of Madison Lane and skills of Sophie Eaton and Tesharna Maher also stood out in the win. In the end it would not be enough though, with the loss leaving the Bulldogs at 3-5 in the season, helped only by the fact Sturt lost yesterday which kept them just a win out of the four.

What a difference a week can make with Glenelg’s first season victory drawing them level on percentage with Norwood and now just one win behind the Redlegs. While evident finals is not on for this season given the seven consecutive losses, it was a great glimpse into the future for the Bays, and if the team can build on this win, can pose problems for opposition sides in the rest of 2025.

GLENELG 0.2 | 3.4 | 5.6 | 7.7 (49)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 2.4 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 6.10 (46)

GOALS:
Glenelg: K. Whittaker 3, G. Fielder, J. Bates, A. Dufour, C. O’Sullivan
Central District: K. Rosenzweig 3, L. Breguet, D. Holloway. K. Searle

RMC BEST:
Glenelg: G. Fielder, A. Dufour, J. Bates, K. Whittaker, S. Franson
Central District: K. Rosenzweig, M. Endersby, L. Breguet, T. Maher, S. Eaton