THREE of the four SANFL Women’s matches were decided by less than a kick over the weekend in what was a thrilling Round 10 of action. Top two sides Woodville-West Torrens and South Adelaide further established themselves as the teams to beat, while Sturt box-seated itself for the highly competitive fourth spot.

>> SANFLW Round 10 MOTR: West finds a Waye in last quarter comeback

OTHER ROUND 10 RESULTS:

Despite a gallant effort from North Adelaide, Woodville-West Torrens bounced back from its first loss of the season last week to hold off a determined Roosters outfit and win by six points at Prospect. The 5.5 (35) to 4.5 (29) win also officially cemented the Eagles’ place in the SANFLW finals series for the first time, something that had been evident for quite a few weeks, but was now no longer mathematically possible to miss.

The third placed Roosters showed why they will be a threat in this year’s finals series, hitting the front early and leading throughout the first half. Three consecutive goals for the visitors handed them back the lead through the third term, and though the Eagles went out to what looked like a strong 13-point lead midway through the final term, North Adelaide never stopped fighting.

The Eagles’ youth lead the way with Imogen Trengove (27 disposals, 11 tackles, six clearances and nine inside 50s) and Lucy Moore (23 disposals, 12 tackles and 11 clearances) were both huge on-ball, while Julia Faulkner and Maia Freemantle were the other players with six-plus clearances on the day. Leah Cutting dominated through the ruck with 40 hitouts, while forward Klaudia O’Neill (two goals) and defender Annie Falkenberg were also impressive.

North Adelaide had no shortage of players stand up too, as Djimila Totham (21 disposals, four marks, seven tackles, seven clearances, three inside 50s and five rebound 50s) was influential through the middle with Julia Clark, while Polly Turner found herself behind the ball to quell the Eagles’ tall forwardline. She and Ella Metcalfe were vital, as was Amber Ward in attack.

Woodville-West Torrens heads north to X Convenience Oval next Saturday, while North Adelaide takes on last placed Glenelg at Stratarama Stadium on Sunday.

NORTH ADELAIDE 2.2 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 4.5 (29)
WWT EAGLES 1.1 | 1.2 | 4.4 | 5.5 (35)

GOALS:
North Adelaide: S. Jensen 2, J. Parish, A. Ward
WWT Eagles: K. O’Neill 2, M. Dowrick 2, A. Tentye

RMC BEST:
North Adelaide: D. Totham, E. Metcalfe, J. Clark, P. Turner, A. Ward
WWT Eagles: I. Trengove, L. Moore, L. Cutting, A. Falkenberg, K. O’Neill

A five goals to nil second term was ultimately the difference between South Adelaide and Glenelg as the red-hot Panthers came away 23-point winners over a gallant Glenelg. The Bays have been fierce starters of matches at different points this season and actually kicked the first two goals of the match to lead by 13 points with a few minutes left in the quarter. Unfortunately South piled on the next six to essentially rip the contest away from Glenelg and post an 8.5 (53) to 4.6 (30) victory.

Star South ruck Soriah Moon played a key role around the ball again, notching up 25 hitouts, eight clearances and four tackles among 20 touches, working well in tandem with Taya Maxwell (14 disposals, 17 hitouts, four clearances and five rebound 50s) who helped out in defence. Esther Schirmer and Jaslynne Smith were as reliable as ever, while Shae Archbold (three goals) and Emily Brockhurst (two) hit the scoreboard multiple times. Caitlin Couch and Mel Anderson were also among the best for the home side.

It was no surprise to see Jess Bates once again dominating through the midfield with 30 disposals, five marks, 13 tackles and eight clearances, but she had support from Georgie Fielder and Asha Dufour who combined for 51 disposals and nine inside 50s, while Dufour clunked eight marks. Up forward, Eloise Mackereth produced her best SANFLW game of the year with two goals from eight touches and five marks – three contested – while Elizabeth Johnson kicked a major and looked dangerous.

South Adelaide hosts West Adelaide down at Noarlunga next Saturday, while Glenelg returns to Stratarama Stadium where the Bays take on North Adelaide.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 1.1 | 6.4 | 7.4 | 8.5 (53)
GLENELG 2.1 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 4.6 (30)

GOALS:
South Adelaide: S. Archbold 3, E. Brockhurst 2, T. Prosser, M. Anderson, L. Baxter
Glenelg: E. Mackereth 2, E. Johnson, C. McWilliam

RMC BEST:
South Adelaide: S. Moon, C. Couch, S. Archbold, M. Anderson. E. Schirmer
Glenelg: J. Bates, G. Fielder, A. Dufour, E. Mackereth, E. Johnson

In a genuine thriller, Sturt managed to finish in front of Central District to sentence the Bulldogs to their third consecutive loss, coming from behind on a couple of occasions to take the four-point win. Central District lead at quarter time and three quarter time, before the Double Blues quickly took it back thanks to back-to-back goals to Amy Brooks-Birve and Monique Bessen. While Katelyn Rosenzweig made it interesting and back to within a kick in the final eight minutes, Sturt was able to hold on during the 6.12 (48) to 6.8 (44) win.

Sturt dominated the clearances (33-24) and won the inside 50s (35-32), highlighted once again by the work of Bessen (24 disposals, five marks, six tackles, six clearances, six inside 50s and two goals) and Isobel Kuiper (14 disposals, four marks, eight tackles and six clearances). Georgia Swan (22 disposals, three marks, four tackles, four clearances, five inside 50s and a goal) was influential, while Brooks-Birve (two goals) and Hannah Prenzler (14 disposals, five rebound 50s) were also crucial to the cause.

Central District midfielder Dakota Williams continued her fine form for the Dogs with 16 disposals, six clearances, six inside 50s and a goal, teaming up with ruck Miyu Endersby (17 disposals, four marks, 11 hitouts, three clearances, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s). The loss would have been greater had it not been for Madison Lane (15 disposals, seven tackles and 10 rebound 50s) and Georgia Madigan (14 disposals, four marks and five rebound 50s) in the back 50. Up front, Alysha Healy was lively with 11 disposals, four marks, four inside 50s and a goal.

Central District has the ultimate test against the Eagles next week at Elizabeth, while Sturt will play host to Norwood on King’s Birthday at Unley.

STURT 1.4 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 6.12 (48)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 2.1 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 6.8 (44)

GOALS:
Sturt: M. Bessen 2, A. Brooks-Birve 2, G. Swan, G. King
Central District: D. Williams, A. Healy, T. Maher, K. Rosenzweig, J. Zecevic, L. Breguet

RMC BEST:
Sturt: M. Bessen, G. Swan, A. Brooks-Birve, H. Prenzler, I. Kuiper
Central District: D. Williams, M. Lane, M. Endersby, A. Healy, G. Madigan