SOUTH Australia’s ability to maximise upon its inside 50 chances proved the difference in the Croweaters’ win over Western Australia at Revo Fitness Stadium today. Both sides came off a first round loss and needed a victory to keep their dreams of the 2025 AFLW Under 18 Championships title alive, but it was the visitors’ ability to kick eight goals from 31 entries (25.8 per cent efficiency) compared to Western Australia’s four from 38 (10.5 per cent).

In the end there was not much that separated the combatants and the 20-point margin was perhaps a touch unfair to the Sandgropers who had numerous chances in front of goal but could not convert with Olivia Wolmarans (three behinds) hitting the post and pushing another close-range effort left in the second half despite being a strong marking force inside 50 with 12 touches and a game-high six marks.

South Australia’s midfield depth got on top of Western Australia’s respective onballers around the ball with skipper Imogen Trengove again playing multiple roles and finishing with 26 disposals, nine tackles, four clearances, two inside 50s, two rebound 50s and a goal, while Eagles teammate Julia Faulkner also found her fair share of the ball and South Adelaide’s Emma Charlton laid a massive 12 tackles and had a team-high five clearances from 17 disposals.

The work of Carys D’Addario (21 disposals, two marks, six tackles, eight clearances, two inside 50s), Juliet Kelly (20 disposals, three marks, seven tackles, two clearances, two inside 50s) and Renee Morgan (18 disposals, five marks six tackles, two clearances and five inside 50s) were all among the better Sandgropers despite losing the midfield battle.

Western Australia lead by as much as eight points early in the second term when Alira Fotu – returning to the state side after her first WAFLW game of the year for match fitness – waltzed into goal off a team handball chain. South Australia responded through its two main key targets inside 50 with Eloise Mackereth and Chloe Tonkin both hitting the scoreboard.

No sooner had the Croweaters hit the front and Perth small forward Mel Grage won a holding the ball free kick inside 50 and then from the set shot played on using the standing mark rule to perfection for the extra five or so metres just to clear the hands on the line. Unfortunately for the home side, that achievement was countered by three South Australian goals either side of the half-time for the Croweaters to go to lead of 17 points midway through the premiership quarter.

East Perth talent Lucy Greenwood kicked a vital goal after Wolmarans’ poster and behinds to fellow Royal Charli Bassett and Wolmarans again cut the margin back to eight points just five minutes into the final term, before Sturt’s National Academy member Monique Bessen showed she didn’t even need her hands when getting goalside, soccering it off the deck from 25m out and hitting it sweetly to essentially seal the match midway through the final term.

A nice goal from Mackereth – her second of the game – put icing on the cake for the visitors who will have an extended break while players return to their SANFLW clubs and play back-to-back home games – against Queensland and Vic Country – in August. Western Australia on the other hand front up next week at Shark Park against Vic Metro.

Aside from those alrready mentioned, Central District’s Sophie Eaton and Glenelg’s Tessa Davis did well out of the back 50, while West Adelaide’s Lucy Waye laid 11 tackles from 14 disposals and bottom-ager Miyu Endersby held her own against Wolmarans with a tough, niggling performance against hte National Academy member. The sour news from the win was an early injury to Sturt winger Summer Ross whose day concluded in a sling.

For Western Australia, Cara Dziegielewski impressed with her athleticism through the ruck finishing with 22 hitouts from 14 disposals and 10 tackles, while Maya Louvel-Finn and Olivia Crane were both important from defence in an even team contribution.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 1.2 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 4.6 (30)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1.0 | 4.1 | 6.1 | 8.2 (50)

GOALS:
Western Australia: L. Greenwood, A. Nomlatyu, A. Fotu, M. Grage
South Australia: E. Mackereth 2, I. Trengove, J. Faulkner, C. Tonkin, R. Lynch, M. Bessen, H. Taylor

RMC BEST:
Western Australia: C. D’Addario, J. Kelly, R. Morgan, O. Crane, M. Louvel-Finn
South Australia: I. Trengove, E. Charlton, S. Eaton. T. Davis, J. Faulkner