SOUTH Adelaide has drawn level with top of the table Central District after an impressive 35-point win over West Adelaide in the AAMI Talent League Under 18 Girls competition. The Panthers big guns were all firing in the victory, with Madison Brown breaking the competition disposal record and double bottom-age forward Jaidee-Lee Shortridge booting another three goals.

Keeping the Bloods scoreless throughout the first half, the Panthers kicked two majors in the second half of the second quarter to ensure they got some bang for buck for their dominance. After Shortridge kicked the game’s opening midway through the first quarter, it was the combination of Chanel May and Taryn Vizgaudis who both slotted six-pointers to stretch the lead out to 21 points at the main break.

In fact, West Adelaide did not score until the last few minutes of the premiership quarter, with Shortridge adding two more goals in that period, and by the time Georgia Saunders finally gave Bloods fans something to celebrate, it was already out to a 35-point difference. The teams traded blows in the fourth quarter with Eve Disley and Isabelle Cameron both hitting the scoreboard either side of Tayla Wilkinson‘s major, with Cameron’s being the icing on the cake in the last few minutes during the 7.5 (47) to 2.0 (12) result.

Despite West Adelaide having a clear ruck advantage (36-22 hitouts), the Panthers won the clearances by six (26-20) and crucially dominated front half possession. They finished with a whopping 36 inside 50s to 10, and while the Bloods defence did well to rebound plenty of attacks, the weight of numbers eventually won out. The Panthers also won the tackle count (71-57), a phenomenal effort considering they had almost 100 more disposals (279-187) in the game.

All the talk was around Brown’s incredible performance, where the young Panther notched up 36 disposals, two marks, 10 tackles, seven clearances, four tackles and two rebound 50s in the victory. She was well supported by Vizgaudis who moved well around the ground for 32 disposals,, two marks, two tackles and a goal. Up forward, it was all Shortridge with three majors from 19 disposals, three marks, five tackles and five inside 50s.

Emmerson Warren (22 disposals, four marks, six tackles, two clearances and five inside 50s) and Zoe Flesfader (20 disposals, three marks, four tackles, two hitouts, four clearances and six inside 50s) were also among the bigger ball-winners for the Panthers. Top-age draft prospect Hope Taylor had her moments with 17 disposals and three tackles, while Marley Tape continued her development with 15 disposals, three marks, four tackles and three inside 50s).

For the Bloods, Zara Downes was a standout with 25 disposals – nine more than any other West Adelaide player – five marks, six tackles and two rebound 50s. Sienna Aldridge battled hard to help out in defence with 16 touches and seven rebound 50s, while Mary Rose Bahls Kildea had 15 disposals, four marks, four tackles and four rebound 50s in the loss.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Sturt made a big statement in knocking off the previously undefeated Central District by 45 points, keeping the Bulldogs to just two goals for the match. While the Dogs were missing the likes of Charlotte Maurits, Miyu Endersby and Demi Holloway who were arguably their three best players for the season so far, the credit had to go to Sturt as Madeline Nuss (five goals) and Edwina Thornquest (three) had days out.

Saskia Kellaway (19 disposals, four marks, four tackles, five clearances and four inside 50s) was again busy for the Double Blues, while former Giants Academy member Aoife Berry (23 disposals, two marks, seven tackles, five clearances, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s) and skipper Alana Evans (16 disposals, two marks and five rebound 50s) were strong in defeat.

Norwood piled on more pain to a winless North Adelaide outfit as the Redlegs came away with a 7.8 (50) to 1.3 (9) victory. The damaging duo of Ella Anderson (28 disposals, five marks, five clearances, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s) and Mia Wood (28 disposals, five marks, five clearances, three inside 50s and two round 50s) were again dominant, though they were not alone with Kaianne Colbung-Ware and Broken Hill recruit Emmerson Lihou also impressing. Under 16s All-Australian Isabella Beaumont clunked three contested marks from 19 disposals, five marks and four rebound 50s for the Roosters.

In the other match of Round 4, Glenelg recorded its second consecutive victory with a 12-point win over Woodville-West Torrens. The Bays kept the Eagles to just two behinds at half-time and one goal by the final break, before withstanding a late comeback in the fourth to hold on and win, 5.11 (41) to 4.5 (29). Ada-Mae Koch (19 disposals, four marks, five tackles and three inside 50s) and Tori Evans (18 disposals, eight marks, three tackles and three rebound 50s) were a couple of the standouts. For the Eagles, Lucy Farnsworth had another great game with 13 disposals, 22 hitouts, seven tackles, three marks and four clearances.