A REMARKABLE three-minute purple patch from Glenelg saw the winless Bays pick up their first points of the season as they came back from an 18-point half-time deficit to finish all-square with Central District, 4.4 (28) apiece at X Convenience Oval on Saturday.

The Bulldogs were the dominant team for the opening two terms, controlling both territory and the inside 50 count emphatically. It was Tesharna Maher who got Central District off to a flying start, dribbling home from close range in the seventh minute after a goal-line save from a Glenelg defender had denied the Dogs moments earlier. Sienna Antony was the next to keep the scoreboard ticking, doing the hard work to keep the ball alive on the goalline and providing the opening for Shelby Smith to soccer home at the 13-minute mark – the Bulldogs out to a commanding 13–1 lead with Glenelg managing just a single inside 50 entry for the quarter.

Central District’s pressure continued into the second term, but the Bays’ resolve was remarkable. A Kiana Lee free kick from 25 metres out straight in front looked certain to put Glenelg on the board, only to drift agonisingly left, before Lauren Breguet converted from a tight angle also off the back of a free kick, to push the margin out to 18 points at the main break. Central District was dominant in every respect, yet the Dogs’ inability to turn field dominance into goals would ultimately cost them.

The third quarter threatened to be more of the same, with a Georgie Fielder darting run into the forward 50 producing only a behind off the boot of Lee – another unlucky ricochet off the post for a Bays outfit the competition had been unkind to. Central District continued to flood their forward half. Then the game changed.

At the 13-minute mark, a 25-metre penalty sent the Bays forward with genuine momentum, and Kori Webb slotted truly from close range. Before Central District could regroup, the very next centre clearance was won by Maya Vonarx, who launched directly into the forward 50 and found Lee in space – a composed finish to make it a five-point game in the blink of an eye. Then Asha Dufour won a 25-metre penalty of her own, found Webb on the lead at 35 metres, and watched her teammate thread the set shot to put Glenelg in front, 21 points to 20, with three goals in three breathtaking minutes.

Webb almost added a fourth with a checkside from the boundary in an effort which had to be seen to be believed, before going out on the full in the dying stages of the quarter, leaving the Bays with a fragile two-point advantage at the final change.

Central District reasserted themselves immediately after the last break. A turnover forced at half-forward saw Breguet burst through traffic and use her body brilliantly to slam home her second major within two minutes of the restart, restoring a four-point lead. The Bulldogs peppered from there — Breguet’s next attempt was touched on the line, and Dakota Williams‘ set shot from 35 metres suffered the same cruel fate – but the scoreboard read 28–22 with just over nine minutes remaining.

Glenelg found one final answer. Isla Wiencke gathered brilliantly in the pocket under heavy defensive pressure, steadied, and centred perfectly to Lee, who marked in front at 25 metres and converted truly. The scores were level at 28 apiece with six minutes on the clock. A desperate Karissa Searle snap for Central District was stopped on the goal-line, and a potentially game-deciding late anti-density free kick sent Glenelg inside 50 in the dying minutes.

Lee, winning the ball off the deck, snapped for the match-winner only to be intercepted by Olivia Leslie – who had been a thorn in Glenelg coach Talia Radan‘s side all day – not long before the siren sounded. The Dogs cleared to half-back and were able to force repeat stoppages. The siren sounded, and it marked an incredible third draw in four rounds in 2026.

Leslie was a standout for the Dogs, continuing her dream debut SANFLW season with another 21 disposals and seven marks from the back half of the ground, while up the other end, it was the likes of Breguet (two goals) and Maher (15 disposals, one goal) who provided the spark and pushed up the ground too. Debutant Antony caught the eye with her work, while Holly Tralaggan also impressed through midfield. Ruck Miyu Endersby got first hands to it more often than not in another impressive outing.

For the Bays, Fielder (23 disposals) was phenomenal outside a quiet second term, winning the ball with ease and really taking control. Around her the likes of Dufour (22 disposals, six marks and seven tackles) and Wiencke (15 disposals, four clearances) contributed strongly. Lee (17 disposals, five marks and 2.2) was strong inside 50, while Webb’s two goals from 16 disposals and six marks really stood out as well.

CENTRAL DISTRICT 2.1 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 4.4 (28)
GLENELG 0.1 | 0.2 | 3.3 | 4.4 (28)

GOALS:
Central District: L. Breguet 2, T. Maher, S. Smith
Glenelg: K. Webb 2, K. Lee 2

RMC BEST:
Central District: O. Leslie, L. Breguet, T. Maher, S. Antony, M. Endersby
Glenelg: G. Fielder, A. Dufour, K. Lee, K. Webb, I. Wiencke

AROUND THE GROUNDS

The other thrilling match of the round saw South Adelaide defeat Sturt with the last kick of the game and deny the Double Blues a third draw in four rounds – and two draws in the same weekend – with a 4.8 (32) to 4.2 (26) victory. Top-ager Hope Taylor slotted the match-winner in the dying seconds to seal the victory, with the Panthers leading 22-1 early in the third term after keeping Sturt scoreless in the first half.

It was the Panthers’ youth who stood tall as Layla Vizgaudis (29 disposals, two marks, two tackles, nine clearances, two inside 50s, four rebound 50s and two goals was a standout, as Taylor kicked the other two majors from seven touches. Emma Charlton racked up 10 clearances around the clinches, while Jessica Chyer and Melissa Anderson also impressed. For the Double Blues, Isobel Kuiper was her side’s best ball-winner with 19 disposals as well as five marks and eight tackles, while Madeline Nuss continued her fantastic debut SANFLW season with a third game of two goals.

North Adelaide fell eight points short of knocking off both of last year’s grand finalists with a spirited effort against Woodville-West Torrens. There were shades of Round 1 for Eagles fans – when they went 34-0 down against Sturt – as North Adelaide stormed to a 27-0 lead at quarter time. But the Eagles clawed their way back into it, and while it took until the fourth term to finally get ahead, they won, 7.5 (47) to 5.9 (39).

Tahlita Buethke (28 disposals, seven marks, four tackles and five inside 50s) was influential in covering the ground, while Alice Tentye and Lucy Moore combined for 41 disposals, 18 tackles and nine clearances in the win. Julia Faulkner and Bianca Portaro were also terrific. For the Roosters, Amber Ward was outstanding as an undersized ruck with 18 hitouts and 18 disposals, while defender Jamie Parish down back and Caitlin Hardin in midfield were others who stood out.

In the other match, Norwood’s dream start to the SANFLW season rolled on with a third win in four games, toppling West Adelaide by 37 points. The Redlegs shrugged off early resistance from the Bloods to boot eight goals to three through the middle two quarters which lead to an eventual final score of 10.6 (66) to 4.5 (29).

Elle Lineage had a day out in front of goal with four majors from 17 disposals, as Ashley Baker (20 disposals, two goals) and Amelia Rusden (13 disposals, two goals) feasted on the inside 50 entries. However the day belonged to two players in experienced skipper Jade Halfpenny and potential pick one in next year’s AFLW Draft, Lani Cocks. Halfpenny racked up 41 disposals, six tackles, eight clearances and eight inside 50s, while Cocks amassed 36 disposals, seven clearances, eight inside 50s and booted a goal. For the Bloods, top-age talent Emily Mableson helped herself to 26 disposals, five clearances, seven inside 50s, seven rebound 50s and a ridiculous 18 tackles, while Zoe Venning tried hard as always.