BILLED as the match of the season to-date, the SANFL Women’s Grand Final rematch between South Adelaide and Woodville-West Torrens lived up to all expectations on Saturday, as the latter sought revenge and took home the nail-biting win, 4.4 (28) to 3.4 (22).

In wet conditions, the Eagles raced out to a 20-point lead in a dominant first 25 minutes that left most people shellshocked. The normally composed Panthers outfit – at Noarlunga no less – could not get it past halfway let alone inside 50 until the sixth minute of the second term. Woodville-West Torrens’ midfield dominance, tackling pressure and the presence of competing leading goalkicker Klaudia O’Neill had the Eagles flying high.

With the rain setting in during the middle of the game, it was clear scoring was going to be at a premium, and to no one’s surprise it was pick one contender in this year’s AFLW Draft, Emma Charlton – after an almost unfathomable only two disposals in the first term – who got her side on the board, albeit from a missed snap. She and in-form Layla Vizgaudis – who also had been relatively quiet in the first term – started to wrestle back momentum from their State Academy teammates in Lucy Moore and Ruby Lynch around the ball.

Charlton and Vizgaudis combined for 11 disposals and five clearances in the second term after just six and one across the first quarter, while Lynch spent more time forward despite a blistering start which saw her have six disposals and three clearances in the opening term. Moore was unstoppable throughout the first half, heading into the main break with 11 disposals, seven clearances and four insdie 50s to be the prime mover in the middle, while Alice Tentye was also racking up the ball at will as per usual.

On the scoreboard, Charlton was doing it all, winning a free for a push off the ball in the goalsquare as South was attacking, and the top-ager put through a relatively straight forward set shot to get her team on the board without fuss. When Melissa Anderson laid a great tackle inside 50 to win a free and then did not receive the ball back, she too landed another blow to the Eagles’ hopes with a goal from point-blank range.

It was game on again with the Panthers cutting the half-time deficit to just seven points and back in the match. It was the Eagles’ turn to pepper the goals with a clear scoring end, and after O’Neill had kicked two goals in teh blink of an eye in the opening term, went from scorer to assister as her flick handball set up Cher Waters with the Eagles’ fourth. South had chances through Emily Brockhurst and Anderson, but ultimately headed into the last change trailing by 13 points and all the work to do in the wet.

Soriah Moon was on top against her great mate and rival Leah Cutting in the ruck, while the likes of Charlton and Vizgaudis, along with the experienced Caitlin Couch were working to get plenty of looks inside 50 from the stoppages. Holly Ifould and former Eagle Olivia Evans were having their say, while for the Eagles, the defence was about to be tested – and pass – in a big way.

South relentlessly attacked in the final term after an early behind to the Eagles as Panthers’ skipper Tiffany King was the surprise move forward for the game, as the normally last line defender was inside 50 alongside fellow lockdown defender Samantha Pratt to try and throw a surprise at the ladder leaders. Charlton’s ball use inside 50 was beginning to be a real problem despite the Eagles trying to quell her, but the work of Zahlia Niemann and Tahlita Buethke in the back 50 was fantastic, while Bianca Portaro was also chopping off forward forays.

The game was being played in South Adelaide’s half and it was only a matter of time. Though she had not had much luck at hitting the scoreboard yet, top-age draft chance Hope Taylor provided plenty of hope when after being crunched in a marking contest won a free kick. Just outside her range, Taylor looked to play on and get the extra 10 metres or so to launch, of which O’Neill – who had snuck up from full-forward at the other end – was well aware of. Unfortunately for the leading goalkicker, she infringed on the protected area, bringing Taylor to within range.

Making no mistake, the lovely finisher cut the deficit to within six points late in the match and the feeling of ‘surely not another draw?’ was reverberating around the ground. The Eagles went into defence mode, as the Panthers loaded up to attack at all costs. In the end, the work of Niemann in particular throughout the last term was enough to stop any momentum building from the Panthers in the dying moments and the siren sounded with the Eagles winning by a straight kick.

Tentye finished with a game-high 30 disposals, as well as seven marks, eight tackles, four clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s, while Moore’s 20 disposals, seven tackles, nine clearances and six inside 50s were crucial in pumping the ball from the inside to the outside, particularly early. Buethke (19 disposals, five marks, six tackles and five rebound 50s) was important in defence alongside Niemann and Portaro, while Lynch, Faulkner and the second-gamer in Anika Tran provided some eye-catching moments around the ball and up forward.

For the Panthers, Ifould racked up 24 disposals, two marks, four tackles, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s, while Charlton (18 disposals, seven tackles, five clearances, six inside 50s and a goal) and Vizgaudis (17 disposals, six clearances) worked together in unison. Moon’s 14 disposals, 29 hitouts and six clearances alongside Couch’s 15 touches and five clearances supported them superbly, while Evans and Anderson had some nice moments in defeat.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 0.0 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 3.4 (22)
WWT EAGLES 3.2 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 (28)

GOALS:
South Adelaide: M. Anderson, E. Charlton, H. Taylor
Woodville-West Torrens: K. O’Neill 2, J. Zerella, C. Waters

RMC BEST:
Woodville-West Torrens: A. Tentye, L. Moore, K. O’Neill, R. Lynch, T. Buethke
South Adelaide: E. Charlton, H. Ifould, L. Vizgaudis, S. Moon, M. Anderson

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Glenelg cracked through for a well-deserved win and moved off the bottom of the ladder after defeating West Adelaide, 3.10 (28) to 0.3 (3) in terribly wet conditions at Stratarama Stadium. Former Crow Deni Varnhagen proved the key with two goals up forward, while Ellie Kellock and Tori Evans were moved into the midfield to negate the clearance work of Zoe Venning and Emily Mableson. Though both still found plenty of the ball, they had less space to work with, and it allowed Isla Wiencke and Cassie McWilliam to take control in an unforgettable first win for the Bays.

Norwood survived a late score from the Bulldogs to defeat Central District by 10 points at Elizabeth, getting up 7.1 (43) to 5.3 (33). The Redlegs were in control throughout the game, and even lead by 11 points head into the final change which seemed plenty given the conditions. However back-to-back goals to Lauren Breguet and Charlotte Maurits resulted in the Dogs hitting the front midway through the quarter. Fortunately for the visitors, they steadied as Ashley Baker – the only multiple goalkicker – and then Mykaela Walker put the result to bed. Jade Halfpenny and Lani Cocks were among the stars, while Under 16s MVP Izabella Nisbet was outstanding for the Dogs in defeat.

In the standalone Sunday game, North Adelaide also survived somewhat of a late scare, keeping Sturt goalless up until the final term. The Roosters lead 4.2 (26) to 0.6 (6) early in the fourth, before back-to-back majors to Georgia King and Ruby Cunningham helped cut the deficit back to 4.2 to 2.7 and all of a sudden it was game on. Fortunately top-age talent Polly Turner put one last nail in the coffin for a Roosters win, 5.2 (32) to 2.7 (19) which made it three straight victories after three losses to start the year. Sophie Armitstead and Ella Metcalfe were consistent as ever, while Isobel Kuiper was enormous around the stoppages.