IN what has ultimately been a close South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Women’s season, Round 5 proved to be an outlier, with three games being 50-plus point blowouts. Sturt continued its unbeaten streak with a big win over third placed Norwood, allowing North Adelaide to snatch that position courtesy of victory over Woodville-West Torrens. Meanwhile second placed Glenelg continued on its merry way with a win over Central District, whilst South Adelaide snapped its three-game losing streak to add a fourth straight loss to an understrength West Adelaide outfit. All teams will now have a bye over next weekend before resuming for Round 6 the weekend after.

North Adelaide has gained third spot on the SANFL Women’s ladder with a dominant second half performance against Woodville-West Eagles. The Roosters slammed home seven goals to nil after half-time to shake off a determined Eagles outfit that drew within eight points late in the second term. The North Adelaide juggernaut showed just what it was capable of with the huge third term to hold the Eagles scoreless whilst piling on 5.1 to run away with the 11.5 (71) to 3.2 (20) win.

North Adelaide started in a blaze of gory and had three goals on the board before the Eagles even had an inside 50. Roosters young gun Hannah Ewings was quick out of the blocks with the first inside 50, then ran hard forward to slot a goal around her body. She was followed by Katelyn Pope and Jaimi Tabb who also had clever snaps. When Brianna Arthur marked inside 50 off one of many Jessica Edwards passes, the Roosters were out to a 26-point lead and looking unstoppable. Luckily for the Eagles, they went into the break with a slim bit of momentum, as Brianna Hyde – after pushing up the ground for most of the quarter – kicked one against the tide to cut the quarter time deficit to 20 points.

The second term was the Eagles chance at attacking, and no doubt after making adjustments from a disappointing first quarter, the young team stepped up when it counted. It took a four minutes for Jessica Sedunary to hit up Jordann Hickey with the AFLW-experienced forward making no mistake. Though Kristi Harvey and Ella Metcalfe were terrific in defence, the Eagles created something out of nothing thanks to debutant Klaudia O’Neill. By that stage the deficit was eight points, and though Ewings almost launched a ripper from outside 50, it just missed, and the Roosters headed into the break with a slimmer nine-point lead at half-time.

From there though, it was all the Roosters. North Adelaide slammed home the last seven goals of the game, with Doreena Hansen kicking two, and Ewings, Arthur and Tabb all adding additional majors to their tally. Joining them was young speedster Elaine Grigg, whilst dynamic forward Jade De Melo put the icing on the cake late in the match. Sedunary had a late chance but missed, with the Eagles unable to add to their three majors from the first half in the 51-point loss.

Edwards was a standout for the Roosters, amassing 25 touches, two marks, seven clearances, five tackles, four inside 50s and three rebounds, teaming up well with Ewings (20 disposals, five marks, three tackles, five clearances, four inside 50s and two goals) in the midfield. Megan Ryan worked as a “fourth midfielder” through the ruck, amassing 14 touches, 13 hitouts, six clearances, five tackles and four inside 50s, whilst the defensive combination of Harvey (13 disposals, four marks, five tackles and seven rebounds) and Metcalfe (13 disposals, three marks – two contested – four tackles, three hitouts and three rebound 50s) were strong. Hitting the scoreboard twice, Arthur was another standout with 16 disposals, five marks, five inside 50s and two goals.

The Eagles were down on their regular performance across the board, but captain Annie Falkenberg could hold her head high throughout four quarters, picking up 14 touches, four marks – one contested, two tackles, two clearances and three inside 50s. Ella Little (14 disposals, two marks – both contested – two tackles, two clearances and two inside 50s) continued her good form, whilst Hickey, Sedunary and Hyde were busy up forward, and the duo of Shineah Goody and Marlie Fiegert had moments throughout the match.

North Adelaide takes on Norwood in a massive Friday night clash at Coopers Stadium in just over a week, with the Eagles locking horns with South Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium to complete Round 6 on Saturday, March 19.

WWT EAGLES 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.2 (20)
NORTH ADELAIDE 4.2 | 4.3 | 9.4 | 11.5 (71)

GOALS:

Eagles: J. Hickey, B. Hyde, K. O’Neill
North: H. Ewings 2, D. Hansen 2, B. Arthur 2, J. Tabb 2, E. Grigg, J. De Melo, K. Pope

RMC BEST:

Eagles: A. Falkenberg, J. Hickey, J. Sedunary, E. Little, B. Hyde
North: J. Edwards, H. Ewings, K. Harvey, B. Arthur, E. Metcalfe

Reigning premiers Glenelg has won its third consecutive game – and fourth from five this season – by putting away Central District in a strong four quarter performance. The Bays held the Bulldogs goalless in the first term, and then restricted the home side to just one major per quarter as they stormed to a 57-point win, 12.7 (79) to 3.5 (23).

Glenelg was on top from the get-goal, with Jessica Bates on fire, and Samantha Franson involved early with a dribble kick for Chelsea Packer to snap the side’s first. Molly Scott had a massive chance 10m out on a tight angle but missed, with Bates soon involved in a great pass to an unmanned Piper Window in the goalsquare. Central District had a couple of forward chances with Laitiah Huynh registering the first inside 50, and Amber James adding the Bulldogs’ sole behind. After about six minutes of back and fourths, it was captain Ellie Kellock and Tessa Kohn who added their names to the goalkicking list, and the Tigers lead by 26 points at the first break.

Bates’ first quarter form continued into the second term, setting up a neat pass to Jess Searle who got it to Franson. Though the athletic forward dropped the mark, she recovered and kicked truly to stretch the margin 30 points. A couple of minutes later, Central would be on the board with Georgia McKee swooping in on a loose ball in the goalsquare, and reducing the margin back to 24 points. Unfortunately the Dogs would not be celebrating for long, as Glenelg immediately came up with the response through Grace Duffy. Though both sides had chances for the rest of the term – including Searle, Window and Caitlen Teague – the half would end with Glenelg leading by 34 points.

The home crowd really got up and about in the opening minutes of the third term when Bulldogs captain Shelby Smith hit up Paige Allan got one-on-one front position 20m out straight in front. Unfortunately the set shot missed to the right. The next chance came via Glenelg, with Bates intercepting a Charlotte Riggs inside the Bays’ forward 50 to send it over the goal umpire’s head, and then Caitlyn Swanson nailed her first of the match. Though Allan was on target for the Bulldogs’ second major, a later major to Swanson – making it back-to-back for her side – extended the lead out to 44 points at the final break.

Glenelg really controlled the early stages of the final term, with Kohn having some chances, but then won it close to the boundary line, turned her opponent inside out and ran into the goalsquare to slam it home and bring up the 50-point lead. The Bulldogs fan did have a reason to cheer with a great play on the wing from Huynh on the wing and kick it to Demi Sonneman who set up to Caitlin Wendland to snap the home side’s third of the day. Despite this, the Bays capped off the win with the last two goals of the day through Packer and Searle to run out 56-point victors.

Bates racked up 22 disposals, three marks – one contested – 10 tackles, four clearances, five inside 50s, two rebound 50s and a goal in the win, clearly standing out across four quarters. Kohn spent more time forward and slotted two goals form 17 touches and three marks, whilst Duffy had 15 disposals, four tackles and a goal.

Glenelg will face the struggling West Adelaide at Hisense Stadium on Friday, March 18, whilst Central District takes on Sturt at Thebarton Oval the following day. Packer (two goals from 14 touches and four inside 50s) and Swanson (two goals from 13 touches and four marks) both hit the scoreboard multiple times, whilst Sheridan Howell (13 disposals, three marks – one contested – and five rebound 50s) was rock solid in defence.

CENTRAL DISTRICT 0.1 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 3.5 (23)
GLENELG 4.3 | 6.6 | 9.6 | 12.7 (79)

GOALS:

Central: P. Allan, C. Wendland, G. McKee
Glenelg: T. Kohn 2, C. Packer 2, C. Swanson 2, S. Franson, J. Searle, J. Bates, G. Duffy, P. Window, E. Kellock

RMC BEST:

Central: C. Teague, L. Huynh, G. McKee, S. Smith, K. Searle
Glenelg: J. Bates, C. Packer, T. Kohn, C. Swanson, S. Howell

After a number of recent tight tussles and lower scoring battles, South Adelaide unleashed its offensive side against un understrength West Adelaide outfit. Both sides headed into the contest coming off three consecutive losses, and were desperate for a win, but the visitors had to do with nine forced changes thanks to COVID-19 Heath and Safety Protocols, concussion, suspension and other injuries, therefore welcoming in a host of fresh faces. South Adelaide made sure to take full advantage from the opening bounce, taking control in the first half and eventually running away with the 9.10 (64) to 4.4 (28) victory.

West Adelaide had the first shot on goal through Sarah Campbell who missed, and then going up the other end, the exciting Jess Waterhouse finished off a play of hard running by midfielder Nicole Campbell. With Campbell and Nikki Gore controlling the midfield, the Panthers added two more goals for the term, with young gun Shae Archbold kicking the first of what would be four goals in the match, and Caitlin Radbone converting late in the quarter to answer Tasmanian inclusion Lily Johnston‘s first goal in the red and black.

The Panthers lead by 14 points at quarter time with Gypsy Schirmer and Jaslynne Smith busy in the back 50. Though it was West Adelaide who would strike first through Melanie Elsegood thanks to a 25m set shot. South Adelaide was down a player on the bench, with Shannon Hanning having to be helped off after a collision. When challenged by Elsegood’s major, the Panthers went bang, bang, bang and reeled off three consecutive goals heading into half-time, with Waterhouse creating for both Archbold and Tahlita Buethke, with teh former heading into the main break with three goals to her name.

Though the West defence was trying hard through the likes of Madelyn Zacher and Madison Russell, the Panthers kept the pressure up, kicking the only goal of the third term coming late with a great mark from Archbold to convert the set shot. For her fourth. With a narrow miss from Waterhouse just before the end, the home team lead by 35 points and looked home and hosed with a quarter to play.

Zoe Venning gave the Bloods the smallest of sniffs with a major six and a half minutes into the last quarter, but it would prove to not be enough as Buethke kicked two goals in as many minutes to make it three in total, and blowing the lead out to a game-high 41 points. Though Johnston would kick her second for. the Bloods, it only stemmed the eventual deficit a little, going down by 36 points in what turned out to be the closest game of the round.

Gore had a day out with 27 disposals, 13 tackles, four clearances and three inside 50s, with Buethke (17 disposals, three marks – one contested – nine tackles, two inside 50s and 3.2) and Archbold (10 disposals, three marks – two contested – seven tackles and 4.2) both being dominant in front of the big sticks. Campbell (20 disposals, four marks, six tackles, three clearances, five inside 50s and three rebound 50s) and Nari Wright (19 disposals, eight tackles, four clearances and three inside 50s) and Schirmer (18 disposals, five marks, three tackles, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s) all shared the load.

The defence of Zacher (16 disposals, three tackles and two rebound 50s) and Russell (13 disposals, two marks – one contested – six tackles, two hitouts and three rebound 50s) tried hard, with Keeley Kustermann (18 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances and five inside 50s) finding plenty of the ball alongside Venning (16 disposals, 13 tackles, two clearances, four inside 50s and a goal, whilst Beatrice Devlyn (12 disposals, 10 tackles, three clearances and four inside 50s) was also consistent once again.

South Adelaide hosts Woodville-West Torrens on Saturday, March 19 back at Noarlunga, whilst West Adelaide welcomes Glenelg to Hisense Stadium in a Grand Final rematch on Friday, March 19.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 3.3 | 6.4 | 7.8 | 9.10 (64)
WEST ADELAIDE 1.1 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 4.4 (28)

GOALS:

South: S. Archbold 4, T. Buethke 3, J. Waterhouse, C. Radbone
West: L. Johnston 2, M. Elsegood, Z. Venning

RMC BEST:

South: N. Campbell, N. Gore, T. Buethke, S. Archbold, N. Wright
West: M. Zacher, B. Devlyn, M. Russell, K. Kustermann, Z. Venning

After an even first half, undefeated ladder leaders Sturt put Norwood to the sword to send a message to the rest of the SANFL Women’s competition. The Redlegs were coming off three consecutive wins, whilst Sturt was yet to lose in four matches. After what looked like a very even first half – even though Sturt had its lionshare of the chances – the Double Blues went up a gear in the second half to slot home nine goals to one and run away with a 52-point win, 11.5 (71) to 2.7 (19).

The first half was predominantly an arm-wrestle with both defences holding up nicely. It looked like Sturt had come to play when the creative Georgia Bevan hit Amy Brooks-Birve in the goalsquare one-on-one and she turned around to goal three minutes into the match. Norwood speedster Tesharna Maher looked lively and had all the time in the world running into goal not long after, but she was unaware of the fact, just rushing the kick at the end and it going wide. Sturt continued to attack, but could not quite convert, with Morgan Johnston winning everything, and Kiera Mueller was incredible off the opposite half-back flank.

Sturt continued to have a number of chances early, with Abbey Rigter, Alysha Healy and Georgia Swan all missing shots on goal. Eventually the wright of numbers won out though, with Healy winning one off a pack to run into goal and extend the Double Blues lead to 14 at the seven minute mark. Sturt maintained a dominance with double the inside 50s, but against the flow, Alana Lishmund got on the end of a lovely Lana Schwerdt pass, and cut the half-time deficit back to eight points.

Just over 30 seconds into the second half and Bevan was on the board off a long Swan inside 50, and Sturt was already in control. Luckily for Norwood, Lishmund would reply for her second off the Redlegs’ best passage of play after some speed from Sarah Branford found Jade Halfpenny at centre half-forward and she hit up Lishmund to nail the major. From that point on though, it was all the Double Blues. They piled one the last eight goals of the game – including a run of 7.1 to 0.0 in just 20 minutes of play – to all but slam the door shut on any Norwood resistance.

In that time, Ally Ladas kicked two – and a third later in the final quarter – with Healy, Brooks-Birve, Jasmyn Hewett, Alisha Gepp and AFLW inclusion Angela Foley all getting their names on the goalkickers list. Norwood managed to add four consecutive behinds in the space of a few minutes midway through the final quarter – including two to youngster Molly Brooksby – who remained lively, but it was a case of too little, too late, going down in a big loss.

Hewett once again took control in the ruck with 17 disposals, four marks – two contested – four tackles, 24 hitouts, three clearances, four inside 50s and a goal. Swan (21 disposals, two marks – one contested – eight inside 50s) and Gepp (20 disposals, three inside 05s and three rebound 50s) found plenty of the ball, as did the experienced Foley (24 disposals, four marks – one contested – six tackles, three clearances, six inside 50s and a goal. Bevan (14 disposals, five marks, six tackles, two inside 50s, two rebound 50s and a goal), Lynch (16 disposals, two marks, seven tackles, five clearances and five inside 50s) and Ladas (three goals from nine touches mostly in the second half) also stood out in the big win.

Schwerdt was the top ball-winner for the Redlegs with 19 touches, also laying nine tackles, and having four clearances and four inside 50s. Johnston (17 disposals, three marks – one contested – three inside 50s and four rebound 50s) teamed up well with captain Alison Ferrall (15 disposals, six marks – two contested and five rebound 50s), whilst Sachi Syme (17 disposals, eight tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s) and Brooksby (12 disposals, three tackles, two clearances and three behinds) were both lively.

Sturt will head back to Thebarton Oval next round when it hosts Central District on March 19, whilst Norwood takes on the red-hot North Adelaide at Coopers Stadium in another Friday night clash at The Parade.

NORWOOD 0.1 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 2.7 (19)
STURT 1.1 | 2.4 | 7.5 | 11.5 (71)

GOALS:

Norwood: A. Lishmund 2
Sturt: A. Ladas 3, A. Brooks-Birve 2, A. Healy 2, G. Bevan, A. Foley, A. Gepp, J. Hewett

RMC BEST:

Norwood: L. Schwerdt, S. Syme, M. Johnson, A. Ferrall, M. Brooksby
Sturt: J. Hewett, G. Swan, G. Bevan, E. Lynch, A. Foley