JUST two points separates second from sixth following Round 6 of the SANFL Women’s as the mid-table logjam continues to make each match of crucial importance. While Glenelg’s win over Norwood gained some breathing space at the top of the table, South Adelaide and Central District moved to 4-2 for the year, while Woodville-West Torrens’ win saw it rise to fifth, just percentage outside fourth spot.

>> MOTR: Glenelg 8.4 (52) defeated Norwood 7.6 (48)

Teenage trio spearheads Bulldogs’ big win

Central District enjoyed the return of star AFLW draft prospect Georgia McKee to League level with the talented small slotting four goals and working well in tandem with fellow young guns, Jasmine Evans and Sophie Eaton who kicked a couple each in the Dogs’ 9.9 (63) to 3.5 (23) victory over West Adelaide.

The win saw the Bulldogs moved to third on the table, boasting both the highest score for, and highest score conceded in the 2024 season. The result could have been even more one-sided had Katelyn Rosenzweig – who was still dominant in her own right – kicked a few more of her six behinds to go with her one goal.

In the end, the firepower up front was the difference for the Dogs, but they also got on top through the hitouts (46-19), clearances (30-18) and inside 50s (31-20) to get their season back to a positive 4-2 win-loss record. The likes of Shelby Smith (25 disposals, seven marks, 11 tackles, eight clearance and three inside 50s) and Caitlin Wendland (14 disposals, five tackles, eight clearances and three inside 50s) were key in getting ahead on-ball, while Charlotte Riggs had 16 hitouts to go with her 13 disposals playing through the ruck,.

For the Bloods the defeat marked their third consecutive loss, and while midfielders Hannah Button (20 disposals, eight marks, 11 tackles, three clearances and four inside 50s) and Zoe Venning (19 disposals, five marks, six tackles and four clearances) were superb, the slow start cost the visitors, with just one goal kicked outside the second term as well.

CENTRAL DISTRICT 3.3 | 5.7 | 7.7 | 9.9 (63)
WEST ADELAIDE 0.0 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 3.5 (23)

GOALS:
Central District: G. McKee 4, S. Eaton 2, J. Evans 2, K. Rosenzweig
West Adelaide: P. Allan, N. Hooper, E. Maxwell

RMC BEST:
Central District: S. Smith, K. Rosenzweig, J. Evans, C. Wendland, G. McKee
West Adelaide: H. Button, Z. Venning. E. Kilpatrick. M. Russell, O. Smith

Eagles soar in battle of the birds

A McKenzie Dowrick-inspired Woodville-West Torrens outfit ran away with an eight-goal win over North Adelaide to move just percentage outside the top four and hand the Roosters their sixth straight loss in the process. Dowrick kicked three final term goals to put an exclamation mark on the performance and ice the most delicious cake for the victors in an 8.10 (58) to 1.4 (10) victory.

North Adelaide was within 20 points at the final change, and while the Eagles looked on top for the most part, it was Dowrick’s triple treat – as well as a nice goal from bottom-ager Imogen Trengove that essentially sealed the result.

The home side dominated the inside 50s count (43-16), and while the likes of Roosters trio Kristi Harvey (20 disposals, five marks – two contested – and 11 rebound 50s), Laela Ebert (17 disposals, five rebound 50s) and Sarah Steele-Park (16 disposals, four rebound 50s) all tried hard, the numbers eventually won out.

Woodville-West Torrens’ ruck Leah Cutting dominated her less experienced opponents, racking up 20 disposals to go with 30 hitouts, eight marks, eight tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s in a best on ground performance. She gave silver service to teenage duo Grace Martin and Marlie Fiegert who combined for 43 disposals and 11 clearances.

The win – which was built off the back of pressure and ball movement once again – moved the Eagles to a 3-3 win-loss record in the season, and with eight more rounds still to come, Woodville-West Torrens would be optimistic of a best-ever season which is currently three wins and a draw from last year.

For North Adelaide, the loss saw the Roosters slip to 0-6 in the season, and two wins off seventh. They will be keen to find some form in the second half of the year, with the even season providing hope for those teams having slow starts.

WWT EAGLES 0.3 | 2.6 | 4.6 | 8.10 (58)
NORTH ADELAIDE 0.0 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.4 (10)

GOALS:
WWT Eagles: M. Dowrick 3, C. Mitchell 2, I. Trengove, B. Walling, R. Zerella
North Adelaide: T. Hatchard

RMC BEST:
WWT Eagles: L. Cutting, G. Martin, M. Fiegert, M. Dowrick. A. Falkenberg
North Adelaide: K. Harvey, E. Quinn. L. Ebert, A. Crooks, S. Steele-Park

Panthers pack punch with Double Blues defeat

South Adelaide’s red-hot form continued with the Panthers notching up their fourth straight win, defeating Sturt by nine points at Thebarton Oval. In a tale of two halves largely, South Adelaide set up the game with a four-goal second term, and while they only kicked 1.,4 for the other three quarters, it was enough to see off the Double Blues, 5.4 (34) to 3.7 (25).

Sturt had its own opportunities early but could not capitalised and were punished in the second quarter, before having some life breathed into the Double Blues’ chances. Midway through the third term the Double Blues trailed by 19 points, but goals to Summer Ross and captain Kate Harris steadied the ship to cut the deficit to seven points.

Unfortunately for the home side, Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap wasted no time responding early in the fourth, kicking a major as she had in the first few minutes of the second term to give her side breathing space. From there, South did what it does best, controlling tempo and field position and while a Georgia Swan goal with four minutes to go left some margin for possibilities, the Panthers were too disciplined and composed to let the game slip.

South Adelaide ruck Soriah Moon had a simply ridiculous 46 hitouts to go with 15 disposals, five marks – one contested – six tackles and five clearances in the win, while midfielders Jordann Hickey, Nikki Nield and Nicole Campbell all contributed with a stack of the ball. Lily Baxter (15 disposals, five marks and a goal) also caught the eye.

For the Double Blues, bottom-ager Monique Bessen had the ball on a string with 32 touches, eight marks – one contested – seven tackles and five clearances, while India Rasheed and Harris were both strong. Swan was silky with her disposal throughout the contest in the forward half, while Georgia King provided a target inside 50.

STURT 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 3.7 (25)
SOUTH ADELAIDE 0.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 5.4 (34)

GOALS:
Sturt: K. Harris, S. Ross, G. Swan
South Adelaide: Laq. Cockatoo-Motlap 2, L. Baxter, E. Brockhurst, J. Hooper

RMC BEST:
Sturt: M. Bessen, G. Swan, K. Harris, I. Rasheed, G. King
South Adelaide: S. Moon, Laq. Cockatoo-Motlap, J. Hickey, N. Nield, L. Baxter