IT HAS been a long time coming, but North Adelaide finally had something to cheer about in the 2024 SANFL Women’s season, taking home its first win this year after defeating Woodville-West Torrens by 11 points at Prospect Oval on Saturday.

The Roosters started strongly to kick the first three goals of the match and lead 19-0 midway through the second term, but never quite struck the final blow in that time. Woodville-West Torrens had its fair share of chances but kicked 2.3 across the middle two quarters, but did keep the Roosters scoreless for about 40 minutes.

Just when the gap closed to four points at the last change, the Roosters found a hero in Djimila Totham who put her side more than a kick in front, a goal which turned out to be the only major of the final quarter. The sole other score was a behind to Tayla Gordon as the home side’s defence worked overtime after the first 25 minutes of the match to hold on dearly and secure the win.

it has been a tough season for the Roosters going 0-9 to start the year and coach Jason Fairall stepping down mid-week, replaced by assistant Kelly Barltrop as interim coach. As can often be the case with a coaching change, the Roosters found a new spark, and got on top from the start.

While it was not completely convincing for four quarters, they did enough, and the bookend quarters were exactly what North Adelaide needed to get the job done. The win was a confidence boost for the red and white, while for the Eagles, it was devastating and just about put a line through their finals chances. They sit two and a half games off four spot with four matches remaining, essentially having to win the last month of games and hope results go their way.

Top-age draft prospect Laela Ebert led the way with 25 disposals, six marks, two clearances, two inside 50s and two rebound 50s. One of the most eye-catching performers who put her case in for Goal of the Year was Aprille Crooks as she weaved through traffic ran forward to win it back and slotted it with great composure.

The pair along with the likes of Totham (18 disposals, 10 tackles, five clearances and three inside 50s) and leaders, Jessica Edwards (23 disposals, six tackles and five rebound 50s) and Kristi Harvey (17 disposals, five marks and six rebound 50s) all among the best.

For the Eagles, the midfield of Marlie Fiegert (28 disposals, five marks, five tackles, six clearances and six inside 50s) and Poppy Waterford (16 disposals, seven tackles, three clearances and two inside 50s) were sensational, while ruck Leah Cutting notched up a dominant 21-disposal, 36-hitout game.

NORTH ADELAIDE 2.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 4.2 (26)
WWT EAGLES 0.0 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 (15)

GOALS:
North Adelaide: T. Gordon, I. Buckskin-James, A. Crooks, D. Totham
WWT Eagles: A. Gooley, R. Zerella

RMC BEST:
North Adelaide: L. Ebert, A. Crooks, J. Edwards, D. Totham, K. Harvey
WWT Eagles: M. Fiegert, L. Cutting, P. Waterford, A. Falkenberg, R. Zerella

Panthers run away against depleted Double Blues

South Adelaide made the most of a Sturt side missing its two star youngsters in India Rasheed and Monique Bessen, kicking the last four goals of the game and keeping the Double Blues to just three behinds in the last three quarters to win by 21 points.

It was a dour struggle throughout the contest, with South Adelaide always seemingly having the edge, but just unable to really put it through the big sticks. To the final break despite having the majority of chances, the Panthers kicked 2.6 to 1.1 and left the door ajar for the visitors. In the end, goals to teenagers Melissa Anderson and Emma Charlton sealed the game with the Panthers getting up. 4.6 (30) to 1.3 (9).

It was an eye-catching display from the South Adelaide midfield, with the likes of Caitlin Couch (27 disposals, five marks, five tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s), Nikki Nield (26 disposals, three marks, nine tackles, six clearances and two inside 50s) and Jordann Hickey (23 disposals, eight marks, four tackles, two clearances, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s) all prominent. Ruck Soriah Moon was outstanding with 35 hitouts from 16 disposals, while Esther Schirmer (16 disposals, six marks) intercepted everything.

In the absence of the young guns, Sturt’s more experienced midfielder had to stand up as Isobel Kuiper and skipper Kate Harris shared in 45 disposals, 18 tackles, nine clearances and seven inside 50s. Claudia Edmonds impressed yet again, while the tenacious Alisha Gepp laid 14 tackles and had five clearances to her 12 disposals.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 0.3 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 4.6 (30)
STURT 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.3 (9)

GOALS:
South Adelaide: M. Anderson, E. Charlton, D. Hansen. J. Hooper
Sturt: G. King

RMC BEST:
South Adelaide: C. Couch, N. Nield, J. Hickey, S. Moon, E. Schirmer
Sturt: I. Kuiper, K. Harris. C. Edmonds, A. Gepp, J. Fejo

Ground-Dog Day for Central District

Every week seems to be a different variation of the same result, which is good news for Central District after the Bulldogs won another close one, this time against West Adelaide at Hisense Stadium. In this week’s nail-biter, the Dogs had to come from behind at half-time, went 14 points ahead at the final break ad then held on as the Bloods attacked to the end before closing out a 5.4 (34) to 4.4 (28) victory.

The Bulldogs dominated the first term to have 10 inside 50s to two, but only led by two points at quarter time after goals to Katelyn Rosenzweig and Lucy Waye cancelled each other out. West Adelaide adjusted well in the second term to hit the front, via a Hannah Button goal, while two majors to Rosenzweig in the third – as well as a clever snap by Laitiah Huynh – pushed the lead out to as much as 15 points late in the premiership quarter.

West Adelaide did the bulk of the attacking the final stanza and did well not to concede anything in the last quarter, but could only add one more major to Nicole Hooper – her second of the game – in that time. For the last 13 minutes, it was a complete armwrestle with both sides having opportunities, but ultimately the score ending with the Bulldogs six points to the good.

Top-age ruck Charlotte Riggs starred in the win, having 18 disposals, 17 hitouts, three marks – two contested – seven clearances and three inside 50s, while skipper Shelby Smith recorded 23 disposals, 11 tackles and eight clearances. Winger Huynh, defender Mikaylah Antony and inside midfielder Jovanka Zecevic were among the best.

For the Bloods, Lucy Boyd and Emma Kilpatrick combined well turning defence into offence, with 39 disposals, eight marks, 13 tackles and six inside 50s between them. Zoe Venning, Button and Waye were also among the better West Adelaide players in a hard-fought loss.

WEST ADELAIDE 1.0 | 2.1 | 3.2 | 4.4 (28)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 1.2 | 1.4 | 5.4 | 5.4 (34)

GOALS:
West Adelaide: N. Hooper 2, H. Button, L. Waye
Central District: K. Rosenzweig, L. Huynh, L. Breguet

RMC BEST:
West Adelaide: L. Boyd. E. Kilpatrick. L. Waye, Z. Venning, H. Button
Central District: C. Riggs, S. Smith, M. Antony, L. Huynh, J. Zecevic