WEST ADELAIDE’s finals aspirations got a little bit brighter on the weekend with a nail-biting one-point win over Norwood to move up to fifth and sit just two points outside the SANFL Women’s top four. The Bloods were forced to come from seven points down at the final break with a match-levelling Lucy Waye goal followed by a “handy point” off the boot of Zoe Venning to secure victory in the club’s 100th SANFLW match.

Two sides who were still in post-season contention thanks to both Sturt and Central District dropping games in the past fortnight, the winner of West Adelaide and Norwood would move up to fifth given the Double Blues had held out the Bulldogs in the earlier match that finished on Saturday. In what was a topsy-turvy match, West Adelaide lead by as much as 12 points at one stage, but three consecutive third quarter goals to the visitors handed them a seven-point buffer at the final break.

The damage could have been worse had Lana Schwerdt kicked truly from her set shot on the siren, but fortunately for the home side it missed. However also missing a shot that was well in her repertoire was the talented Hannah Button just two minutes into the final term. That put the sides back within a kick, and when Waye filled the attacking hole for a quick kick into the hotspot, the talented top-ager went back and iced the set shot without any worries.

For the next eight minutes, the sides were level and both teams were desperately trying not to allow the other to score. But West was doing the bulk of the attacking. A couple of chances went begging with Chelsea Newitt having a brief look under immense pressure before her snap sailed out on teh full and the Redlegs back five was up to the task as they had been against Central District a week earlier.

However in this clash, it would be West, through the avenue of Venning who earned a free kick 25m out from goal, that would ultimately have the last laugh. The experienced midfielder went back with her shot on target in the 16th minute, only for it to be touched on the line. That was enough to put her side in front though, and despite Norwood’s best efforts, the Bloods were able to keep forward half possession and close out the game with a potentially season-defining win.

There were six lead changes through a match which saw 10 goals kicked, including Norwood turning a 12-point deficit – from when Under 16s talent Sarah Deed kicked West Adelaide’s fourth goal of the contest just two minutes into the third term – into a seven-point lead. Through Charli Hazelhurst, Sharmaine Crosby and Kiana Lee – the latter of whom kicked her second for the contest – Norwood surged into the lead ahead of the final term.

But alas for the Redlegs, the match would go the way of the Bloods in what was a contest between two evenly matched sides giving it their all for 80 minutes. The win marked West Adelaide’s second consecutive victory, which of course came following six consecutive losses that had the team anchored in the bottom three. Now, West Adelaide is up to fifth with a clearly better percentage than fourth placed Sturt.

It was no surprise that the three involved in the West Adelaide scoring late were their side’s best, with Waye (21 disposals, five marks – one contested – six tackles, seven clearances and a goal), Button (21 disposals, nine tackles, 10 clearances and two behinds) and Venning (27 disposals, three marks, four tackles, seven clearances and two inside 50s) all standouts for the winners. In her 50th SANFLW match, Madi Russell played a key role in defence as per usual, while the likes of Ruby Ballard, Emily Mableson and Chloe Tonkin were all terrific as well.

For the Redlegs, Lee was a threat up forward with two goals from 13 disposals and seven marks – two contested – also dropping behind the ball when required. Meanwhile up the other end and playing higher up, Georgie Jaques clunked four contested marks from a total of seven, laid five tackles and had 16 disposals and eight hitouts in the loss. Jade Halfpenny, Schwerdt and Candice Belbin all worked hard through the middle, while Charlee Brooksby was smooth off half-back.

West Adelaide faces the rampaging South Adelaide who has eight wins on the trot next week down at Noarlunga, before a top of the table clash against the Eagles the following week. Norwood simply must beat Sturt next weekend or it is curtains on the Redlegs’ finals chances with a loss there putting a three-win gap between the sides with that many games remaining.

WEST ADELAIDE 2.1 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 5.4 (34)
NORWOOD 1.1 | 2.2 | 5.3 | 5.3 (33)

GOALS:
West Adelaide: R. Ballard, S. Deed, C. Newitt, C. Tonkin, L. Waye
Norwood: K. Lee 2, S. Crosby, A. Davies, C. Hazelhurst

RMC BEST:
West Adelaide: L. Waye, H. Button, Z. Venning, M. Russell, R. Ballard
Norwood: K. Lee, J. Halfpenny, G. Jaques, L. Schwerdt, C. Brooksby