GLENELG has thrown a cat amongst the pigeons with a terrific five-point upset win over Sturt in Round 12 of the SANFL Women’s thanks to a remarkable performance from retiring champion Jess Bates. The Bays notched up win number two after coming from behind at three quarter time to post a 4.9 (33) to 4.4 (28) victory.

Bates announced during the week that she would be retiring from SANFL Women’s football at the end of the year, with the Round 12 being Glenelg’s last home match for season. Despite being bottom of the ladder and Sturt needing to win in order to give itself best chance at a top four spot, it was the Bates-inspired Bays who finished in front at the final siren in a remarkable performance.

In a fitting finish to the match, Bates kicked the sealer – her second of the game – with four minutes to play to put her team up by 11 points. Though the returning Alisha Gepp got one back in the last 20 seconds to reduce the damage, but the siren sounded before the Double Blues could sneak a match-winner.

Unsurprisingly Bates lead from the front with 33 disposals, two marks, five tackles, 10 clearances, five inside 50s, three rebound 50s and two goals in a fitting homeground finale to a decorated career. She was not alone, working well with ruck Astrid Gooley who racked up seven clearances alongside seven hitouts working in tandem with Chloe Harding, while skipper Samantha Franson and youngster Asha Dufour were also lively across the ground.

Though inaccurate, key forward Kaitey Whittaker booted 1.4 from nine disposals, three marks – two contested – five tackles and two inside 50s, while Elizabeth Johnson was the other goalkicker for the winners. The win was built off a strong plus-10 clearance differential of (35-25), as well as a commanding plus-14 inside 50 differential (37-23).

For Sturt, Isobel Kuiper (25 disposals, five marks, 14 tackles, three clearances, two inside 50s and four rebound 50s) and Georgia Swan (24 disposals, two marks, three tackles, six clearances, six inside 50s, two rebound 50s) were consistent through four quarters, working with the returning talents of Gepp (12 disposals, nine tackles and a goal) and ruck Jasmin Fejo (13 disposals, four marks, five tackles, 15 hitouts, three clearances, two inside 50s, two rebound 50s and a goal).

Young gun Lily Whiteman also looked lively all over the ground in the absence of a host of State Academy members, while defender Hannah Prenzler‘s magnificent return to form season continued with 15 disposals, two marks, five tackles and six rebound 50s. The result marked back-to-back losses for Sturt who now sits perilously just two points inside the eight, but with three challenging teams one win away and all having higher percentages.

The Bays round out their season with road trips to Norwood and West Adelaide where they can also dictate who misses finals action, while Sturt now must beat Woodville-West Torrens and North Adelaide to guarantee post-season action.

GLENELG 0.2 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 4.9 (33)
STURT 0.2 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 4.4 (28)

GOALS:
Glenelg: J. Bates 2, K. Whittaker, E. Johnson
Sturt: M. McCarthy, J. Fejo, A. Gepp, G. Swan

RMC BEST:
Glenelg: J. Bates, A. Dufour, A. Gooley, S. Franson, M. Martino
Sturt: I. Kuiper, G. Swan, H. Prenzler, J. Fejo, L. Whiteman