STURT has earned its second drawn result of the season in as many attempts at Coopers Stadium, with West Adelaide and the Double Blues unable to be separated in the Energised Round’s afternoon fixture, finishing locked at 2.3 (15) apiece. In a low-scoring, pressure-filled contest played in less-than-ideal conditions at The Parade, Sturt once again showed the blue-collar resilience that has come to define Ange Foley’s early tenure, while the Bloods were left rue another occasion that slipped through their fingers.

Summer Ross opened the scoring with a composed finish from in the first term on her preferred left side, giving Sturt an early foothold before Jemma Ellis capitalised on a Double Blues turnover, to draw West within two at the main break. Chelsea Newitt extended the Bloods’ lead to eight points early in the third quarter, looking as though West might finally put some daylight between themselves and their opponents, only for Double Blues midfielder Gemma Grivell to kick her first goal in the SANFLW to bring Sturt within two points at the final change.

The Double Blues had their chances early in the fourth with a couple of behinds to draw level, before Georgia King had a chance within her range but drifted badly in the breeze and missed altogether, while a Newitt attempt for her second late in the game was smothered with the ball locked in West Adelaide’s half for the final couple of minutes. When the siren sounded, it marked an incredible second draw for the Double Blues, while West Adelaide completed its set of a win, loss and now draw from its three games.

Zoe Venning was characteristically brilliant for the Bloods, amassing 29 disposals, eight tackles, seven inside 50s and six clearances in a performance that reaffirmed why she holds the league’s best and fairest crown. Iilish Ross was equally relentless through the midfield with 22 disposals, 10 tackles and eight clearances, while National Academy member Emily Mableson – back in the side after missing Round 2 – contributed 10 tackles in her return and Tess Huxtable dominated the ruck with 42 hitouts.

Young guns Sarah Deed (17 disposals, 2 marks – one contested – three tackles, two clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s) and Newitt (nine disposals, three marks, eight tackles and a goal) were also lively.

For Sturt, Isobel Kuiper continued her outstanding early-season form with 24 disposals and 13 tackles, while Georgia Swan added 21 disposals, nine tackles and five marks in an industrious performance. Lily Whiteman laid 10 tackles and Claudia Edmonds contributed 15 disposals as the Double Blues continued to demonstrate the pressure and cohesion that has made them notoriously difficult to break down. Exciting youngster Madeline Nuss also looked dangerous, clunking two contested marks from her three, as well as having 10 touches, laying four tackles and recording three inside 50s.

The result leaves Sturt with one win and two draws from three matches – a curious record that nonetheless earns them four competition points and keeps them competitive heading into the second month of the season.

WEST ADELAIDE 0.0 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 (15)
STURT 1.0 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 (15)

GOALS:
West Adelaide: J. Ellis, C. Newitt
Sturt: S. Ross, G. Grivell

RMC BEST:
West Adelaide: Z. Venning, I. Ross, S. Deed, C. Newitt, E. Mableson
Sturt: I. Kuiper, G. Swan, L. Whiteman, C. Edmonds, G. Grivell

AROUND THE GROUNDS

North Adelaide recorded its first win of the season in impressive fashion, defeating reigning premiers South Adelaide by six points, 4.6 (30) to 3.6 (24) in the second game of the Energised Round at Coopers Stadium. Aprille Crooks, Keira Copeland and Zara Molloy — who would go on to kick two — got the Roosters away to an excellent opening term, and the lead proved enough to hold as the Panthers trimmed the margin through Olivia Evans (two goals) and Tabitha Prosser, but couldn’t quite complete the comeback.

North Adelaide defender Jamie Parish (19 disposals, three marks, four tackles and nine rebound 50s) was huge, while Ella Metcalfe (15 disposals, four marks – one contested – and five rebound 50s) also impressed. Layla Vizgaudis worked hard as ever for South with 25 disposals, four tackles and four clearances, while Holly Ifould (22 disposals, six marks, four inside 50s) and Caitlin Couch (six marks) were among the best for the Panthers in a rare defeat for a side that had won its opening two. South Adelaide’s three-peat ambitions remain very much alive, but North will take enormous confidence from stopping the competition’s form team.

Woodville-West Torrens recorded a 15-point win over Central District in a tough slog to remain undefeated in the 2026 SANFLW season. The Eagles got up 8.7 (55) to 5.10 (40), kicking four goals to one in the opening term and holding onto that advantage from there. Alice Tentye recorded 24 disposals, three marks, 10 tackles, two clearances and four inside 50s in the win, while bottom-age midfielder Maia Freemantle (16 disposals, six tackles, seven clearances, two inside 50s, three rebound 50s) was lively and Klaudia O’Neill (eight disposals, four marks – two contested – and four goals) continued her ripping form.

National Academy member Miyu Endersby returned to the Bulldogs following her National Academy absence in Round 2 with 45 hitouts from 11 disposals through the ruck. Dakota Williams was relentless in her pressure (12 tackles from 18 disposals and four clearances) and Aoife Berry damaging across half-forward with 19 disposals, seven inside 50s and six tackles. Lauren Breguet (20 disposals, four marks, four tackles and two goals) was lively in front of goal.

Norwood put on its most convincing performance of the season to close out the Energised Round under the Coopers Stadium lights, accounting for Glenelg by 40 points, 7.13 (55) to 2.3 (15). After Kori Webb kicked the Bays’ opener to get things underway, Elle Lineage levelled before a Cassie McWilliam goal briefly returned the lead to Glenelg in the second term. From the seventh minute of the second quarter, the Redlegs kicked six unanswered goals through Mykaela Walker, Steph Simmonds (two), Nicola Burns and Lani Cocks to put the game beyond doubt.

Norwood skipper Jade Halfpenny was the standout with 28 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances and five marks, while Cocks (26 disposals, 10 inside 50s, seven tackles), Ashley Baker (11 tackles, five clearances) and Amy Gaedtke (25 hitouts, six tackles) were all excellent for the winners. Glenelg battled to the end but a third consecutive loss leaves the Bays yet to win a game this season, despite some genuinely competitive performances suggesting a breakthrough is not far away. Isla Wiencke (26 disposals, three marks, eight tackles and six clearances) and Georgie Fielder (22 disposals, four marks, six tackles, four clearances and three inside 50s) were the Bays’ best.