WEST Adelaide has secured a hard-fought 16-point victory over Sturt in a foggy, overcast clash at Stratarama Stadium, kicking away in the second half to win 4.13 (37) to 3.3 (21). The Round 10 match opened a “Super Saturday” of action where all four games were played back-to-back at the venue.

Sturt exploded out of the blocks early. The Double Blues went inside 50 where Ruby Cunningham pounced to slot a goal just two minutes in. Moments later, Madeline Nuss gathered the ball, took a bounce, sidestepped a teammate who almost got in the way, and snapped a quick goal to give Sturt a 13-0 lead within five minutes. West Adelaide peppered the goals late in the term, with Zara Downes having a shot marked on the goal line by Gypsy Schirmer, before another quick kick hit the post. Scarlett Blethyn also hit the post from a long-range set shot after the quarter-time siren.

The second quarter saw both teams create early chances. West Adelaide looked to rush the ball forward quickly, while Sturt was content to slow the play down with a kick-mark style. After a scoreless bulk of the quarter, West Adelaide finally broke through in the 17th minute when Jemima Woods kicked an incredible goal from the pocket, cutting the margin to three points at the main break.

West Adelaide took control in the third term, starting with the first centre clearance through Emily Mableson. The Bloods locked the ball in their forward 50, and after Mableson hit the post on her opposite foot, Adrienne Davies won a free kick 15 metres out directly in front and converted to give West the lead. Against the momentum, Sturt managed to get the ball inside 50 where Georgia King got goalside, ran in over the back, and kicked a major to snatch back a one-point lead. However, West responded late in the term. A lovely pass from Zoe Venning found Sarah Deed on a lead, and while her kick fell short, Sarah Campbell was there to snap a goal and put the Bloods up by six points at the final change.

The final quarter was played almost entirely in West Adelaide’s attacking half. The Bloods peppered the goals, adding a string of behinds before Campbell found Molly Petersen at the top of the goal square for the sealing goal. Sturt tried to mount a late charge, but West Adelaide’s defence held firm, killing time off the clock to secure the 37-21 win.

For West Adelaide, Woods was a constant threat with 19 disposals, four marks, three tackles, three inside 50s, and 1.2. Mableson was immense in the clinches, gathering 18 disposals, four marks, 12 tackles, four clearances, and five inside 50s. Madi Russell controlled the back half with 18 disposals, six marks, and eight rebound 50s, while Venning laid a staggering 13 tackles to go with her 16 disposals and six clearances. Ruck duo Jemma Ellis and Tess Huxtable dominated the hitouts, combining for 56 against Sturt’s Alex Pearce (23).

Isobel Kuiper was clearly Sturt’s best, amassing a game-high 28 disposals, 11 tackles, and six clearances. Hannah Prenzler (15 disposals, seven rebound 50s) and Schirmer (nine disposals, four rebound 50s) battled hard in defence under immense pressure. Georgia Swan (14 disposals, three clearances, five inside 50s) and Grace Powell (11 disposals, four tackles, four rebound 50s) also contributed.

STURT 2.1 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 3.3 (21)
WEST ADELAIDE 0.2 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 4.13 (37)

GOALS:
Sturt: R. Cunningham, M. Nuss, G. King
West Adelaide: J. Woods, A. Davies, S. Campbell, M. Peterson

RMC BEST:
Sturt: I. Kuiper, H. Prenzler, G. Swan, G. Powell, G. Schirmer
West Adelaide: E. Mableson, J. Woods, M. Russell, Z. Venning, A. Davies

AROUND THE GROUNDS

North Adelaide kept its finals dreams well and truly alive with a stunning 33-point victory over Woodville-West Torrens. Incredibly, the previously undefeated Eagles have now dropped two on the trot, suffering an 8.5 (53) to 3.2 (20) loss at the hands of the impressive Roosters. While Woodville-West Torrens kicked the opening goal through Cher Waters, back-to-back majors from North skipper Amber Ward turned the game around and the Roosters never looked back from there.

Top-age AFLW Draft prospect Polly Turner played her best game of the season, pulling down six marks – three contested – from her 20 touches, as well as laying five tackles, having six inside 50s and booting two goals. Ward finished with three majors from 19 disposals and seven marks (one contested), as the pair caused all sorts of headaches for the Eagles.

Julia Clark and bottom-age talent Caitlin Hardin combined for 11 clearances from 36 disposals. For the Eagles, Tahlita Buethke (24 disposals, four clearances and three inside 50s) was busy, while young guns Maia Freemantle and Lucy Moore paired up for 36 disposals, 13 tackles and 13 clearances in the loss.

Central District continued the incredible day of upsets at Stratarama Stadium by toppling South Adelaide by 10 points. It was the first time since the 2023 SANFLW Grand Final that the Bulldogs had defeated the Panthers, with South Adelaide joining the Eagles in a rare form slump. Incredibly, South kicked its only goal – to Layla Vizgaudis – midway through the final term as inaccuracy proved an issue for both sides, but the Dogs were the ones in front at the full-time siren, 3.6 (24) to 1.8 (14).

Leading from the front was Dogs skipper Laitiah Huynh who amassed 20 disposals, five marks (one contested), six tackles and seven clearances in a more contested role, teaming up well with past skipper Shelby Smith (19 disposals, four marks, four tackles and five clearances). Sophie Bevis, Shannon Murphy and Aoife Berry all impressed, as young defender Amalia Musolino (13 disposals, five marks and five rebound 50s) was a rock in defence.

The Bulldogs got the job done despite arguably the performance of the year from Soriah Moon who put up video game numbers of 40 hitouts and 17 clearances through the ruck, as well as 26 disposals, eight tackles, five inside 50s and four rebound50s. Nikki Nield and Vizgaudis were also among the better Panthers in defeat.

After three consecutive upsets, some form of normality returned to the day unfortunately at the expense of home team Glenelg with the last placed Tigers suffering a nine-goal loss to second placed Norwood. The Redlegs ran rampant in teh 11.6 (72) to 2.6 (18) victory, keeping the Bays goalless until the final term with a six-goal first quarter ultimately the undoing for the local side.

Bottom-age jet Lani Cocks returned to the side and put up 22 disposals, 10 tackles, four clearances, five inside 50s and booted 2.2, while Coby Morgan (19 disposals, three marks, four inside 50s and two goals) was also damaging in front of the big sticks. Under 16s prospects Ella Anderson and Mia Wood continued their great form, while Redlegs skipper Jade Halfpenny was outstanding once again with a game-high 25 disposals, three marks, nine tackles, five clearances and seven inside 50s.

Ellie Kellock (19 disposals, five marks, three tackles, three clearances and five rebound 50s) and Isla Wiencke (19 disposals, eight tackles and six clearances) both battled hard through the middle as the eye-catching Tori Evans (16 disposals, six marks, three tackles and three inside 50s) provided some dash, and top-ager Georgie Fielder (11 disposals, three marks, five tackles and five rebound 50s) did well in her second game back from injury.