A LATE behind from Lucy Moore has given Woodville-West Torrens a dramatic 5.6 (36) to 5.5 (35) victory over South Adelaide at Richmond Oval in Round 12 of the SANFL Women’s, guaranteeing the Eagles another finals place with the win in the second grand final rematch of the season.

The result snaps a three-game winless run for the Eagles, who had not won since Round 9, while South Adelaide has now lost four of their past five games. With two rounds remaining, Woodville-West Torrens is the only side locked into the finals, while the Panthers sit two points outside the top four in a race that now involves five clubs for four spots.

The Eagles started brightly, with Julia Faulkner hitting up Klaudia O’Neill on the lead for the opening goal inside three minutes. South Adelaide hit back through a soccer effort from Jaidee-Lee Shortridge after Melissa Anderson went down with injury in the goalsquare and played no further part, before Shortridge snapped a second from 30 metres to give the Panthers the lead.

O’Neill then spun and snapped her second after gathering a pass from Popi Gikas to edge the Eagles ahead, before former Eagle Olivia Evans intercepted a turnover kick and slammed home a goal to hand South a one-point lead at the first change.

The second quarter was a see-sawing affair. A ripping snap from 20 metres put the Eagles back in front, before the Panthers locked the ball in their forward line for an extended period. Chanel May snapped one to push South’s lead out to 18 points, but Maia Freemantle set up O’Neill for her third to reduce the margin, before Ruby Matthews converted a set shot from 15 metres after winning a free kick in the goalsquare to cut the deficit to five points at the main break.

The Eagles dominated the hitouts 33-13 at half-time – Leah Cutting running riot in the absence of South’s star ruck Soriah Moon – and led the clearances 24-12, but South held an edge in inside 50s (16-13) and had laid 52 tackles to the Eagles’ 38.

The third quarter was a grinding, low-scoring affair. The Eagles dominated field position but could not convert, managing just two points for the term to South’s one, leaving the Panthers clinging to a five-point lead at the final break.

The last quarter delivered extraordinary tension. Both sides had early chances but brilliant defensive play from the Eagles kept South goalless. A combination of the Eagles’ yough – Anika Tran to Faulkner to Freemantle – ended with Brianna Walling snapping the Eagles in front by one point at the seven-minute mark.

South pressed desperately, with Shortridge winning a holding free from 45 metres but the kick was intercepted on the goal line. Moore then gathered a groundball 25 metres out and snapped a quick behind – all she needed – to put the Eagles one-point clear with time running out. The Eagles locked the ball up from there to secure a memorable one-point win.

For the Eagles, Ruby Lynch was outstanding in the midfield, collecting 23 disposals, four marks, seven tackles and eight clearances. Tahlita Buethke was equally impressive with 21 disposals, six marks, nine tackles and four rebound 50s, while Cutting’s 43 hitouts were the foundation of the Eagles’ midfield dominance. Moore finished with 19 disposals, eight tackles and three clearances to go with her match-winning behind, and O’Neill was the difference-maker on the scoreboard with three goals from eight disposals.

For South Adelaide, Nikki Nield was tireless in the midfield with 21 disposals, 13 tackles and six clearances, while Emma Charlton put in a remarkable defensive shift with 17 disposals, 14 tackles, four clearances and a goal. Holly Ifould was a strong link player with 19 disposals and six marks, Evans was a constant threat up forward with seven marks and a goal, and Shortridge was highly efficient with two goals and six tackles from nine disposals.

WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS 2.1 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 5.6 (36)
SOUTH ADELAIDE 3.1 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 5.5 (35)

GOALS:
Woodville-West Torrens: K. O’Neill 3, B. Walling, R. Matthews
South Adelaide: J. Shortridge 2, E. Charlton, O. Evans, C. May

RMC BEST:
Woodville-West Torrens: L. Cutting, R. Lynch, T. Buethke, K. O’Neill, L. Moore
South Adelaide: N. Nield, E. Charlton, H. Ifould, O. Evans, J. Shortridge

AROUND THE GROUNDS

North Adelaide continued its impressive run of form, defeating Glenelg by 19 points – 7.4 (46) to 4.3 (27) – to make it four consecutive wins and strengthen its hold on fourth place. The game was still within seven points eight minutes into the final term before Zara Molloy booted back-to-back majors to seal the result.

Amber Ward was the Roosters’ key forward threat, kicking three goals from 11 disposals and two contested marks, while Laura Niejalke (25 disposals, four marks, five tackles and four inside 50s) and Aprille Crooks (17 disposals, nine tackles and four clearances) drove the midfield. For the Tigers, Kori Webb matched Ward’s three-goal haul and also gathered 19 disposals and four clearances, while Cassie McWilliam was dominant in the ruck with 20 disposals, 33 hitouts, five clearances and five inside 50s.

Sturt kept its top-four hopes firmly alive with a 14-point win over Norwood, 4.8 (32) to 2.6 (18). The Double Blues controlled the scoreboard for the most part but could not shake the Redlegs, who remained within five points late before Madeline Nuss kicked a sealer just 30 seconds after hitting the post with a set shot.

Isobel Kuiper was the dominant midfielder on the ground with 24 disposals, eight tackles and 10 clearances, while Georgia Swan (19 disposals, nine tackles and six clearances) was equally combative. For Norwood, Emily Bartsch led the way with 18 disposals, five tackles and seven rebound 50s, while Abby Klaebe applied relentless pressure with nine tackles.

West Adelaide turned a nine-point half-time deficit into a 20-point victory over Central District, 6.4 (40) to 2.8 (20), booting 4.0 to 0.1 in a dominant third term. The win, however, comes too late for either side – both Central District and West Adelaide have been eliminated from finals contention.

Zoe Venning was the standout performer on the ground with 32 disposals, seven marks and four clearances, while Iilish Ross (27 disposals, seven marks, five clearances and nine inside 50s) and Emily Mableson (22 disposals, seven marks and seven inside 50s) were also prolific. Summer Malone was the only multiple goalkicker on the ground with two majors. For the Bulldogs, Shelby Smith (19 disposals, four marks) and Izabella Nisbet (17 disposals, eight tackles and five rebound 50s) were the best of a side that ran out of answers in the third term.