NORWOOD bounced back from a shock draw to non-finalists West Adelaide by producing the performance of the Redlegs’ year and beating Woodville-West Torrens by 38 points at Coopers Stadium on Friday night. While the Eagles had sewn up top spot and the minor premiership, Norwood needed to win and win well to make sure the Redlegs earned the double chance. After an armwrestle start, the home side went to another gear, piling on five goals to one in the second term to set up the 12.13 (85) to 7.5 (47) victory.

Both sides had their chances early in the first term but it took until the 13th minute of the quarter for Steph Simmonds to create some space and kick a ripping opening goal. The Eagles kept pressing and eventually broke through via competition leading goalkicker Klaudia O’Neill. Woodville-West Torrens’ young guns in Julia Faulkner and Anika Tran set up the tall forward.

Norwood came out in the second term and looked like there was more on the line as Lani Cocks started to get busy and reacted to quickly to a smothered shot to snap Norwood’s second major, and while Tran was able to respond in the eighth minute to make it a two-point game again, it was all the Redlegs after that.

The home team piled on four unanswered goals to half-time as the usually unflappable Eagles defence kept making uncharacteristic turnovers and struggled to get it past halfway too often. Norwood’s fleet footed attack punished them as Sophie Arkun, Amalie Innes and Kate Alexander added their names to the goalkickers list, while Cocks slotted her second goal on the run playing on from a chance. In the space of 10 minutes, the lead had ballooned out to 29 points by the main break.

That term would prove to be the difference between the sides, as the Eagles refused to go away, but Norwood held Woodville-West Torrens at arms length throughout the second half, kicking six goals to five to end the contest. O’Neill was the unsurprising focal point, kicking three of her side’s fie in the second half, but each time the Eagles score, the Redlegs responded. Incredibly, Woodville-West Torrens never kicked consecutive goals.

Norwood doesn’t have a Klaudia O’Neill, but instead shared the goals around with Cocks kicking her third early in the premiership quarter, while Rusden jagged a pair of majors, and tenacious smalls Coby Morgan and Elke Cameron also hit the scoreboard. Even when Jiarna Zerella gave her side the slightest bit of hope with a goal a minute into the final term, it was countered by Cameron and Rusden who quickly sealed the contest.

Cocks lead the way with 27 disposals and three goals, while setting up numerous chances amongst her four clearances and seven inside 50s. She and league best and fairest candidate Jade Halfpenny (23 disposals, four marks – two contested – nine tackles, five clearances, five inside 50s and five rebound 50s) were everywhere. Morgan (18 disposals, three marks – two contested – eight inside 50s and 1.2) was dominant off one wing, while double-bottom-ager Mia Wood (14 disposals, four inside 50s) impressed off the other.

Another youngster, Kaianne Colbung-Ware was fantastic in the front half, and aside from her set shot getting smothered – which Cocks mopped up and converted – she was busy throughout with 19 touches and three tackles. Simmonds had 15 disposals, four marks – two contested – four inside 50s and 1.3, while up the other end, Ella Anderson (14 disposals, seven rebound 50s) and Abby Klaebe (eight disposals, seven tackles and six rebound 50s) were strong.

For the Eagles, O’Neill was the standout with four goals from 11 disposals and four marks – including two contested – while Lucy Moore was prolific all across the ground, collecting 25 disposals, nine tackles, six clearances and six inside 50s. Tahlita Buethke (19 disposals, three tackles and three inside 50s) and Maia Freemantle (17 disposals, three marks, six tackles, five clearances and five rebound 50s) worked hard behind the ball and the latter around the stoppages, while Ruby Lynch, Ruby Matthews and Tran were all among the better Eagles on the night.

NORWOOD 1.3 | 6.7 | 9.9 | 12.13 (85)
WWT EAGLES 1.2 | 2.2 | 4.4 | 7.5 (47)

GOALS:
Norwood: L. Cocks 3, A. Rusden 2, S. Simmonds, C. Morgan, K. Alexander, S. Arkun, N. Burns, E. Cameron, A. Innes
WWT Eagles: K. O’Neill 4, A. Tran, P. Gikas, J. Zerella

RMC BEST:
Norwood: L. Cocks, J. Halfpenny, C. Morgan, S. Simmonds, E. Anderson
WWT Eagles: K. O’Neill, L. Moore, M. Freemantle, T. Buethke, R. Lynch

AROUND THE GROUNDS

In the other finals-defining match, North Adelaide took care of Sturt by 28 points at Revo Fitness Stadium to set up a rematch with the Double Blues in a do-or-die elimination final. Both teams entered the match with some impressive form, but the Roosters continued to build after quarter time, booting four goals to one across the middle two quarters to eventually get home 8.4 (52) to 3.6 (24) and secure third spot on the ladder.

Jamie Parish was a rock in defence, finishing with 20 disposals and seven rebound 50s for the Roosters, while the twin towers in Amber Ward and Polly Turner booted three goals apiece. Laura Niejalke and Aprille Crooks were also busy in the win. For Sturt, Isobel Kuiper was the biggest ball-winner with 18 touches, as well as six marks, six tackles and seven clearances, working in tandem with Georgia Swan (14 disposals, three marks, seven tackles, five clearances and five inside 50s).

Central District finished off the season with a 15-point win over Glenelg in a battle between the bottom two sides. The Bays lead by four points at half-time, but a five goals to nil third term saw the Bulldogs race out to a 28-point advantage at the last change. Glenelg kicked a couple of consolation majors in the final term but it was too little, too late in the 6.9 (45) to 4.6 (30) result.

The usual suspects were busy with Georgia Madigan (18 disposals, five marks – two contested – five tackles, three clearances, two inside 50s, four rebound 50s and a goal) and Shelby Smith (17 disposals, five marks, four tackles, and six clearances) working hard, while Miyu Endersby clocked up a remarkable 54 hitouts from 15 disposals, six marks – three contested – five tackles, two clearances, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s. Ellie Kellock was huge for the Bays with 18 disposals, four tackles, eight clearances, four inside 50s and three rebound 50s, while Isla Wiencke (18 disposals, 12 tackles, three inside 50s and a goal) and Cassie McWilliam (16 disposals, eight marks, 20 hitouts, five inside 50s and four rebound 50s) were lively upon return from their AFLW trial match.

South Adelaide will sit out the SANFLW finals series for the first time in women’s club history, but ensured it ended its season on a high by defeating West Adelaide comprehensively. The Panthers overcame a goalless loss last week to keep the Bloods goalless until the 15th minute of the fourth term during the 9.4 (58) to 1.8 (14) victory.

Charlotte Dolan clocked up a team-high 23 disposals as well as five tackles and six inside 50s, while Olivia Evans (20 disposals, eight tackles, three clearance and six inside 50s) was strong again for the Panthers. Around the ball, ruck Soriah Moon and midfielder Caitlin Couch combined for 14 clearances and 16 tackles from 37 disposals, while Moon also had 41 hitouts. Jaidee-Lee Shortridge was lively in attack with three goals and seven tackles from 10 disposals. For West Adelaide, the damaging duo of Emily Mableson and Zoe Venning were superb, racking up 32 disposals and five clearances apiece, to finish off the season on individual highs.