By ZAC MILBANK
South Adelaide celebrated Jaslynne Smith’s 50-game Statewide Super Women’s League milestone in fine style with a convincing 47-point win against Sturt at Prospect Oval.
Restricting the Double Blues to just one goal for the opening three quarters, the Panthers did as they pleased whilst piling on 7.6 to open up a commanding 42-point margin at the final change.
Jordann Hickey hit the scoreboard for South with three goals while Jorja Hooper and Nicole Campbell booted two as Cheyenne Hammond collected 16 disposals.
Sturt’s Kiera Mueller tallied a game-high 20 disposals while teammate Jaimee Wittervan had 19 and six clearances.
West Adelaide kept its finals chances alive with a fighting 20-point win against reigning premier North Adelaide at Prospect Oval.
The Bloods leapfrogged the Roosters into fifth spot after securing the victory by keeping the hosts to just two goals for the game.
Star 15-year-old Lauren Young finished with 20 disposals and two goals for West while former Carlton defender Sharnie Whiting had a team-high 22 possessions.
North wing Katelyn Pope racked up 19 disposals while fellow West Coast Eagles draftee Lauren Gauci lent solid support with 15 possessions.
Norwood secured the minor premiership with a thrilling three-point win against Central District at Coopers Stadium.
Jumping out of the blocks with a four-goal first quarter, the Redlegs were able to cling on after Bulldog Katelyn Rosenzweig missed a chance to put her team in front with less than 10 seconds left.
Norwood’s Najwa Allen had a positive influence on the outcome with 18 disposals and a goal while Elizabeth Drake and Rosette Zerella each booted two goals for the hosts.
Central captain Shelby Smith battled hard for 14 disposals and nine tackles while Rosenzweig finished with 13 disposals and the goal to put her team within striking distance in the fourth term.
Glenelg booked its berth in the major round with a percentage-boosting 68-point win against Woodville-West Torrens at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval.
Restricting the Eagles to just four behinds, the Bays went on a scoring spree by booting 11.6 (72) – their highest SANFLW score since the competition’s inception in 2017.
Glenelg’s Madisyn Freeman kicked three goals while Meara Girvan, the partner of Tigers’ Men’s player Matt Allen, and captain Ellie Kellock kicked two as Crows AFLW star Ebony Marinoff chalked up 30 disposals, five tackles and 10 clearances.
Eagles skipper Annie Falkenberg had 18 disposals and 10 tackles while rising star Shineah Goody again showed promise with 17 disposals for the hosts.
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