Round 12 Hostplus SANFLW League Match Wraps

Sturt celebrated Hannah Prenzler’s 100th Hostplus SANFLW League game in style – defeating Norwood by 14 points at Allied Waste Stadium.

After a stagnant first quarter, it was the Double Blues getting the scoring underway in the second term, with goals from Sienna Fox and Millie McCarthy, to head into quarter-time 13 points up.

Ashley Baker finally got the Redlegs on the board late in the third quarter, kicking a brilliant running goal to narrow the margin down to five points at the penultimate break.

It was goal-for-goal in the last term as McCarthy slotted her second, before Amelia Rusden kicked Norwood’s second – the margin trimmed back to five points with 10 minutes to go.

Double Blues goalsneak Madeline Nuss sealed the game for Sturt with her 12th major of the season – all but cementing Sturt’s spot in the top four.

Georgia Swan (19 disposals, nine tackles, six clearances), Isobel Kuiper (24 disposals, 10 clearances, eight tackles), Skout Young (15 disposals, five clearances), and Ruby Cunningham (16 disposals) all played pivotal roles in Sturt’s sixth win of the season.

Emily Bartsch continued her stellar season for the Redlegs with 18 disposals, seven rebound 50s and five tackles, and was well supported by Jade Halfpenny (seven tackles, six clearances), and Coby Morgan (18 disposals).

Woodville-West Torrens jumped back into top spot after a thrilling one-point victory over South Adelaide at Allied Waste Stadium.

There were goals galore in the first quarter, with Eagles’ 50th gamer Klaudia O’Neill opening the scoring, before South’s Jaidee-Lee Shortridge snagged back-to-back majors.

O’Neill was quick to slot her second before Panther Olivia Evans put South back in front by a goal at the first break.

The six-pointers continued to come in the second quarter, including O’Neill’s third of the day to put her at 28 majors for the season with two rounds to go.

The Panthers headed into the second half five points up as both teams had their opportunities to break the game open.

But wayward kicking cost last year’s grand finalists in the third term, with only a handful of behinds recorded for both teams.

Brianna Walling proved to be the hero for the Eagles after she found herself alone in the goal square to be on the receiving end of a handball from Maia Freemantle before kicking truly to put the Eagles in front by a point, sending them to the top of the ladder.

Eagles’ youngster Ruby Lynch continued her excellent start to her SANFLW career with 23 disposals, eight clearances and seven tackles.

Tahlita Buethke (21 disposals, nine tackles, six marks), Walling (nine tackles), and Leah Cutting (43 hit outs) were also all excellent for the Eagles as they claimed the first finals spot in the 2026 Hostplus SANFLW League Finals Series.

Charlton (17 disposals, 14 tackles), Nikki Nield (21 disposals, 13 tackles), Evans (15 disposals, seven marks) and Holly Ifould (19 disposals, six marks) were among some of the best for the Panthers in a disappointing loss which now sees them sitting outside the top four.

West Adelaide returned to the winners list with a 20-point victory over Central District at Allied Waste Stadium.

Central’s Alysha Healy got things underway for the visitors, with the Bloods quickly responding via Olivia Smith.

Star Dogs’ recruit Aoife Berry kicked the only other goal for her side late in the second term, and from the fifth minute mark in the third term, it was all red and black.

West kicked four unanswered goals in the third quarter – the Dogs struggling to get on top of the home side’s inside 50s (35-25), as Summer Malone sealed the deal for the Bloods in the final term with her second major.

For the first time, the Bangka Day Memorial Cup was awarded to West Adelaide, and Emily Mableson took out the Vivian Bullwinkel Best on Ground Medal after being judged best afield, finishing the day with 22 disposals, seven marks and seven inside 50s.

Iilish Ross was everywhere for the Bloods with 27 disposals, seven marks and five clearances, along with Zoe Venning (32 disposals, seven marks), and Jemima Woods (one goal, 18 disposals).

Central’s Izabella Nisbet (17 disposals, eight tackles), Miyu Endersby (14 disposals, 28 hit outs), Shelby Smith (19 disposals, four tackles), and Sienna Antony (five tackles) all battled hard for the Dogs.

North Adelaide jumped into the top four with a 19-point win against Glenelg at Allied Waste Stadium.

The Tigers got off to a quick start as Kori Webb found the goals early – her side managing to keep the Roosters goalless in the first term.

However, it was short-lived as North kicked three second-quarter majors, before Webb bagged her second.

Webb was quick to snag her third major of the day after the main break, before Roosters’ captain Amber Ward slotted her second to give her side a one-goal lead at three quarter-time.

Ward came out firing in the final term, kicking her third of the game to extend the Roosters’ lead out to two goals, however, the Tigers kept pushing as Cassie McWilliam streamed through the forward 50, slotting a long-range goal to keep the Bays in the game.

Back-to-back goals from North’s Zara Molloy sealed the result for the Roosters, who are fighting for a finals spot with two rounds to go.

Laura Niejalke (25 disposals, five tackles), Ella Metcalfe (19 disposals, six tackles, five marks), 50-gamer Aprille Crooks (17 disposals, nine tackles), and Jamie Parish (16 disposals, six rebound 50s) all played crucial roles in North’s seventh win of the season.

McWilliam was brilliant for the Tigers, notching up 20 disposals to go with her 33 hit outs, five clearances and five inside 50s, as Webb (three goals), Ellie Kellock (14 disposals, five clearances), and Ella Quinn (14 disposals, five marks) all played their roles well.