Roosters ready to take next step

By ZAC MILBANK

North Adelaide is expected to be ruthless in its pursuit of SANFL Women’s premiership glory this year after a string of near misses in the past three seasons.

After finishing runner-up twice (2017 and 2019) and third in 2019, the Roosters are desperate to take the next step under new coach Krissie Steen in the Statewide Super Women’s League.

Speaking on SANFL Radio, Steen, who guided South Adelaide to the 2018 SANFL Women’s premiership, will bring valuable insight from her time spent as an assistant coach at AFLW club Greater Western Sydney.

Steen has hit the ground running at Prospect in the recruiting stakes, enticing a couple of former Panthers including premiership skipper Kristi Harvey and tall utility Mollie McKendrick.

Harvey returns to the competition from Victoria, poised to form a dangerous double-act in attack with last year’s SANFLW leading goal kicker Kelly Barltrop at Menzies Crescent.

Former West Adelaide utility Tayla Gordon has also joined the Roosters as has ex-Norwood forward Stana Zecevic after a year out of football.

One of the feel-good stories of 2020 is beginning to unfold at North Adelaide with Bek Rasheed, the daughter of club great Mick Redden, in training as she prepares to don the treasured white V for the first time.

Redden, North’s games record holder after featuring in 378 League matches between 1978 and 1993, also featured in the Roosters’ 1987 and 1991 premierships while also being named in the club’s Team of the Century.