Central District win 2023 Hostplus SANFLW League Premiership

By WARREN PARTLAND

Central District announced itself as a power of South Australian women’s football after a high-drama Hostplus SANFLW League grand final triumph over South Adelaide at Prospect Oval on Sunday.

Caitlen Teague kicked a goal in the dying seconds to claim a three-point victory for the Bulldogs in a thrilling, physical premiership decider.

The Bulldogs had trailed all game despite dominating the inside 50 count and the win adds another chapter to their historic ride to title glory.

Bulldogs captain Shelby Smith was named the medallist after inspiring her side with her typical toughness and tireless work ethic on the ball.

“There are a lot of emotions at the moment,” Bulldogs coach Ben Hunt said. “I had a couple of heart attacks in the last quarter so I’m still reviving from them, I’m still a little subdued at the moment.

“When Caitlen kicked that goal, we just went off in the box, hugging each other, it was a little crazy. There has been a lot of hard work and we had done it.”

It was a willing contest early, as expected with so much on the line, with both sides prepared to throw themselves into the fray.

The Bulldogs were dealt a massive blow just seven minutes into the contest when key ruck Georgia Avery had to be carried from the ground due to a leg injury.

Well drilled in their ability to set up a wall across half forward, the Panthers kept the Bulldogs pinned down in defence for lengthy periods.

And that constant pressure was rewarded after 15 minutes when Lucy Northcott marked in the goal square and kicked the goal.

The tackling pressure of the Panthers was relentless, especially in defence where they refused to allow the Bulldogs any space or time to operate.

Again, they were rewarded for the commitment when Melissa Anderson goalled 10 minutes into the second term. Jorja Hooper then toed the ball through for a goal to give the Panthers a commanding lead.

The Bulldogs moved the competition’s leading goalkicker Katelyn Rosenzweig into ruck and she created the side’s opening goal, bombing long for Charlotte Riggs to take a strong mark.

Camped deep in attack for much of the third term, the Bulldogs struggled to capitalise on the territory advantage. They added six behinds, before talented Jasmine Evans marked and goalled just seconds left in the quarter.

FINAL SCORE

Central District 4.7 (31) defeated South Adelaide 4.4 (28)

GOAL KICKERS

Central District: J. Evans, L. Huynh, C. Riggs, C. Teague

South Adelaide: L. Northcott, 2, M. Anderson, J. Hooper

BEST ON GROUND MEDAL WINNER

Shelby Smith (Central District0

CROWD

3,228 at Prospect Oval