Round 10 Hostplus SANFLW Match Wraps

A timely behind from West Adelade’s Zoe Venning saw the Bloods run out one-point victors against Norwood at Hisense Stadium in the club’s 100th Hostplus SANFLW League game.

Youngster Chelsea Newitt got the scoring underway for West, kicking from directly in front to slot her first of the day.

The Redlegs responded just over five minutes later via Kiana Lee who took a mark in the square and quickly chipped it through for Norwood’s first of the day.

Ruby Ballard showed her strength, breaking through the pack for Westies’ second goal of the game, with the home side taking a one-goal lead into quarter time.

Norwood forward Adrienne Davies made the most of a free kick, kicking her first of the day as the visitors got back within one point of West before Chloe Tonkin found the goals to bring the margin back to seven points for Westies, who headed into the main break with a five-point lead.

Last week’s AAMI Rookie Sarah Deed continued her great start to her SANFLW career, kicking her first of the day at the beginning of the third quarter.

Norwood continued to claw their way back into the game, with back-to-back goals from Lee, SA U18 Girls squad member Charli Hazelhurst and 16-year-old Sharmaine Crosby, wrestling back the lead and heading into three quarter-time with a seven-point lead.

The stage was set for a massive final quarter for both teams, with West’s Hannah Button missing a shot on goal to record a point, before Goodwood Saints product Lucy Waye kicked truly to level scores at the seven-minute mark.

All signs were pointing toward a draw, but a handy point from Venning nearing the 16-minute mark of the final quarter gave West a thrilling one-point victory in its milestone match.

Venning (27 disposals, four tackles, seven clearances) was superb for the Bloods and was well supported by Button (21 disposals, nine tackles, 10 clearances), Waye (21 disposals, five marks, six tackles, seven clearances) and the milestone woman, captain Madi Russell (13 disposals, five tackles) who notched up her 50th game.

Redlegs defender Georgie Jacques (16 disposals, seven marks, five tackles) was excellent in a tight loss. Jade Halfpenny (17 disposals, five tackles, five clearances) and Candice Belbin (13 disposals, seven tackles, six clearances) also performed well.

West will head south to take on the Panthers at Magain Stadium this Saturday afternoon, with Norwood facing Sturt on the King’s Birthday at Thomas Farms Oval.

A strong third quarter from Woodville-West Torrens ensured it would defeat North Adelaide by six points at Prospect Oval. 

After having Laela Ebert selected by Melbourne’s AFLW team earlier in the week, North got off to a strong start via captain Amber Ward who took a strong overhead grab to go back and slot the Roosters’ first goal of the game.

It wasn’t long before the Eagles got one on the board, as Klaudia O’Neill kicked her first for the day to level the scores.

The Roosters responded almost instantly, as Sky Jensen chipped one through to give the home side a seven-point lead at quarter-time.

A slow second quarter, which saw both teams kick one point each, provided the Roosters with a seven-point lead going into the main break, before the Eagles reminded everyone why they are the team to beat.

Three goals in succession from McKenzie Dowrick (two goals) and debutant Alice Tentye within the first 10 minutes of the third quarter gave the Eagles their first lead of the day.

Jensen kicked a quick goal to get North back within four points at three quarter-time, with the Eagles continuing the hunt for their ninth win of the season.

The visitors continued to capitalise on their inside 50s (33-22) as O’Neill kicked her second of the day early in the fourth quarter.

Former Eagle turned Rooster Jamie Parrish went back to kick her first for the day to breathe some fire for North, who found themselves seven points down midway through the last term.

Jensen had a chance to put North within one point late, but was hunted down by Eagles’ Bianca Portaro – Jensen only recording a point, with the final margin 29 to 35.

Lucy Moore (23 disposals, 12 tackles, 11 clearances), Imogen Trengove (27 disposals, 11 tackles, six clearances), Leah Cutting (40 hitouts, five tackles) and Maia Freemantle (nine tackles, six clearances, three inside 50s) were all prolific in their teams’ return to the winners list.

North defender Ella Metcalfe was her side’s best with 15 disposals and 11 marks. She was well supported by Djimila Totham (21 disposals, seven tackles, seven clearances), Polly Turner (16 disposals) and Julia Clark (14 disposals, 10 tackles, four clearances).

The Eagles will travel to X Convenience Oval to take on Central District this Saturday, while North will face Glenelg at Stratarama Stadium.

South Adelaide recorded its eighth win in a row with a 23-point victory over Glenelg at Magain Stadium. 

The Tigers got off to a hot start via SA U18s squad member Eloise Mackereth, before Cassie McWilliam kicked her first Hostplus SANFLW League goal to give the visitors an early 12-point lead.

South got on the board late in the first quarter, with Melissa Anderson going back to slot her first, the Tigers taking a slight six-point lead into the first break.

Emily Brockhusrt started the onslaught of second-quarter goals for the Panthers, before forward Shae Archbold scored back-to-back goals. Victor Harbor product Lily Baxter then kicked her first of the day, with Archbold kicking her third late in the second term to give the home side a comfortable 27-point lead heading into half-time.

It was a stagnant start to the third quarter before Glenelg’s Elizabeth Johnson took a strong mark and calmly went back and slotted her first Hostplus SANFLW League goal, her teammates mobbing the 18-year-old in celebration.

The Panthers quickly got one back – courtesy of an excellent running goal from Brockhurst – taking a 23-point lead into three-quarter time.

Another slow start to the final quarter, it was Mackereth who broke the goal drought, showing poise to kick her second to reduce the margin slowly.

However, it was short-lived as South Adelaide debutant Tabitha Prosser kicked her first Hostplus SANFLW League goal and was engulfed by her teammates, sealing the deal for the home side.

Caitlin Couch was everywhere for the home side, notching up 20 disposals to go along with her seven tackles, six marks and four clearances.

Soriah Moon (20 disposals, 25 hitouts, eight clearances, seven tackles) dominated in the ruck, South recording a whopping 27 more hitouts than its opponents.

Emma Charlton (17 disposals, six tackles) and Anderson (14 disposals, six inside 50s) were also all instrumental in South’s ninth win of the season.

Glenelg superstar Jessica Bates (30 disposals, 13 tackles, eight clearances) was prolific for the Tigers, with Georgie Fielder (27 disposals, four tackles, five clearances), Asha Dufour (24 disposals, eight marks, five inside 50s) and Marie Martino (20 disposals) doing everything they could to give Glenelg its second win of the season.

The King’s Birthday long weekend will see South Adelaide host the rising West Adelaide at Magain Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with Glenelg taking on North Adelaide at Statarama Stadium on Sunday evening.

Sturt held on to record a four-point victory against Central District at Thomas Farms Oval.

The visitors got out to an unbelievably quick start, with Dakota Williams kicking the first goal in 24 seconds before Sturt’s Amy Brooks-Birve went back and slotted the Double Blues’ first of the match.

Doggies’ forward Lauren Breguet kicked her first of the day, the visitors taking a three-point lead into quarter-time.

Back-to-back goals from the Double Blues, courtesy of Georgia King and youngster Monique Bessen, began to make things interesting with the lead changing hands several times throughout the match.

SANFLW stalwart Tesharna Maher found the goals for Central District to bring the margin back to one point, however, it wasn’t long before Sturt’s Georgia Swan kicked a monster goal, notching up her first of the 2025 season.

It was Central’s Jovanka Zecevic who opened the scoring for the second term, as Alysha Healy kicked the Doggies’ fifth of the day to give the visitors the lead, heading into three quarter-time with a one-goal break.

After a couple of missed shots on goal, Sturt dug deep via Brooks-Birve and Bessen who both kicked their second of the day to wrestle back the lead.

Katelyn Rosenzweig went back and slotted her first of the day midway through the final term, but the Double Blues held on to record their fifth win of the season, with Central now sitting three wins outside the top four.

Bessen continued her stellar form for the Double Blues with 24 disposals, two goals, five marks and six tackles. The AFLW Draft hopeful was well supported by Swan (22 disposals, one goal, four tackles, four clearances) and Isobel Kuiper (14 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances).

SA U18 Girls squad member Miyu Endersby (17 disposals, four marks, four clearances), Taliyah Uncle (six tackles), Williams (16 disposals, six clearances, six inside 50s) and Madison Lane (15 disposals, seven tackles) all performed well in a disappointing loss for Central.

The Doggies will host ladder-leaders Woodville-West Torrens at X Convenience Oval on Saturday afternoon, while Sturt will clash with Norwood on the King’s Birthday public holiday at Thomas Farms Oval.