Round 12 Hostplus SANFLW Match Wraps

By ALEXANDRA BULL

Central District kept its finals hopes alive with a strong 29-point win over North Adelaide at X Convenience Oval in Round 12 of the Hostplus SANFLW League. 

Katelyn Rosenzweig got things started for the Doggies, kicking one of the quickest goals this season, 23 seconds into the first quarter before North responded seven minutes later via speedster Aprille Crookes, who was the Roosters’ only goal kicker for the day.

Tesharna Maher kicked her first of four goals, taking a strong mark directly in front of goal and kicking truly. Crookes then found the goals again to give North a one-point lead at quarter time.

Maher kicked her second via a quick running goal, with Akeira-Juliet Whichello following suit with her first Hostplus SANFLW League goal, to give Central a comfortable two-goal lead heading into the main break.

Back-to-back goals in the third quarter from Maher extended Central’s lead out to 25 points, with the Doggies vying to keep their finals chances alive, as they now sit one spot outside of the top four.

Crookes once again found the goals for the Roosters late in the third term to bring the margin back to 19 points at three quarter time but the damage was already done, with Central capitalising on its staggering 40 clearances to 21.

Whichello continued to be an avenue for goal for Central, chipping it through for her second before receiving an unselfish handball from Maher to kick her third to give the Doggies a strong 29-point win.

Forward Lauren Breguet (22 disposals, eight clearances, seven inside 50s) was best-on-ground for Central in a dominant performance.

Maher (four goals), Whichello (three goals), Dakota Williams (eight tackles, 11 clearances) and Madison Lane (14 disposals, four marks, six tackles) were all instrumental in Central’s dominant win.

Jamie Parish (20 disposals), Maya Fuller (seven tackles), Crookes (three goals, five tackles) and Djimila Totham (14 disposals, six clearances) all performed well in a tough outing for North.

Central will host West Adelaide on Saturday morning, with the Doggies looking to knock Sturt out of the top four, as North Adelaide clash with South Adelaide at Prospect.

Woodville-West Torrens continued its winning form, defeating West Adelaide by 20 points at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval.

It was a stagnant first quarter for both sides, with no major scores recorded, before Eagles’ Asha Gooley broke through early in the second to kick the first goal of the day, the 16-year-old taking a grab directly in front to break the goal drought.

Waikerie-product Sarah Campbell leveled the scores with West’s first major, however it was short-lived with Eagles’ Klaudia O’Neill kicking her 19th goal of the season, now sitting only two goals behind Central’s Katelyn Rosenzweig in the leading goal kicker race for season 2025.

Woodville-West Torrens took a seven-point lead into the main break and showed no signs of slowing down in the third quarter as Isabella Benedictson found the goals for the first time in her Hostplus SANFLW League career, giving the Eagles a 13-point lead heading into the final quarter.

Steph Tredwell found the goals for West at the start of the fourth quarter, before 2025 SANFLW State Team squad member Sophie Zuill read the play brilliantly to kick an excellent running goal to extend the Eagles’ lead back out to 13-points.

Westies stalwart Nicole Hooper kicked her first as the visitors slowly chipped away at the lead, but it was not meant to be, with Gooley and Olivia Evans kicking one each to seal the deal for the Eagles, who are looking to claim their first minor premiership with two rounds to go.

Alice Tentye was superb in her third match for Woodville-West Torrens, notching up 24 disposals, nine tackles and five clearances in Saturday’s win.

Zuill (16 disposals, one goal, six tackles), Ruby Lynch (16 disposals, nine tackles), Annie Falkenberg (seven tackles) and Evans (14 disposals, one goal, four clearances) were all instrumental in the Eagles securing their 11th win of the season.

Zoe Venning (29 disposals, eight marks, eight tackles) once again put on a clinic for Westies, with Madi Russell (21 disposals), Hannah Button (20 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances), Ruby Ballard (17 disposals, eight tackles) and Emma Chapman (eight marls, six tackles) all performing well in another difficult day for West.

West will head to X Convenience Oval to take on Central on Saturday morning, as the Eagles venture to Thomas Farms Oval to clash with Sturt on Saturday afternoon.

Glenelg recorded its second win of the season defeating Sturt by five points at Stratarama Stadium.

It was a slow-moving start to the game, with no goals kicked in the first quarter, before Sturt’s Mille McCarthy kicked the first from a set shot to get the game flowing.

In what was Glenelg’s Jess Bates’ last home game, the Tigers came out firing for their SANFLW superstar with back-to-back goals from Elizabeth Johnson and Bates herself, the home side taking an eight-point break into half-time.

However, it was all Sturt in the third term as athletic ruck Jasmin Fejo kicked her first major for the season, which was followed up by Georgia Swan who kicked a monster goal to take the lead for Sturt, the Double Blues heading into the final term with a slim three-point lead.

Tigers’ forward Kaitey Whittaker atoned for her inaccurate first-half goal kicking, slotting her first for the day midway through the final term to give Glenelg a one-point lead, but it was Bates who sealed the deal for her Tigers.

Sturt captain Alisha Gepp kicked a late final quarter goal to bring the margin back to five points but it was not enough to spoil Bates’ last home game, with the star midfielder retiring at the end of the minor round.

Bates reminded us why she is one of the best SANFLW players to pull on the boots, tallying 33 disposals, five marks, ten clearances and a goal in her side’s win. Asha Dufour (22 disposals, seven tackles), Sam Franson (15 disposals, six tackles) and Astrid Gooley (14 disposals, seven clearances) were all instrumental in their side’s second win of the season.

Isobel Kuiper had another blinder with 25 disposals, five marks and 14 tackles, with Swan (24 disposals, one goal, six clearances), Gepp (nine tackles) and Lily Whiteman (16 disposals, five tackles) all excellent for the Double Blues as they fought to stay inside the top four.

Glenelg will head to Norwood to take on the Redlegs on Saturday morning, with Sturt hosting the ladder-leading Eagles at Thomas Farms Oval.

South Adelaide notched up its 10th win in a row, defeating Norwood by 15 points at Coopers Stadium.

It was a slow first quarter for both teams, with no major score recorded until late in the second quarter, with former Crows AFLW player Jess Waterhouse kicking the first goal of the game in her first game of the season to give the Panthers a seven-point lead heading into half-time.

Norwood’s Kiana Lee kicked the Redlegs first to breath some life into the game for the home side, before Melissa Anderson found the goals for South.

All eyes were on Norwood’s 15-year-old debutant Lani Cocks, who kicked a stunning goal of the year contender from the boundary to bring the margin back to three points heading into the final quarter.

Doreena Hansen kicked into gear for the Panthers, kicking back-to-back majors for the visitors before Lee kicked her second for the Redlegs, but it was a late final term goal to Hansen – her third for the quarter – which sealed the deal for the Panthers who remain second on the ladder behind Woodville-West Torrens.

South ruck Soriah Moon (25 disposals, 32 hit outs, six clearances) continued her incredible 2025 form and was well supported by Caitlin Couch (17 disposals, eight tackles), Lauren Clifton (16 disposals, six clearances) and Esther Schirmer (17 disposals).

Jade Halfpenny was everywhere for the Redlegs, notching up 21 disposals eight marks, seven tackles and four inside 50s in her side’s defeat.

Sarah Branford (nine tackles), Cocks (14 disposals, one goal, four inside 50s) and Emily Bartsch (14 disposals, eight tackles) were also among the best for Norwood.

Next up, Norwood will host Glenelg on Saturday morning while South make the journey to Prospect to take on North Adelaide.