Round 2 Hostplus SANFLW Match Wraps

By ZAC MILBANK

North Adelaide held on for its first win of the Hostplus SANFLW League season, edging out South Adelaide by just eight points at Flinders University Stadium.

Leading by 13 points at the final change, the Roosters had their advantage cut to just one point when crafty Panthers goalsneak Jess Waterhouse tapped the ball to herself in the goal square before kicking truly.

North was unable to seal the deal until ruck Jaime Norup kicked her second with just 25 seconds left on the clock, having received a clever goal assist from Hannah Ewings, who had a team high 25 disposals.

South’s Jaz Smith – playing her 50th club game – collected a match-high 27 disposals while Tahlita Buethke (25 disposals) and Waterhouse (21 disposals) also battled hard for the hosts.

Sturt remains the only unbeaten team after two rounds of the Hostplus SANFLW League, producing an upset 10-point win against reigning premier Glenelg at Thebarton Oval.

Yet to play finals since entering the competition in 2018, the Double Blues are now well placed to end their drought after keeping the Bays to just three goals for the match.

Speedy Alysha Healy kicked two goals on the run for Sturt while rookie Abbey Rigter impressed with two of her own as Izzy Kuiper racked up 20 disposals, 11 tackles and 10 clearances.

Tigers skipper Ellie Kellock led the way for her team with 21 possessions, while receiving solid support from Round 1 Powerade Breakthrough Player Sarah Goodwin (19 disposals) and Lucy Armitage (two goals).

Woodville-West Torrens set several records when it registered its first win in SANFLW history against West Adelaide at Hisense Stadium.

Leading at every change, the Eagles kicked their highest score (9.6 60) in club history as well as recording its largest winning margin of 33 points in the impressive victory.

AFLW experienced Eagles trio Jordann Hickey (three goals), Mckenzie Dowrick (two goals) and Jess Sedunary (two goals) created plenty of headaches inside 50 while Shineah Goody continued her hot start to the year with 26 disposals and seven marks.

West benefited from the presence of Crows-listed Abbie Ballard, who collected 21 disposals and kicked a classy crumbing goal while teammates Jess Macolino (23 disposals) and Zoe Venning (20 disposals) toiled hard for the Bloods.

Norwood bounced back from its heavy Round 1 loss with a 19-point triumph against Central District at X Convenience Oval.

Itching to make a statement, the Redlegs did exactly that by scoring the first four goals of the game and not allowing the Bulldogs to score until six minutes into the third term.

Talented utility Jade Halfpenny starred for the visitors, racking up 26 disposals and nine marks while being the only multiple goal kicker on the ground as teammates Sachi Syme and Sophie Armitstead (18 disposals each) were also influential.

Exciting Central rookie Georgia McKee led the way for her side in just her second game with 27 possessions while captain Shelby Smith got her team moving with a bullocking third-term major to go with her 24 disposals.