Round 8 Hostplus SANFLW Match Wraps

By ALEXANDRA BULL

South Adelaide defeated Sturt by 43 points in Round 8 of the Hostplus SANFLW League at Strathalbyn Oval.

In what was South’s first game in its country zone, the Panthers dominated from the outset, with Melissa Anderson kicking the first goal of the match, closely followed by Doreena Hansen to give South a 15-point lead at quarter time.

Just over a minute into the second quarter, Layla Vizgaudis kicked the first of her three-goal haul, before she followed up with her second just over 10 minutes later. Shae Archbold got on the receiving end of a penetrating kick from Taya Maxwell, with Archbold cooly slotting the goal to give the Panthers a 34-point lead at half-time.

The Double Blues finally got one back, with Saskia Reynolds slotting Sturt’s first of the day – just under three minutes into the third quarter, with Milile McCarthy following suit under two minutes later, reducing the margin back to 22-points, before Maxwell kicked South’s sixth of the day to get the margin back out to 28-points before three quarter-time.

Zara Walsh kicked Sturt’s third, and last of the day less than a minute into the final term from a set shot, with Hansen kicking her second of the day, mopping up a fumbled mark to kick a running goal as the Panthers continued to surge ahead.

Back-to-back goals for South, courtsey of Vizgaudis and Hansen, sealed the deal for the hosts.

Caitlin Crouch (20 disposals, 11 tackles), Maxwell (20 disposals, eight clearances, seven marks), Emma Charlton (23 disposals, six tackles) and Soriah Moon (16 disposals, 29 hitouts) all contributed to another huge win for the Panthers.

Sturt superstar Isobel Kuiper had another monster game, notching up 28 disposals, 12 tackles and six clearances, with Monique Bessen (24 disposals, seven clearances) and Isabella Drew (14 disposals, six tackles) among the Double Blues’ best in a tough loss.

The Double Blues will host North Adelaide at Thomas Farms Oval this Saturday, with South Adelaide looking toward its top-of-the-table clash with Woodville-West Torrens.

A goal after the siren from Glenelg’s Kaitey Whittaker secured the Tigers’ first win of the season, defeating Central District by three points at Stratarama Stadium.

It looked like it was going to be the same old story for the Bays, as Central got off to a hot start via goals from Karissa Searle and Katelyn Rosenzweig, with the home side going goalless in the first quarter.

However, the Tigers dug in the second quarter and got to work. Charlotte O’Sullivan kicked her first Hostplus SANFLW League goal, before Central District forward Lauren Breguet kicked her first goal of the day.

Whittaker stood up for Glenelg in the forward line, kicking back-to-back goals to get the Tigers within two points of the visitors at the main break.

Glenelg captain Jess Bates got things underway in the third quarter with a brilliant running goal to give the home side its first lead of the day before Asha Dufour was awarded a free kick directly in front of goal, kicking truly to extend the margin to 10 points.

Demi Holloway kicked an excellent running goal for Central District, midway through the third quarter, with the Tigers heading into the final quarter with a four-point lead.

Rosenzweig wasted no time, kicking back-to-back goals to give the Doggies back the lead, with just over 12 minutes to go. However, Georgie Fielder kicked her first goal of the day to bring the margin back to three points late in the last quarter.

A desperate couple of minutes ensued for both teams, before a breakthrough came via Whittaker, who took a strong grab for Glenelg as the siren blew seconds later.

As Doggies players flocked to the Tigers’ forward 50, Whittaker proved to be the hero, as she calmly went back to slot the match winner, and her third of the day, with Glenelg securing its first win of the season in its 100th Hostplus SANFLW League game.

A number of Tigers were instrumental in Glenelg’s first win of the season, including Bates (24 disposals, seven marks, 14 tackles), Marie Martino (17 disposals, nine clearances) and Fielder (19 disposals, seven clearances).

Central’s Miyu Endersby had a field day in the ruck with 39 hit outs, with Rosenzweig (three goals, 13 disposals) and Holly Tralaggan (seven tackles) among the visitors’ best in a nail-biting loss.

Glenelg will host West Adelaide in a twilight match this Saturday, with Central District heading to The Parade to tackle the struggling Redlegs.

North Adelaide defeated West Adelaide by 30 points at Prospect Oval, keeping the visitors goalless. 

Despite recording six more inside 50s than the Roosters, the visitors could not find a major, having limited scoring shots throughout the game.

North’s Polly Turner was the sole goal kicker in the first quarter as the Roosters took a four-point lead into quarter-time.

It was all the Roosters during the second term, with Julia Clark kicking North’s second of the day. Zara Molloy followed suit soon after, extending the lead to 18-points at half-time.

It was a stagnant third quarter for both teams, which saw only a rushed behind recorded for West Adelaide. This reduced the margin by one point, as Turner broke the goal drought midway through the final term for the first goal since the 15th minute mark of the second quarter.

Speedster Aprille Crooks sealed the game for the Roosters, in a dominant showing for the home side.

Djimila Totham was relentless with her pressure for the Roosters, with 19 disposals, 11 tackles and four clearances, along with Bailey Murray (13 disposals, eight tackles) and Clark (19 disposals, six tackles).

Hannah Button (14 tackles), Emily Mableson (17 disposals, 10 tackles) and Zoe Venning (18 disposals, six tackles, six clearances) were all excellent for Westies’ in an otherwise disappointing showing.

North Adelaide will head to Thomas Farms Oval to take Sturt on Saturday afternoon, with West Adelaide making a trip to the Bay to face Glenelg.

Woodville-West Torrens won its eighth match in a row, defeating Norwood by 50 points at The Parade.

It was all the Eagles as the visitors dominated in most areas across the ground to continue their unbeaten run whilst keeping Norwood goalless.

In a slow start for both teams, it was Eagles onballer Sophie Zuill who broke through late in the first quarter with the first goal of the game, as her side headed into the first break of the game with a 10-point lead.

With a stagnant start to the second quarter, which saw Norwood waste opportunities on goal, Eagle Rosette Zerella broke the goal drought for the visitors’ by booting the second major of the day.

It was the third quarter which saw Woodville-West Torrens click into gear, kicking five goals with Zerella kicking her second, followed by Klaudia O’Neill, McKenzie Dowrick, Christina Leuzzi and Imogen Trengove.

Another slow start to the final term saw both teams miss multiple shots on goal, but it was the 18-year-old Trengove who kicked the final goal of the game, as the Eagles continued their dominant season.

Former AFLW player Leah Cutting was phenomenal for the Eagles with 24 disposals, six tackles, seven clearances and a staggering 44 hit outs as her team cruised to victory.

Around the ground, Leuzzi was excellent with 25 disposals, nine tackles and a goal, along with Zahlia Niemann (16 disposals, six marks) and Marlie Fiegert (22 disposals, six clearances, four insides 50s).

Norwood’s Jade Halfpenny recorded almost a third of her team’s clearances for the game, racking up nine clearances to go along with her 21 disposals and seven tackles.

Sophie Arkun (15 disposals), Shai Hiscock (eight tackles) and Kate Alexander (27 hit outs, three clearances) all performed well in a frustrating outing for the Redlegs.

Norwood will now turn its attention to hosting Central District, with Woodville-West Torrens taking on South Adelaide in a top-of-the-table clash.