SANFLW State Team defeat WAFLW on home soil

By STEVE BARRETT

The SANFLW capitalised on the WAFLW’s inaccuracy in front of goal, mounting a late surge to record an eight-point victory at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

The Croweaters were on the back foot for large stretches but came up big when it mattered, making it two from two against the WAFLW and atoning for last month’s shock 27-point loss to the VFLW at Alberton.

SA trailed by a straight kick midway through the fourth quarter before spearhead Katelyn Rosenzweig outmarked WA’s Tiani Teakle and goaled to level the scores.

Then in the 14th minute, Norwood forward Kiana Lee capitalised on a 25m penalty awarded to Jess Bates, before outmarking two opponents and converting truly to break the deadlock.

Laela Ebert (16 disposals) won the medal for best SANFLW player, marshalling the hosts’ backline, which found itself regularly under siege during the first three quarters.

Despite Leah Cutting’s dominance in ruck, the WAFLW’s engine room – piloted by Lisa Steane and Krstel Petrevski – used slick hands to dominate at ground level early.

Isabella Shannon got WA on the board first, before Lauren Breguet goaled twice – via a free kick, then a smart baulking effort after being set up by Central District team-mate Rosenzweig – to give SA a five-point quarter-time edge.

The WAFLW dominated territory in the second term but a slew of missed shots kept the Croweaters in the hunt.

Zoe Venning goaled against the grain to level the scores – 3.1 to 2.7 – before Fina Dethlefsen responded on the stroke of half-time to put WA in front.

South Adelaide defender Tiffany King hobbled off after landing awkwardly on her right ankle in the third stanza, during which Lee’s early goal and further misses from the visitors meant WA’s lead was only one point at three-quarter-time.

The WAFLW eventually paid for their waywardness as the SANFLW side controlled the final quarter – Lee and Soriah Moon dominating in the air, Bates finding her rhythm and the Rosenzweig-Breguet-Lee trio looking increasingly threatening in attack.

SANFLW  2.0  3.1  4.2  6.5 (41)
WAFLW  1.1  3.7  3.9   4.9 (33)

BEST
SANFLW: Laela Ebert, Jess Bates, Leah Cutting, Zoe Venning, Soriah Moon, Katelyn Rosenzweig, Lauren Breguet.
WAFLW: Lisa Steane, Krstel Petrevski, Isabella Shannon, Jayme Harken, Tahlea Milder, Sasha Goranova.

GOALS
SANFLW: Lauren Breguet, Kiana Lee 2, Katelyn Rosenzweig, Zoe Venning.
WAFLW: Isabella Shannon, Courtney Lindgren, Fina Dethlefsen, Taylor Ferguson.

SANFLW Best Player – Laela Ebert (North Adelaide)
WAFLW Best Player Medal – Lisa Steane (Subiaco)

At Adelaide Oval