Bloods, Panthers, Tigers and Redlegs win in opening round of 2019 SANFLW season
The reigning premiers reigned supreme, two newcomers had tough initiations and other clubs staked their claim as the SANFLW returned on Friday night. See all the results and video highlights.
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The reigning premiers reigned supreme, two newcomers had tough initiations and others staked their claim as SANFLW returned on Friday night.
Read Messenger Community News’ match reports on all the round one action.
WEST ADELAIDE 6.7 (43) CENTRAL DISTRICT 3.5 (23)
Central District coach Shaun Ribbons says there are plenty of positives from the club’s 20-point loss in its first SANFLW game and expects his players to be much better for the experience.
Fielding 17 debutants and two 16-year-olds, the Bulldogs went down 6.7 (43) to 3.5 (23) in their historic match against West Adelaide at Richmond on Friday night after being outscored 4.5 to 1.1 during the first half.
But Central fought back to win the inside 50 count 25-24 – it was 18-5 its way after half-time – and kick two goals apiece.
“Probably in the first half we were a bit overrun, particularly through the midfield,” Ribbons said.
“But then after half-time the girls really showed they were good enough to compete at that level.
“Winning the inside 50 count gives you a good opportunity to score, we just couldn’t quite put the goals on the board when we needed to.
“So there were some really positive signs … particularly the last half and how we responded.”
Danielle Stewart (15 disposals, eight tackles), Jayme-Lee Sonneman (team-high 16 touches), Gemma Doughty, Laitiah Huynh and Crows-listed Katelyn Rosenzweig were Central’s best.
Madison Newman (26 disposals) and Rachelle Martin (23) were the Bloods’ major ball-winners.
Martin also had a game-high nine tackles, while Abbie Ballard had seven.
SOUTH ADELAIDE 6.10 (46) STURT 2.2 (14)
It took just one match for reigning premiers South Adelaide to return to the top of the SANFLW tree after it shook off a sluggish start to defeat Sturt on Friday night.
The Panthers had all the play but could not make it count on the scoreboard in the first three quarters at Noarlunga to lead 2.8 to 2.2 going into the final term.
But South found its polish when it needed it most to boot four majors, keep Sturt scoreless and run out 6.10 (46) to 2.2 (14) winners.
First-year coach Rick Watts was happy with his side’s early ball movement, despite being unable to convert.
“We had good, promising passages of play early on but it just came down to some decision making issues and wayward kicking,” Watts said.
“We lacked a bit of polish but that will come.”
The Panthers unfurled their 2018 flag before the game but it took until late into the third term for them to find inspiration.
A strong mark and cool conversion from emerging forward Teah Charlton sparked South into action and gave it a one-goal lead at the final change.
The 16-year-old, who missed 2018 through injury, then went on to boot two more goals.
“We sought dispensation for her (Charlton) to play last year as a 15-year-old and she did the whole pre-season but had shin splints and didn’t play a game,” Watts said.
“It was great to see her out there.
“She’s 16 so has plenty of talent and plenty of exciting football ahead of her.”
Youngster Hannah Munyard (19 disposals) had a breakout game, Norwood recruit Nicole Campbell (19) was among the Panthers’ best and Nikki Gore (19) was solid after not being required for AFLW duty with the Crows.
Izzy Kuiper led the way for Sturt with 15 touches, while Caitlyn Swanson and Lauren Lovell kicked one goal each.
GLENELG 7.9 (51) EAGLES 2.4 (16)
Glenelg’s off-season of change and chemistry-building culminated in a 35-point opening-round SANFLW victory over Woodville-West Torrens on Friday night.
The Tigers went into the game with 11 debutants and with coach Jason Fairall in sole charge for the first time, while the Eagles were making their first appearance in the competition.
Glenelg burst the match open with a 4.3-to-none second term before prevailing 7.9 (51) to 2.4 (16).
Fairall said bringing together a new-look squad had been challenging but a daylong team-building workshop in December, run by Bailetti Consulting’s Anita Bailetti and Face the World’s Charles Manning, had galvanised it.
“It put everyone on the same page to get a greater connection and a feel for each other,” Fairall said.
“No question, that’s probably been the most important thing we’ve done so far.
“We didn’t really know what to expect (on Friday night) given the Eagles are a new team and we had a lot of players making their debut as well but I was quite pleased with how everything came together.”
Fairall shared caretaker coaching duties with Tammy Scott for Glenelg’s last six games of 2018 after the club sacked Aleks Bojanic.
The Tigers finished last season bottom with a 1-9 record.
Friday night was Glenelg’s first win since March 25.
The Tigers’ best were Lucy Bellinger (two goals), Tess Morcom, Chelsea Packer, Ellie Kellock and Lucy Armitage.
Teenager Kiana Lee was a shining light for the Eagles.
Her 2.2 made up almost all of her side’s scoring.
AFLW academy member Jaimi Tabb and Georgia Taylor both gathered 17 touches to lead the way for Woodville-West Torrens, while Madeleine Dufek was also busy with 16 disposals.
NORWOOD 2.10 (22) NORTH ADELAIDE 1.5 (11)
Inaccuracy plagued Norwood during the first three quarters of its opening-round SANFLW clash with North Adelaide at Richmond on Friday night but it did not cost the Redlegs a victory.
The Roosters led 1.5 to 0.9 at three-quarter time as Norwood failed to make the most of its possession and inside 50 ascendancy.
But Najwah Allen kicked the last term’s only two goals to propel the Redlegs to a 2.10 (22) to 1.5 (11) triumph.
“In the first three quarters we obviously couldn’t put much scoreboard pressure on them by kicking a lot of points,” Norwood coach Steve Symonds said.
“We were possession-dominant and territory-dominant all game then in the last quarter we were able to click.
“We started to play a bit of a brand we’re trying to get to.”
Symonds put the wayward goalkicking down to several factors, including nerves, North’s tackling pressure, fielding eight debutants and his side having trained on a smaller oval at Rostrevor College during pre-season.
“We should’ve been in at three-quarter time up by three or four (goals),” he said.
“We didn’t take our opportunities … but once we kicked our first goal, it was like a release valve went off and they played some good footy after that.”
Hannah Dunn (29 disposals), Erika Sporn, Hannah Priest and Allen were Norwood’s best.
Elysha Willis kicked North’s sole major, while Amber Ward (17 disposals) was the Roosters’ leading possession winner.
ROUND TWO
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22
North Adelaide v Sturt – Norwood Oval, 6pm
Norwood v South Adelaide – Norwood Oval, 7.45pm
West Adelaide v Eagles – Richmond Oval, 7pm
Central District v Glenelg – Elizabeth Oval, 7.45pm
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