Central, North, West and South all record wins in round one of SANFLW
Round one of the SANFLW is complete with plenty of thrilling results, including an unlikely upset. Read our match wraps plus coaches’ comments here.
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The 2020 SANFLW campaign kicked off on Friday night and continued through to Saturday with plenty of close and exciting games.
An ex-AFLW star proved the difference for Central District in its come-from-behind win against Norwood, two-times reigning premiers South Adelaide just scraped through for a win against last year’s wooden spooners, while North Adelaide proved too strong for an inaccurate Glenelg.
Read our match wraps here:
NORTH ADELAIDE 7.4 (46) GLENELG 2.10 (22)
North Adelaide kicked off its campaign with a 24-point victory against Glenelg at Elizabeth on Saturday.
The Roosters struggled early and were down by four points at quarter-time before booting 4.4. and keeping the Tigers scoreless in the second term to lead by four goals at the main break.
The Tigers continued to battle hard but failed to make the most out of their opportunities inside 50, while the Roosters capitalised on theirs to prevail 7.4 (46) to 2.10 (22).
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New North coach Krissie Steen was pleased with the result but said there was still plenty of improvement to come.
“What I’m most proud about it that we’ve really worked hard to have a structure,” Steen said.
“We’ve really worked hard on our ball movement and on our decisions with the ball and I think it showed in the second quarter.
“We’ve got work to do and we’ve got to string the quarters together but in the second quarter they really got up and that was fantastic.
“I think our backs really applied a lot of pressure and so did the midfield.
“They did miss some sitters but I think overall quite a few of them were due to the pressure the backline piled on and I’m happy with that.”
Bek Rasheed, daughter of North games record holder Mick Redden, made her debut and recorded seven disposals, 14 hit-outs and three clearances.
Rising star Hannah Ewings also starred and, at 15 years old, became the youngst North women’s player to boot a goal on debut.
Glenelg coach Jason Fairall said there was plenty of positives to take from the game.
“We had nine SANFLW Glenelg debutants,” Fairall said.
“With that comes a little bit of up and down and we got that.
“There was particularly one quarter – the second quarter – that cost us a bit.
“We had more scoring shots, we controlled the game for periods of time, particularly throughout the second half after we dropped our bundle a bit in the second quarter.
“I was very surprised that our girls were able to regroup the way they did in the third, with that inexperience.
“(But) “I’m super proud (and) we are going to be so much better for the run.”
CENTRAL DISTRICT 5.3 (33) NORWOOD 4.5 (29)
Central District enjoyed a come-from-behind win, beating 2019 minor premier Norwood at Elizabeth.
Former Crows AFLW-listed forward Katelyn Rosenzweig overcame a back injury that almost threatened to derail her career to boot four goals in a matchwinning performance.
The Redlegs led by seven points at the main break but the Bulldogs cut that to just one at three-quarter time before storming home, 5.3 (33) to 4.5 (29).
Shelby Smith, daughter of former Bulldogs captain Greg Smith, starred with 20 possessions, while 17-year-old Laitiah Huynh picked up 15.
Central coach Shaun Ribbons said the hard work his team put in over pre-season had paid off against Norwood.
“It was pretty exhilarating at the end there and it could’ve gone either way but they hung in there,” Ribbons said.
“It was pretty exciting for the girls, they had worked really hard and were rewarded.
“We focus mostly on the girls bringing their weapons and taking the game on – in the end they did – and that’s probably what got us the win.”
SOUTH ADELAIDE 4.4 (28) WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS 3.6 (24)
South Adelaide’s premiership defence is so far on track but last year’s wooden spooners gave the two-times reigning champions a scare on Friday night.
The Panthers were forced to fight hard for the 4.4 (28) to 3.6 (24) victory at Noarlunga after the Eagles registered the final four scoring shots of the match.
South coach Rick Watts was relieved to have secured the win but said there was lots to work on ahead of this weekend’s clash against Sturt.
“I knew it was going to be a very close game with (the Eagles) improving dramatically and us trying to find our feet,” Watts said.
“We probably squandered some opportunities early that kept them in the game.
“Then when they had the breeze in the final quarter, it was a bit of touch and go, but the girls defended well.
“I felt we probably didn’t keep our structure around the midfield, except for our wings, and then we also weren’t very clean, so we will be working on that at training.
“We as a coaching group were more relieved than satisfied but once we reviewed it, it was a really good win and the girls showed a lot of resilience to get back into the game.”
The hosts got off to a perfect start when captain Lauren Buchanan and debutant Kelli Nijhuis booted the first two goals of the game.
But the Eagles were not going to give up that easily and a goal to Mikayla Cavallaro helped the visitors to a six-point lead at half-time.
Crows AFLW-listed ruck and dual SANFLW premiership star Montana McKinnon’s dominance led to South edging back in front.
McKinnon recorded 18 possessions, seven marks and four clearances, while fellow Crows-listed player Czenya Cavouras led the way in the midfield with 20 touches, 11 tackles and six clearances.
STURT 2.3 (15) WEST ADELAIDE 5.6 (36)
Sturt senior mentor Bruce Dawes says coaching staff will work hard to restore confidence in the players following a 21-point loss to West Adelaide at Elizabeth on Saturday.
The Double Blues were unable to kick off their season with a triumph, going down to the Bloods 5.6 (36) to 2.3 (15).
Sturt struggled to contain West’s strong midfield, which was led by Crows AFLW-listed player Rachelle Martin, who ended the game with 15 disposals, four marks and nine clearances.
Dawes conceded his side was afraid to fail and did not take the game on.
But he was proud of the leadership co-captains Georgia Bevan and Maya Rigter showed after the pair combined for 37 possessions.
“I think it’s still a bit of fear of failure that we are suffering a bit at the moment and girls are probably not quite brave enough to have a go,” Dawes said.
“The last couple of seasons haven’t been winning seasons so we just have to try and turn that around.
“There was still positives signs there but we just have to have a bit more of a go.
“It’s about us coaching making sure the girls have that confidence to have a go.
“We’ll review the game … and hopefully go through a lot of parts that we want to try and have a go at getting better then we will practise them.
“That’s all we can do, keep working through the structures we want to play.
“They (Bevan and Rigter) are top quality girls and very deserving of being captains.
“It showed yesterday.
‘Their performance was very good in leadership on the ground but also their own games so I was most pleased with their efforts.”
West coach Mark Moody played eight debutants and said the youngsters really stamped their mark on the competition.
“It wasn’t a pretty game but when we got on top and were able to move the ball quickly, it was good,” Moody said.
“We had eight debutants and we played a lot of youth.
“That’s what the pleasing thing was, that we had a lot of youth and they stepped up.”
ROUND TWO
■ West Adelaide v Glenelg – at Richmond on Friday February 21, 6pm
■ Woodville-West Torrens v Norwood – at Richmond on Friday February 21, 7.45pm
■ South Adelaide v Sturt – at Noarlunga on Friday, February 21, 6.30pm
■ Central District v North Adelaide – at Elizabeth on Saturday, February 22, 11am