Norwood’s Najwa Allen is the inaugural Ellen Maple Medallist, while Tigers’ roar stuns Panthers
A Norwood star midfielder won the inaugural Ellen Maple Medal, Glenelg recorded an upset win over the reigning premier and the Roosters fine tuned ahead of the finals. All that and more in Messenger Community News’ wrap of the SANFLW round eight action.
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A Norwood star midfielder won the inaugural Ellen Maple Medal, Glenelg recorded an upset win over the reigning premier and the Roosters fine tuned ahead of the finals.
All that and more in Messenger Community News’ wrap of the SANFLW round eight action.
NORWOOD 7.6 (46) STURT 1.7 (13)
It WAS an emotional clash between Norwood and Sturt at Peter Motley Oval on Saturday.
Both clubs banded together to mark a year since former Redleg and Double Blue player Ellen Maple died in a car accident. Players were vying for the inaugural Ellen Maple Medal, awarded to the most courageous and determined player annually in games between Norwood and Sturt.
Norwood proved too strong with a 7.6 (48) to 1.7 (13) victory.
A panel awarded Allen the inaugural Ellen Maple medal following an outstanding performance.
She amassed a game-high 32 possessions, three tackles, five clearances and five marks.
Allen never played with or against Maple, having been recruited from Canberra to Norwood this season but she was honoured to have received the medal.
“I can see the impact she had on the girls and the impact she left behind,” Allen, 24, said.
“I’ve heard about the sort of person she (Maple) was and the impact she had on people which was pretty widespread.
“It’s pretty nice and pretty emotional to win even without knowing her.”
The Redlegs flew out of the blocks but were inaccurate in front of the big sticks early.
SA basketball great Jo Hill was the only goal scorer for the first term and helped the visitors to a nine-point lead.
The Redlegs continued to dominate with Lindsay Bigg (three goals) having an impact upforward and Canberra recruit Najwa Allen running riot in the midfield.
Sturt’s only major for the match came with seven minutes gone in the final term through co-captain Georgia Bevan, with Norwood eventually winning 7.6 (48) to 1.7 (13).
Sturt’s best were Alexandra Ballard (17 touches), Georgia Bevan (12) and Nicole Baker (11).
Norwood maintained its undefeated status and top spot on the ladder with two minor rounds remaining.
But coach Steve Symonds said it was important for his side not to get complacent.
“We’re really not trying to focus on finals or grand finals or premierships or anything like that,” Symonds said.
“The message I’m trying to get through to the group at the moment is just to try and play each quarter and to win each quarter, that’s our bottom line.
“We are trying to break it down to very small steps and from experience that’s probably the best way to keep people focused.”
GLENELG 5.2 (32) SOUTH ADELAIDE 2.6 (18)
Glenelg enjoyed an upset 14-point victory over reigning premier South Adelaide in their SANFLW clash at the Bay on Saturday – eight days after the Panthers beat them at the same ground.
In a twist of the fixture, the Panthers and the Tigers faced off for the second week in a row but this time the hosts managed to snatch a 5.2 (32) to 2.6 (18) victory.
South entered the game having suffered just one loss this season – to the top-placed Redlegs – while the Tigers slipped to fifth.
Glenelg coach Jason Fairall said his side was confident heading into this weekend’s match confident despite going down to South by 28 points the week before.
“It was very pleasing, I was very happy with that,” Fairall said.
“Credit to our midfield coach Ang Moritz, she came up with an idea that we actually hand some responsibility to our leaders to identify some areas that weren’t working too well and the leaders pulled through.
“We just wanted to have a bit of a harder edge to how we were playing.
“We weren’t doing some of the harder things we were doing through the pre-season but we’ve got back to that.
“We were challenged in the last quarter, we had to change the momentum so it was certainly character building.”
Lauren Bungey was the catalyst behind the victory with two second-quarter goals in two minutes, while Ellie Kellock was also prolific with 23 disposals, seven marks and seven tackles.
“We are a young team and we are going to have some up’s and down’s,” Fairall said.
“Hopefully we can start to come a bit more consistent, but the players need to understand that at their best, they can compete with anyone.”
Czenya Cavouras was the visitors’ best with 17 touches, 12 tackles and seven clearances.
Nicole Campbell (16 possessions) and Hannah Munyard (14 disposals, five tackles) also battled hard for the Panthers.
WEST ADELAIDE 3.8 (26) CENTRAL DISTRICT 1.4 (10)
West Adelaide bounced back from a loss to North Adelaide to beat Central District by 16 points at Elizabeth Oval.
Bloods young gun Madison Newman led from the front in her side’s 3.8 (26) to 1.4 (10) victory.
Newman finished with 19 disposals and was given plenty of help by Chelsea Biddell (18 touches and two goals).
Biddell’s performance took her season’s goal tally to 14 – second-best in the league behind North Adelaide’s Kelly Barltrop (21).
The match was tight from the first bounce and scores were hard to come by – the first major was kicked in the final minute of the opening term while the second came six minutes into the third quarter.
Central got within nine points early in the final stanza but Biddell’s second goal sealed the result.
Kimberley Fry (18 touches), Demi Sonneman (16), Danielle Stewart and Caitlen Teague (13 apiece) were the Bulldogs’ best.
NORTH ADELAIDE 9.13 (67) WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS 1.1 (7)
North Adelaide sent a fierce message to its rivals with a 60-point win against Woodville-West Torrens as it continues to build momentum heading into the final two minor rounds.
The Roosters 9.13 (67) to 1.1 (7) triumph at Woodville Oval on Saturday was built on a ruthless display and aided by the return of AFLW star Britt Perry.
Perry, fresh off her first AFLW campaign with Greater Western Sydney, finished with 24 disposals, while the SANFLW’s leading goalkicker Kelly Barltrop booted five majors.
The visitors held the hosts scoreless in the second and third quarters, while kicking 3.5 and 4.4, respectively.
Ex-Australian ice hockey player Tash Farrier was the Eagles only goal kicker, while former GWS midfielder Steph Walker was solid for the hosts with 21 touches.
North Adelaide is third – a win plus percentage behind second-placed South Adelaide.
Newcomer Woodville-West Torrens is bottom, having yet to win a game.
ROUND NINE
Good Friday, April 19
■ North Adelaide v Central District – Prospect Oval, 3.45pm
■ West Adelaide v Eagles – Richmond Oval, 4.45pm
■ Glenelg v Sturt – Glenelg Oval, 6.45pm
Saturday, April 20
■ South Adelaide v Norwood – Noarlunga Oval, 12.30pm
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