South Adelaide and North Adelaide prepare for huge clash as SANFLW’s two undefeated teams
Krissie Steen and Rick Watts led the Panthers to the 2018 SANFLW flag as senior and assistant coach, respectively. But they are now preparing for battle, with Watts at the helm of South and Steen coaching North Adelaide.
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South Adelaide and North Adelaide remain the undefeated teams so far this SANFLW season and they are set to battle in a fortnight, after the league-wide bye.
The Panthers and the Roosters recorded big wins over Norwood and West Adelaide, respectively to set up the mouth-watering clash on March 13.
Check out how they and the other six sides faired in The Messenger’s match reports:
CENTRAL DISTRICT 1.4 (10) GLENELG 8.12 (60)
Glenelg coach Jason Fairall credits a “change in mindset” for his side’s 50-point thrashing against Central District on Saturday.
The Tigers finally got on the winners’ list with the emphatic 8.12 (60) to 1.4 (10) victory at Elizabeth.
Fairall said it was a great response from his players after losses in round one and two to North Adelaide and West Adelaide respectively.
“If you look at our list and how many games our players have played, we are going to be on a rollercoaster,” Fairall said.
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“But we did actually change our mindset. “We found we weren’t doing some things we wanted to but we got a great response.
“The (new) mindset is just about what we are doing with the ball and how we are winning the ball.
“We showed we can be better at winning the footy and that’s probably been our focus for the last week.
“We talk about defending while we are attacking and making sure we are still able to defend if we turn the footy over.
“I thought we were pleasing in that - there’s still some things to work on but these girls just got a win so we have to be happy with that.
“It’s not going to be perfect but I’m just glad they got some validation for their performance.”
Crows AFLW-listed ruck Caitlin Gould returned to the Tigers after being dropped from Adelaide’s side and performed strongly, finishing with 17 possessions, 18 hit-outs, four clearances and 4.4.
Central Ex-Crows-listed forward Katelyn Rosenzweig worked hard to provide a spark for the hosts when she kicked their first and only goal in the third term.
Demi Sonneman also played well (19 touches), while Shelby Smith (13 disposals, four clearances) was next best.
Bulldogs coach Shaun Ribbons said his side was simply outplayed and out worked by a team which wanted the win more.
“We were beaten around the footy,” Ribbons said.
“I thought after half-time we fixed up some things around the contest, won the inside-50 count, got our tackle rate a bit better and generated some opportunities to score.
“We are still finding it hard to put (the ball) through the big sticks but at the end of the day we were beaten by a team that was first to the ball.”
NORTH ADELAIDE 6.6 (42) WEST ADELAIDE 3.3 (21)
West Adelaide suffered its first loss of the season when it was taken to task by top side North Adelaide at Noarlunga on Saturday.
Both teams came into the match with two straight wins to begin the campaign but the Roosters pulled away early and controlled the contest to win 6.6 (42) to 3.3 (21).
North slammed on the first three goals of the game before the Bloods registered their first major late in the second term through Melanie Elsegood.
Ex-Scorpion cricketer Katelyn Pope put on a solid display and put North 26-points up with a left-foot snap at goal just before three-quarter time.
Ex-Melbourne AFLW utility and round two’s Player of the Week Ashleigh Woodland was best-a-field for the Roosters, finishing with 22 touches, seven marks and three goals.
Skipper Leah Tynan was also strong with 18 possessions and six tackles.
Zoe Venning battled hard for the Bloods, collecting 26 disposals while Elsegood booted two goals.
WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS 4.4 (28) STURT 5.6 (36)
Sturt secured its first win of its 2020 campaign under new coach Bruce Dawes by edging out Woodville-West Torrens at Noarlunga on Saturday.
The Double Blues, whose last win in round seven 2019 was also against the Eagles, controlled the contest with 23 more inside 50s.
But they were not able to dominate the scoreboard in a match which finished 5.6 (36) to 4.4 (28).
Alex Ballard booted two majors to be Sturt’s only multiple goal kicker, while former Adelaide Crow Georgia Bevan picked up a game-high 20 disposals.
Steph Walker, meanwhile, starred for the Eagles with 18 possessions, eight tackles and three clearances.
Amie Blanden (13 touches, three tackles, 10 hit-outs) also worked hard for Woodville-West Torrens.
SOUTH ADELAIDE 9.2 (56) NORWOOD 4.2 (26)
South Adelaide coach Rick Watts says beating fellow undefeated side North Adelaide is going to be a tough ask.
The Panthers, who are coming off a 30-point win against Norwood at home, take on the ladder-leading Roosters after the league-wide bye on Saturday, March 14.
The reigning premiership mentor was looking forward to coming up against Roosters coach Krissie Steen, who he was an assistant to when the Panthers won the 2018 flag. “It’s clear they’re (North) the team to beat this year,” Watts said.
“The way they move the ball is phenomenal and we are going to be really hard-pressed to beat them.
“Krissie is doing a great job with North Adelaide.
“We know they play an exciting brand of football and probably like us the last two seasons – really skilful, really fast and high scoring.
“So for us, we need to catch them the other way.
Our defence needs to be ready to go and slow down their leading patterns and change of direction.
“Hopefully we can apply enough pressure to catch them going the other way.”
The Panthers’ victory against the Redlegs at Noarlunga last Saturday was their third consecutive triumph and was recorded despite having 13 fewer inside 50s.
In-form forward Jess Kirk led the way with four goals for South, while young gun Teah Charlton amassed 26 disposals, two clearances and six tackles.
Former Norwood player Tahlia Meyer also starred against her old side with 22 touches, three tackles and four inside-50s. Watts was proud of his team’s effort but refused to allow players to get complacent.
“We always prepare ourselves for a really challenging game against Norwood and it’s always great to come out on top,” Watts said.
“They really matched us … and had a lot of inside-50s.
“But we dominated possession outside of those stoppages.
“We were able to take our chances and kicked a bit straighter this week which made it a lot easier.
“But we need to be mindful that we’ve probably played three of the bottom four teams at the moment.
“West Adelaide and North Adelaide look like the top-two teams.
“It’s (being 3-0) a great start by the girls but we are not getting ahead of ourselves.”
ROUND FOUR
Friday, March 13
■ Eagles v Glenelg – 6pm at X Convenience Oval, Elizabeth
■ Central District v Sturt – 7.45pm at X Convenience Oval Elizabeth
Saturday, March 14
■ West Adelaide v Norwood – 5pm at Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga
■ South Adelaide v North Adelaide – 6.45pm at Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga