SANFLW grand final replay: Glenelg claims historic first flag

The Bays have made history in decisive fashion but not without late resistance from West Adelaide. See the full match replay here.

Statewide Super Women’s League Premiers Glenelg Football Club celebrate their SANFLW grand final victory. Picture: SANFL

Glenelg has banked its first SANFLW premiership with a decisive 23-point victory over West Adelaide at Thebarton Oval on the back of a brilliant 31-possession game from Ebony Marinoff.

Best on ground Marinoff, who kicked the final goal of the game, and Caitlin Gould (21 touches and eight marks) in the ruck ran amok as the Bays withstood a Bloods mini-revival in the second term.

“It’s a pleasure to come to this great club,” Marinoff said after the match.

“I’m very proud to put these colours on for the first flag in its history. I love this club, I’m so proud.”

Gould said its third term effort clinched the victory where it restricted the Bloods to just three behinds.

“We’ve been waiting for this moment for such a long time,” Gould said.

“The girls worked so hard.”

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The Bays enjoyed the dream start with Jess Searle converting inside 30 seconds after Gould ripped it out of the centre.

Glenelg built an important two-goal buffer when a snap from Marinoff, who would collect 12 touches for the quarter, sailed through as the Bays dominated the inside 50 count (6-2).

But just when it looked like the Bloods couldn’t find any forward line polish they hit back hard in the second — the umpire paying advantage after a high tackle that allowed Chelsea Biddell to stroll in for the Bloods’ first.

Glenelg captain Ellie Kellock with West Adelaide stand-in captain Abbie Ballard ahead of the SANFL women’s grand final. Picture: Mark Brake

The game went up several levels in intensity with some fierce defensive play from the Bays’ forwards – three players applied their hands to a Bloods defender in one standout passage.

Despite Jess Searle drilling her second with a great running goal, the Bloods began to believe after a terrific snap out of heavy traffic from Sarah Dargan.

But it would be that white-hot Bays pressure that orchestrated its next goal, with Jess Bates pouncing on a smother to put Glenelg 12 points up.

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Gould was particularly dominant with ten touches to half time, Marinoff was everywhere with 20 possessions and a goal and skipper Ellie Kellock particularly resolute in defence.

But in a key period of play, the Bloods blew their chances to draw level with Biddell unable to convert from a strong mark then missing moments later on the run.

Up the other end it was a similar story with Gould marking everything in sight – collecting six big grabs for the quarter – but the Bays couldn’t deliver the knockout punch.

After numerous chances to ice the game in the final stanza, it was fitting Marinoff ran onto a Chelsea Packer dribbler to finish the match.

Bloods skipper Abbie Ballard said she was “devastated we couldn’t get the win but I could not be prouder”.

The women’s premiership decider is one of three SANFL encounters live streamed on advertiser.com.au this weekend.

Woodville-West Torrens’ under-18 clash with Central District was broadcast from 11.30am on Saturday, while the league encounter between Norwood and Glenelg will be streamed from 2.10pm on Sunday.