North Adelaide wins 2020 SANFLW flag after hard-fought victory against South Adelaide
North Adelaide’s captain paid tribute to late teammate Margie Varcoe in a heartfelt victory speech after the Roosters made history, claiming their first SANFLW grand final on Sunday.
North Adelaide
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North Adelaide skipper Leah Tynan paid tribute to late teammate Maggie Varcoe after her side capped an incredible Statewide Super SANFLW season by winning its first flag on Sunday.
The Roosters beat South Adelaide in the 2020 grand final in a thrilling clash by seven points at Thebarton Oval.
Tynan used her victory speech to remember Varcoe, who died in August 2018 following a head injury in an on-field collision during an Adelaide Footy League women’s match.
Varcoe played 14 games for the Roosters across the 2017 and 2018 SANFLW seasons, including the grand final loss to Norwood in the club’s inaugural campaign.
Tynan also paid tribute to North president Lee Virgin who died last month.
“I’d just like to thank everyone that’s come out today,” Tynan said.
“I also just want to say, just in memory of Margie Varcoe and Lee Virgin.
“South, you’ve been our competition all year … but to our girls, about bloody time.”
The Roosters, who went through the 2020 campaign undefeated, including beating the Panthers in a semi-final two weeks prior, prevailed 5.5 (35) to 4.4 (28).
Crows AFLW midfielder Anne Hatchard was the star North and she won the best-on-ground medal after finishing with a game-high 33 disposals, nine clearances, seven tackles and four inside 50s.
North claimed the flag despite a final-quarter fight back from the two-times premiers.
South kept North scoreless in the fourth quarter, while kicking 1.2
The Roosters’ backline, led by ex-South defender Kristi Harvey (five defensive rebounds, 11 possessions), held firm in the final quarter as the Panthers surged forward.
North coach Krissie Steen, who was at the helm when South won its first flag in 2018, was proud of her side.
Steen was pleased North was finally able to win a flag after two failed attempts in 2017 and then last season.
“I’m pretty excited, it was a really good game,” Steen said.
“I think, along with the excitement of winning, the biggest feeling you have as a coach is relief.
“It’s such a big build up.
“The girls handed (the pressure) pretty well and I hid how I was feeling from them.
“It’s the first time since 1914 a team has gone through a season undefeated.
“This is probably been the most pressured grand final because I didn’t want the girls to be disappointed.”
Steen also paid tribute to the SANFL and the competition’s sponsor Statewide Super for ensuring the women’s league returned to action after the COVID-19 shutdown.
Tahlia Meyer, meanwhile, (18 touches) was best for South, while Crows AFLW-listed youngster Nikki Gore (15 possessions) also worked hard.
Panthers coach Rick Watts said North deserved the victory but was proud of his players for not giving up.
“We knew they were the best team all year,” Watts said.
“There was some aspects of the game that we just didn’t execute.
“We have to give credit to our girls for forcing the errors and the pressure.
“The disappointing fact isn’t that we lost but that we had chances to win.
“It (the loss) wasn’t down to the effort or a lack of application from our girls.”
SCOREBOARD
NORTH ADELAIDE 2.2 4.2 5.5 5.5 (35)
SOUTH ADELAIDE 2.0 3.1 3.2 4.4 (28)
BEST: North – Hatchard, Daniel, Pope, Harvey, Taylor. South: Meyer, Gore, Whiteley, Buchanan, Campbell.
GOALS:
North — Castle, Perry 2, Ewings. South — Charlton, Tahu, Schirmer, Gore.
CROWD: 1000 At Thebarton Oval