SANFLW Match Report – Round 9

After a couple solid wins and coming out of our last Bye week of the season, we were looking forward to a solid challenge in League leaders Glenelg on their home deck. Hannah Button was unavailable for the Glenelg clash which was our only change in the side for this week, who was replaced in the team by Tiana Fernandez who returned from a small quad issue.

We knew in the week leading up that it was going to be a real challenge for our group, but a good test as to where we are at this season after consistently finding improvements in our game each week. Fortunately, we came out of the block firing, with Chloe Tonkin kicking the first score of the game within the first 4 minutes of the game. Glenelg found the equaliser a short while later but 2 more goals to Kendell Saffin and Molly Petersen gave us a bit of breathing room heading into the first break.

The 2^nd quarter was a tight tussle, while both teams had even opportunities to hit the scoreboard, Glenelg were the only team able to score with a goal coming in the closing stages of the quarter which meant we held onto a 5-point lead at half time.

Glenelg’s pressure and intensity continued to climb over the last half of the game. Glenelg kicked the first 2 goals of the 3^rd quarter and were efficient from only 3 Inside 50 opportunities, which saw their lead break out to 7 points half way through the 3^rd. Again, our girls showed some fight and continued to work their way back into the game with a late goal to Nicole Hooper, our forwards applied plenty of pressure and a rushed behind in the dying seconds of the quarter meant scores were tied heading into the last quarter.

Glenelg proved in the last quarter why they are the team to beat, running out over the top of our young squad who continued to fight up until the last siren, eventually going down to the Bays by 10 points.

Although some of the skills at times were a little sloppy, we couldn’t deny that the girls gave it their all for all 4 quarters and showed that we are able to stick with almost any team when we are playing well. Emma Kilpatrick was sensational moving back to her original wing position, providing plenty of 2-way running and setting up some opportunities up forward, Tess Huxtable and Emma Chapman were also solid in their ruck/forward rotations and Zoe Venning was again everywhere having picked up 25 disposals.

Attention moves now to our home game against Central District where we are looking to make amends on last time we met and get back on the winners list.

Goal Kickers: Kendell Saffin (2), Chloe Tonkin, Molly Petersen, Nicole Hooper (1)

Best Players: Emma Kilpatrick, Tess Huxtable, Emma Chapman, Lucy Boyd, Zoe Venning

SANFLW Coach – Bruce Dawes