SANFLW

West Adelaide 4.3.27

Sturt 5.4.34

In Round Seven, we faced off against Sturt at Hisense Stadium. We made three changes to our line-up from the previous game, bringing in Molly Petersen, Paige Allen, and debutant Kayla Mudge. They replaced Gracie McNichol (omitted), Rachelle Martin, Adelaide Crows, and the newly drafted Emma Kilpatrick.

Unfortunately, our first-quarter struggles continued. Sturt got off to a fast start, kicking three unanswered goals in the opening term – far from the start we were hoping for. At quarter-time, we focused on resetting and returning to our brand of football. While we still couldn’t hit the scoreboard ourselves in the second quarter, we managed to hold Sturt goalless and felt we had begun to regain control of the game.

Early in the third quarter, we found reward for effort. After some strong run from half-back, a clean passage of play ended with Paige Allen kicking our first goal. Despite feeling in control for long stretches, we couldn’t convert on the scoreboard. Still, we kept Sturt scoreless again in the third term. It wasn’t until the 18-minute mark that we scored again, this time through Hannah Button, who snapped truly in a congested forward line to cut the margin to nine points. Then, just before the three-quarter-time siren, a quick transition out of the centre saw Nicole Hooper kick truly, narrowing the margin to just three points. It was a well-deserved reward for our persistence.

We started the final quarter strongly. A contested mark by Chloe Tonkin was followed by a pinpoint pass to Lucy Waye, who slotted the goal to put us in front by three points. The final term was tightly contested, and while we continued to generate opportunities, we could only add minor scores. At the 12-minute mark, Sturt broke through with a goal to reclaim a two-point lead. We responded with more forward pressure, narrowing the gap to just one point. But again, at the 18-minute mark, Sturt found a major, stretching their lead to seven points – which ended up being the final margin.

It was a disappointing result and another opportunity missed. We’ll be working hard to address our slow starts and ensure we play a complete four-quarter game moving forward.

Best players on the day were captain Madi Russell, Lucy Waye, Hannah Button, Zoe Venning, and Chloe Tonkin.

The result leaves us two games outside the finals with seven games remaining. We’re still in the hunt and believe we can push for a finals spot – but it will take consistent, four-quarter efforts.

Next week, we take on North Adelaide at Prospect Oval in what promises to be another tough contest.

Goals:

Nicole Hooper, Lucy Waye 1.1

Paige Allan, Hannah Buton 1

Bruce Dawes

SANFLW Coach