SANFLW Development League Round 1 Match Report

Our development team began the 2024 season against South Adelaide at Thebarton on Friday evening with 12 new players representing West Adelaide SANFLW for the first time at senior level.

We lost the toss and South kicked with a strong breeze in the first quarter and scored in the first minute. We responded with an equalizer before South controlled the rest of the quarter with repeated entries and led by 16 points at the first break.

The second quarter found us competing well and dominating the play in our forward half for the majority of the quarter. Unfortunately, our poor ball entry forward and South’s ability to congest the play was very effective. Both teams displayed numerous skill errors and due to continued pressure, limited effective disposal with neither team scoring a goal and South maintaining a 15-point lead into the main break.

The third quarter again saw South capitalize with the wind and they extended their lead with a further three goals taking a 37-point lead into the final quarter.

Grace McNicol was playing very well, with Milli Gentle, Philippa Worthley and Georgia Weatherspoon trying to work us back into the game.

The last quarter displayed some promising moments of better ball use when we looked to widen the ground and open up the play not allowing South’s tall defenders to impact as much. A very clever snap by Grace McNicol to score a goal in the last quarter was a welcomed highlight.

The game finished with us going down by 37 points.

While the result was disappointing, we will take numerous learnings from the game and build towards a better performance next week against North Adelaide.

Final scores: West 2.1- 13 defeated by South 7.8 – 50

Best players: Grace McNicol, Milli Gentle, Philippa Worthley, Georgia Weatherspoon

Goal Kickers: Grace McNicol 1 Jasmine White 1

Women’s Development League Coach – Michael Wakim