SANFLW League Match Report Round 3

Round 3 saw us facing Sturt at Hisense Stadium. Having won our last 2, we were desperate to get our 3^rd win on the board which would help set up the remainder of the season. The lineup remained unchanged from their previous week’s win over North Adelaide.

Right from the opening minutes, the tone was set as Emma Kilpatrick got an early intercept possession, swiftly converting it into a mesmerizing bouncing goal from beyond the 50-metre mark. The first quarter witnessed a dynamic performance from Hannah Button, collecting 8 disposals. The team’s momentum was further bolstered by Paige Allan earning a down-the-ground free kick which Jemma Ellis converted into a set shot goal, giving us an 11-point lead at quarter time.

However, Sturt displayed resilience in the second quarter, narrowing the point deficit to a mere 5 points by half time, despite failing to fully capitalise on their opportunities. Lauren Young emerged as the lone goal scorer in the quarter, capitalizing on a turnover in the Forward 50 to maintain a lead into the 2^nd half.

The third quarter unfolded in a tightly contested manner, with neither side managing to register a score until the midway point. It was once again Emma Kilpatrick who seized the moment, securing her second goal of the game late in the quarter, and giving us a bit of breathing room heading into the last quarter.

As the stakes were high in the last quarter, both teams geared up for an intense showdown. Lauren Young further extended our lead with her second goal of the game, alleviating some of the mounting pressure. Despite a late surge from Sturt, we managed to weather the storm clinching the victory with an 11-point margin.

Standout performances were aplenty, with Hannah Button’s dominance evident through her 17 disposals, including 14 contested possessions, along with 9 tackles and 4 clearances. Zoe Venning continued to impress with 22 touches, while Emma Kilpatrick’s impactful contributions with 12 disposals and 2 goals helped bolster the team’s success.

With this hard-fought triumph, we head into Round 4 maintaining a perfect record of three consecutive wins, setting the stage for a pivotal clash against Glenelg this weekend. Our resolve and determination will be thoroughly tested as we aim to sustain our unbeaten run in a top of the table clash this weekend.

Best Players: Hannah Button, Zoe Venning, Emma Kilpatrick, Emily Mableson, Ella Maxwell, Madi Russell

Goal Scorers: Emma Kilpatrick 2, Lauren Young 2, Jemma Ellis 1

SANFLW League Coach – Bruce Dawes