SANFLW Development League Round 6 Match Report

After a convincing win against North Adelaide the previous week we had the Development League team trek out to Elizabeth to face Centrals. It was great to see first gamers in Brydie Mannion and Bree Chapman come into the team and to see Lucy Waye, Molly Petersen and Emma Chapman be given their opportunity in the League after impressive performances over the last few weeks.

The conditions were perfect for football and the energy was positive leading into the game.

Centrals began strongly and their tackling pressure and good ball use saw us rattled early.

The opposition capitalized and managed three unanswered goals in the first quarter and we needed to respond quickly to have any chance of staying in the game.

We settled well in the second quarter holding Centrals to one point and creating numerous shots on goals. Unfortunately, we continued to miss opportunities and failed to convert and went into the half-time break trailing by 17 points.

The second half was not an easy game to watch as both teams struggled to find any free flowing movement with lots of congestion and skill errors. A credit to Centrals who closed us down and forced numerous stoppages, not allowing us to move the ball with any freedom.

With Centrals only scoring one more goal for the game and us unable to impact the scoreboard in the second half we finished the game going down by 23 points.

Mille Gentle and Tahlia Cua were our best defenders while Chelseas Frost, Sarah Campbell, Annie Brearley and Gracie Sim battled hard all day with little reward.

We will now face Norwood in our last game for the Development season at the Parade next Saturday and will look to finish the season off with a positive result.

Final scores: West 0.3 – 3 defeated by Centrals 4.2 – 26

Best players: Gentle, Sim, Campbell, Cua, Frost, Brearley

Development League Head Coach – Michael Wakim