Women’ s League & Development Squad Coaches Reports

West 5.12 (42)
Norwood 2.3 (15)

For round two, we headed to the Parade to take on last year’s grand finalists, Norwood. After Norwood came off a close loss to last year’s premiers, South Adelaide, in round one, we knew it was going to be a tough match. But it was also an exciting opportunity to see where we stood against last year’s finalists.

The first quarter was a tight contest, with both teams’ defenses standing strong. Each team managed just one goal, with our goal coming from a great snap by Lucy Waye. Norwood played an extra player behind the ball, and we struggled to adjust to hitting up our shorter kicks, making scoring difficult.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with neither team able to gain the upper hand. The only goal of the quarter came from Norwood in the first two minutes, after a quick transition saw them breakthrough for a running goal. As the quarter wore on, we started to get on top in the midfield, with Zoe Venning, Hannah Button, Ruby Ballard, and Emily Mableson all winning their clearances and giving our forwards some chances. However, we still didn’t adjust well to our entries, often kicking long to their extra player. At halftime, we were behind 14 to 9.

During the break, we focused on encouraging the players to lower their eyes when going forward, avoiding those long bombing kicks, and to regain our composure. To the team’s credit, as soon as the third quarter started, they put this into action. The midfield continued to dominate, with Tess Huxtable starting to control the ruck, which gave our forwards a better look at the ball. At the four-minute mark, Liv Smith took a strong contested mark in the goal square and kicked truly to put us in front for the first time, leading by three points. We continued to dominate inside 50s and kept Norwood scoreless for the entire third quarter. Late in the quarter, Georgie Pater snapped a goal to extend our lead to more than 10 points.

The final quarter mirrored the third, with the girls gaining confidence from their structure and play. They continued to dominate the inside 50s, and a mark and goal from Alana Lishman, against her old team Norwood, was a moment to celebrate. The girls worked hard throughout the game and didn’t give Norwood a chance to fight back. Emma Kilpatrick, who had been dominant all day on her wing, had several shots on goal, and in the last quarter, she sealed the game with a great running goal from just inside 50. We managed to hold Norwood to just a single point in the second half.
Overall, it was a fantastic result for the team, and hopefully, the girls gained confidence from their ability to perform at this level.

Best players
Emma Kilpatrick, Ruby Ballard, Zoe Venning,Hannah Button, Lucy Waye
There were also many other contributors who could have easily made the best player list.

Goals
Alana Lishmund 1.1
Emma Kilpatrick, Georgie Pater, Olivia Smith, Lucy Waye

Next week, we take on last year’s premiers, South Adelaide, on Sunday. It’s another massive challenge for us to see where we stand among the top teams this year.
Regards,
Bruce

West Adelaide 3.3 (21)
Norwood 4.5 (29)

In a tightly contested match against Norwood, we started strong and showed great improvement in key areas of our game. Our first quarter was particularly impressive, as we dominated the play and provided plenty of scoring opportunities for our forwards. This was driven by elite ball movement from our midfielders and excellent defensive pressure from our backline. Our structures held up well, and the connection across the ground was evident, something we’ve seen improve week by week.

As the game progressed, however, our pressure began to slip, and we lost some composure with the ball in hand. Despite creating multiple inside-50 entries in the final quarter, we were unable to capitalise on our chances, ultimately falling short in a close contest. The final score saw Norwood take the win 4.5 (29) to West Adelaide 3.3 (21).

Our standout player this week was Izzy Trimbole, who was exceptional in defence—a new position for her. She displayed great composure under pressure and made smart decisions with the ball, standing out as a key contributor. She was well-supported by Kayla Mudge and Mary Rose, who continue to be solid and reliable defenders for us each week.

It was fantastic to welcome back Sienna Aldridge for her first game after injury. She made an immediate impact in the midfield with her high tackle pressure and determination to win the ball. Bree Chapman also continued her strong form, once again proving to be a reliable presence. Her leadership has been invaluable to our young group, with her drive and willingness to improve setting a great example.

We also saw the return of veteran Nicole Hooper, who showed why she has been a mainstay in the league side for so many years. Her contested marking was a highlight and provided an important target for us in the forward half of the ground.

Sarah Deed and Emma Robinson also put in strong performances, working tirelessly as they do each and every week. Sarah’s versatility and elite skills make her a pleasure to watch, while Emma’s work ethic continues to be a key asset for our team. While the result didn’t go our way, there were plenty of positives to take from the match. Our first-quarter dominance and improved structures showed what we’re capable of, and if we can maintain our pressure and composure for four quarters, we know we’ll be a tough team to beat moving forward.

Best Players:
Izzy Trimbole, Sienna Aldridge, Nicole Hooper, Sarah Deed, Mary-Rose Bahls Kildea, Emma Robinson

Lauren Gee
Development Coach