Women’s Development League Match Report – Round 5

SANFLW Development League – Round 5
West vs South at Flinders University Stadium

We travelled to the open spaces of Noarlunga to face the Panthers in Round 5. This week saw significant changes with players promoted to the league team as numerous players in our squad had been affected by injury and Covid related circumstances.

We had 11 changes this week, with first games for Lauren Hoffmann, Ashley Biddell and our three U18’s Izzy Spooner, Chloe Tarasenko and Sienna Manser getting an opportunity at senior level.

We also saw Kelly Barltrop take the field (our assistant coach), to offer much needed experience up forward and some on field leadership to the younger playing group.

Ins: Sam Ramm, Lucy Moloney, Ashley Biddell, Izzy Spooner, Chloe Tarasenko, Sienna Manser, Kelly Barltrop, Saraid Kustermann, Lauren Hoffmann, Tiana Fernandez, Renee Holmes

Outs: Tamika May, Beth Sigley, Charlotte Spence, Astrid Powell, Asha Dufour, Jess Chyer, Hannah Scholar, Tash Christophers (ALL League), Sadie Lienert (Covid), Erin Horsnell (N/A), Renee Freeman (injured)

We lost the toss and kicked into a strong breeze and soon found ourselves down with South capitalising early to kick two unanswered goals. We struggled to penetrate the South defence and struggled to score into the wind.

QT West 0.1 – 0.1 to South 2.2 – 14

We battled hard in the second quarter but with our limited experience, South were able to match us, kicking an early goal before we finally converted to enter the main break down by 14 points.

Tiana Fernandez was working hard on-ball while Lauren Hoffmann was rebounding repeatedly across half back. Tash McKay and Saraid Kustermann were solid in defence and our backline were working tirelessly and under pressure as South created repeated entries forward.

HT West 1.1 – 7 to South 3.3 – 21

The 3rd quarter saw South stretch their lead early adding a further goal, but we responded well, lifting our work rate and intensity as we controlled the last 10 minutes of the quarter into the wind. Unfortunately were unable to score and needed to find something special in the last to close the gap as we had a strong wind behind us.

3QT West 1.2 – 8 to South 4.4 – 28

Entering the final quarter, the players looked to take the game on and we found ourselves creating numerous opportunities. Unfortunately, we were only able to find the goals once in the last through the experienced Kelly Barltrop. What was pleasing was the continued effort right until the final siren, keeping South to one point in the last and seeing such a young inexperienced playing group growing as footballers.

FT West 2.5 – 17 defeated by South 4.5 – 29

Best Players: Lauren Hoffmann, Tash McKay, Tiarna Fernandez, Serena Lienert, Saraid Kustermann

Goal Kickers: Kelly Barltrop, Tiana Fernandez 1