Loftus Match Report: SANFLW Round 1 v West Adelaide
West Adelaide v South Adelaide
Round 1 - Thebarton Oval - 01/03/2024
QT | HT | 3QT | Final | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South |  | 3.1 | 4.1 | 6.3 | 7.4 (46) |
West |  | 2.3 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 7.7 (49) |
Nield, Hickey, Brockhurst, Anderson, Cleggett | |
Brockhurst 3, Anderson, Boileau, La.Cockatoo-Motlap, Hickey | |
Cleggett (Foot) | |
The girls are back and 2024 is looking better than ever, after a heartbreaking finish in last year’s grand final the focus is directed at one goal this season, to bring home that flag.
Faced against West Adelaide at Thebarton oval the opponent wasn’t to be taken lightly, hence the start from the league side.
The squad was all over it to start this contest. Sieging forward it wouldn’t take long until the first goal of the season would be sailing through, coming off the boot of Vice-Captain Jordann Hickey with an absolute bomb from 45-metres out.
The defensive football was looking very solid early as the side was applying high levels of pressure. This opening up the oval for the Panthers, allowing the ball to be moved well around the ground all game.
The next majors came in quick succession with Emily Brockhurst taking a nice grab 20-metres out on a tight angle, following her work with some elegance.
Mel Anderson shortly after would turn on the jets, blitz her defender and kick a classy goal while on the move from 30-metres out.
Unfortunately, Westies would reply well and put this contest back into contention the league side finishing up the quarter in the lead by 4-points.
The second term was an adjustment as the opposition would start to build some momentum, kicking three majors, while the league side was only able to provide one.
This coming from Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap just after the 8-minute mark. Laying a crushing tackle, rewarding her with a set shot from 35-metres out the kick was pure.
The pressure was up, Nikki Nield being the enforcer of this movement, she would finish the contest with a whopping 17 tackles.
At the half the league side were down by 10-points. Headed into the third the side were looking like the side to beat as Westies would only provide one point in the term.
The girls would turn this into an opportunity as Brockhurst kicked her second after a quick passage, running onto the ball and providing within the square.
Brooke Boileau was electric in the third, finishing her game with a team high 24 disposals. Her major was just as special, with a pickup after a turnover she let it fly from 40-metres out while on the move.
Headed into the last it was clear it was going to go down to the wire. Brockhurst continued her offensive game with one final major early in the term, this however is where the scoring would dry up and Westies would manage to fire late.
The contest would end in heartbreak, with West Adelaide's Emma Kilpatrick kicking her first goal after the siren in what was a classic contest to start the season.
With that 3-point loss to start the year it was clear the competition was going to be closer than ever.
All that can be done now is prepare for the contest against Norwood in their first home game of the season on Saturday the 9th at 6:00pm.
West Adelaide v South Adelaide
Development Round 1 - Thebarton Oval - 01/03/2024
QT | HT | 3QT | Final | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South | | 3.4 | 3.4 | 6.8 | 7.8 (50) |
West | | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.1 (13) |
Clifton, Francois, N.Wright, Kirk, Dolan | |
Archbold 3, Kirk 2, K.Campbell, S.Rayner | |
Footy was back with a bang as the women’s development side were firing from all cylinders against West Adelaide at Thebarton oval.
In the first quarter it was clear that the squad was riding off the back off last seasons premiership form with a three-goal start.
Jess Kirk started her season with a goal in the first 40 seconds of playing time from within the square after an effective passage of play. Westies would kick back but this would be their last major until the final quarter.
The play around the ground was smooth and it wasn’t long until Shae Archbold began her scoring frenzy, starting with a set shot from 30-metres out.
Archbold who played her first game of football since 2022 after suffering a ACL injury, found herself in all the right spots which would lead her to a tough set shot from 40-metres out, but the distance wasn’t an issue as she unleashed and slotted an impressive major.
After an electric opening the development squad found themselves without many opportunities up forward in the second term and wouldn’t provide any scores, with this the defence stepped up only allowing 1 point to be kicked in their lapse.
With that Lauren Clifton was looking incredibly effective around the around making use of her great skills by hand and foot making sure the pressure was applied at all times.
The third term was eerily similar to the first as the girls would put their foot down by kicking three majors. Savannah Raynor kicking one early under pressure was impactful, swiftly followed by Kirk’s second with a kick from around her body.
Kyanne Campbell would end the onslaught with a crisp set shot from 25-metres out, all but securing the win for the girls.
In the final quarter Archbold wanted more and just before 5 minutes ticked down, she would find herself with a paddock up forward, shrugging off her defender and swinging around onto her left boot at the top of the square the score was confirmed with class.
With that last major the development squad would find themselves winning this contest convincingly by 37-points.
It was the perfect start to the season, the girls going home with all smiles as they prepare themselves for their contest against Norwood in the first home game of the season on Saturday the 9th at 4:00pm.
