South Adelaide vs Norwood
Development League Grand Final - Coopers Stadium - 22/04/2023

Goals: Kirk, Murdoch, Woodward
Best: Hooper (Thanks to Cheffy Chelby's), Ross, Koster, Schirmer, N.Wright

South Adelaide Women’s Development Team Bring It Home! 

After a short break the development side were back and ready to lace up on the biggest stage.

It has been a fantastic season for these Panthers and their unrelenting hard work saw them land a spot in the big dance against the undefeated Norwood in the Grand Final.

It was going to take the efforts of every player to get the job done but the girls were ready and hungry.

In perfect conditions at the pristine Coopers Stadium, it was looking like history waiting to be written.

After one of Norwood’s major scores came early a reply was waiting to happen.

A contested ball came belting into the South Adelaide forward line, it was handled with purpose and swiftly moved around by the team and ended at the top of the goal square.

This is where Hannah Murdoch would operate with class, gathering smoothly and kicking it through for South’s first goal of the Grand Final.

Even though the development side were chasing heading into the second term it was a hard fought first quarter with Jorja Hooper shining early. 

In the second quarter it was a tussle to start off with as both defences were relentless. As it transpired the girls would work the ball towards the attacking fifty and kick towards a 1v1.

Abby Woodward as she has done all season long provided a great contest, getting free from her defender, running to the loose ball, collecting gracefully and while being dragged down got the ball onto her boot and secured the difficult goal.

The development side were now in the lead and looking the goods. 

Norwood were not going to go down easy and would reply shortly after giving them the lead once more.

After the quality first half it was evident that it was going to be a back-and-forth battle in the next half of football.

Neither team were able to kick a goal in the third term, but the minor scores would end up being crucial in the result of the game for South Adelaide. 

Caitlin Ross was putting on a clinic and made her opponents earn it in every contest.

The fourth quarter was one for the ages and was make or break. 

Norwood were struggling to get near goals as the defence was becoming too much. 

As the ball was thrown up it was a contested ball, managing to leak out and get cleared by the South Adelaide midfielders, getting up forward and kicked toward a pack.

Jessica Kirk would read the play perfectly and get the ball uncontested out the back, running into the open goal within the first 30 seconds of the term, giving the panthers the lead again.

Now back in front the Panthers weren’t going to let up. 

They would finish the game in front and get the job done, winning the Grand Final. 

As the siren would blow the squad erupted knowing what had just happened. Winning the much-deserved flag. 

It goes without saying how proud everyone at the club is of this group and they are now in the history books as the 2023 premiers.