South Adelaide v Central District
Second Semi Final - Flinders University Stadium - 28/05/2023

Goals: Barwick, Gulden, Hickey, Northcott
Disposals: Boileau, Gulden 18, Brook, Cavouras 14, Dolan, Smith 12
Best: Gulden (Thanks to Cheffy Chelby's), Brook (Thanks to Jimmy Deane's), E.Schirmer (Thanks to Jimmy Deane's), Boileau, Ifould

The Women’s League Team rise to the occasion in the Semi-Finals as they secure a spot in the Big Dance.

In the final round of the season the women’s league team secured top spot on the ladder after their win against Norwood, granting them a home final against Central Districts.

It was going to take every individual on the team to get the win over Central Districts as they were one of two teams to take down the panthers during the season. With a chance in the grand final on the line, it was set to be a great contest.

In the first quarter it was a hard footy to get a hold of as each side was crashing hard and making sure to be defensive minded.

As it happened South were the side able to hit the scoreboard in the first term. Using the ball well and getting into opportunistic positions around the ground.

Senna Gulden was the only major goal scorer in the term as she would snap it around her body from 35-metres out, getting it to trickle past a contest and sneak into the goals.

It was clear that the clearance work was a major emphasis for the team as they were doing well to keep it in the forward fifty.

The second term is where it got interesting as Centrals realized the magnitude of the occasion, providing two major scores.

A massive blow to what was a great first half of football.

The Panthers did manage to provide one major in the term, Lucy Northcott being the provider after she was given a free kick in front 30-metres away from home.

Despite the margin being at just 1-point headed into the second half of football it was a great display from the panthers.

In the third term there was plenty of room for Central Districts to fight their way back into the contest, a dominant showing was needed in the premiership quarter.

The pressure didn’t let up all day and Senna Gulden was a major component of this as she laid 12 tackles in the game once it was all said and done.

It was a tussle for the lead at the start of the quarter as Centrals managed to equal the scores.

After a hard-fought passage of play the relief was provided by Jordann Hickey, stretching to her peak, and taking a dominant grab 25-metres away from goal. The set shot was just as great as the grab and the panthers had a lead once again.

Central Districts would provide another minor score leaving the panthers up by 5-points headed into the final quarter.

It was make or break with either side still being able to affect the result of their respective seasons. Centrals weren’t backing down and it was going to come down to the final siren.

South looked in control to start the quarter as star Brooke Boileau was putting the finishing touches on her 18-disposal performance.

After a series of minor scores for the women’s league side it was all but certain the breakthrough was coming.

During the early moments of the term Elise Barwickprovided a crucial major score, after she was given the free kick for being pushed in the back, she was lining up from 30-metres out. The kick needed to be spot on and it was, giving the league side a commanding 13-point lead.

Despite the attempts by the opposition late there wasn’t enough time as the Women’s league side would get the win and secure their spot in the grand final.

It took a whole effort, and it is safe to say the club is ecstatic.

South Adelaide will meet either Central District or Norwood in the 2023 Hostplus SANFLW Grand Final, on Sunday June 11 at 2:15pm at Prospect Oval. 

The Grand Final will also be Live and Free on Channel 7 or 7Plus.