Women's Match Reports 2019

From Snoutslouts

See also: Season 2019 for a summary of the season.

Round 1

A dominant display from tall Glenelg utility Lucy Bellinger ensured the Tigers would defeat Woodville-West Torrens by 35 points at Flinders University Stadium.

With her two goals sandwiching the three-quarter-time break, Bellinger finished with a game-high 23 disposals, 10 marks and five tackles to underline her improvement from last season.

The Tigers kicked clear in the second term by booting 4.3 while holding the Eagles scoreless.

Both of the Eagles’ goals were booted by emerging teenager Kiana Lee while AFLW Academy member Jaimi Tabb collected an equal team-high 17 disposals in her first game for the club.

LEADING DISPOSALS –

Glenelg: Lucy Bellinger 23, Ellen Fauser, Sam Franson 15, Tess Morcom 14, Charlotte Dawe, Bonnie Wells 12.

Eagles: Jaimi Tabb, Georgia Taylor 17, Madeleine Dufek 16, Abby Pengelly 14, Tash Farrier 13.

GOALS –

Glenelg: Lucy Bellinger, Hannah Crump 2, Ellen Fauser, Sam Franson, Brooke Trevena.

Eagles: Kiana Lee 2.

Round 2

Glenelg continued its stunning charge from last year’s wooden spoon to top of the table with a strong 17-point win against Central District at X Convenience Oval.

The Bays have beaten newcomers Woodville-West Torrens and the Bulldogs in the opening two rounds but there is little doubt how much they have improved and a win was rarely in doubt at Elizabeth on Friday.

Tigers skipper Cass Hartley just keeps on keeping on and she continued to work hard for another 18 possessions, along with Ellie Kellock.

Central’s Danielle Stewart earned 19 touches, while last year’s SANFLW leading goalkicker, with North, Katelyn Rosenzweig kicked two goals for the Doggies.

LEADING DISPOSALS –

Glenelg: Cass Hartley, Ellie Kellock 18, Ellen Fauser 16, Caitlin Gould 14, Lucy Armitage, Brooke Trevena, Bonnie Wells 12.

Central: Danielle Stewart 19, Shannen Solly 14, Abbey Scheer 11, Jayme-Lee Sonneman, Caitlen Teague 10.

GOALS –

Glenelg: Ellen Fauser, Olivia Walker-Obushak, Rebecca Steer, Hannah Crump, Samantha Franson.

Central: Katelyn Rosenzweig 2, Isabella Wilson.

Round 3

Glenelg continued its sudden resurgence by earning its third victory in succession, holding off North Adelaide by 15 points at City Mazda Stadium.

Last year’s wooden spooner continued to prove 2018 is a distant memory under new coach Jason Fairall, kicking 2.3 in the final term while keeping the Roosters scoreless.

Tigers recruit Chelsea Packer was the highest disposal-winner on the ground with 16 while Madisyn Freeman was the Bays’ only multiple goal scorer.

North captain Nadia von Bertouch collected 14 disposals while also putting her side in front with a goal early in the third term before Glenelg charged home for the win.

LEADING DISPOSALS –

Glenelg: Chelsea Packer 16, Jordana Bradley, Lucy Bellinger 12, Ellie Kellock 11, Ellen Fauser, Samantha Franson 10.

North: Amber Ward 15, Nadia von Bertouch, Adrienne Davies 14, Jane Altschwager 11, Sarah Ellis, Leah Tynan 10.

GOALS –

Glenelg: Madisyn Freeman 2, Hannah Crump, Tamsyn Morriss, Lucy Armitage, Samantha Franson.

North: Kelly Barltrop 2, Lauren Daniel, Nadia von Bertouch, Paige Allan.

Round 4

West Adelaide kept Glenelg goalless as it enhanced its finals chances with a 10-point victory at City Mazda Stadium.

Majors to the Bloods’ Emma Smith – 13 minutes into the second term – and Alexandra Mason – one minute into the fourth quarter – proved the difference as the hosts received strong contributions from Rebecca Owen, Abbie Ballard and Madison Newman.

Entering the match undefeated, the Bays were unable to make the most of their limited opportunities, with Charlotte Dawe and Celestina Dona scoring behinds in the third stanza.

Round 2 Powerade Breakthrough Player nominee Caitlin Gould was the visitors’ leading disposal-winner with 14.

LEADING DISPOSALS –

West: Rebecca Owen 21, Abbie Ballard 17, Madison Newman 16, Lauren Rodato 12, Alexandra Mason, Bridie Stouppos 10.

Glenelg: Caitlin Gould 14, Lucy Armitage, Lucy Bellinger, Samantha Franson, Madisyn Freeman, Chelsea Packer 11.

GOALS –

West: Alexandra Mason, Emma Smith.

Round 5

Sturt earned its first victory of the season in unusual fashion, edging out Glenelg by two points at The Parade.

Neither team managed to kick a goal despite the warm conditions, with the Double Blues’ two extra scoring shots earning the premiership points.

Sophie Hoyle, Maya Rigter and former Crow Georgia Bevan were the key contributors for Danijel Herbut’s side, which had eight fewer disposals and four fewer inside 50m entries.

Chelsea Packer led the way for the Bays with 20 possessions, who still remain in third place despite losing their past two encounters.

LEADING DISPOSALS –

Sturt: Sophie Hoyle 20, Maya Rigter 17, Georgia Bevan, Larissa Schenscher 16.

Glenelg: Chelsea Packer 20, Lucy Armitage, Lucy Bellinger, Caitlin Gould 18.

Round 6

GLENELG TEAM AS NAMED

LEADING DISPOSALS –

Norwood: Hannah Dunn 26, Monique Hollick 20, Hanna Priest 16, Sophie Armitstead 15, Thalia Meyer 12, Bella Smith 11.

Glenelg: Caitlin Gould, Chelsea Packer 15, Brooke Trevena 12, Madisyn Freeman 11.

GOALS –

Norwood: Hannah Dunn, Monique Hollick, Bella Smith, Sophie Armitstead.

Glenelg: Lauren Bungey, Samantha Franson, Bonnie Wells.

Round 7

Reigning premier South Adelaide continued its winning ways by overcoming Glenelg by 28 points on Friday evening at the Bay.

The Panthers, whose only loss this year has come against last year’s grand final opponent Norwood, set up the win with a three goals-to-none second quarter, with Madison Bennett booting three goals in their sixth win of the campaign.

Bennett was a dynamo any time the ball was around the goalmouth, soccering through opportunist goals in the opening two quarters before capping the game with a snap from a scrimmage in the dying moments of a hard-fought clash.

Glenelg won the clearances 26-19 on the night but South’s impressive handball set up plenty of chances at they won the inside-50 count 27-20.

Hannah Munyard was in everything for South with 23 possessions and a long goal in the second quarter, while Czenya Cavouras and Teah Charlton both collected 20 touches and 10-plus tackles and Indy Tahau had 14 possessions and 21 hit-outs. Tigers skipper Cass Hartley led the way with 18 disposals, while Lucy Bellenger booted two goals – from a set shot after a mark and a snap out of a pack – from 16 disposals and Caitlin Gould gathered 13 possessions, seven tackles and 16 hit-outs.

LEADING DISPOSALS –

South: Hannah Munyard 23, Czenya Cavouras, Teah Charlton 20, Nicole Campbell, Indy Tahau 14.

Glenelg: Cass Hartley 18, Lucy Bellenger 16, Samantha Franson 14, Caitlin Gould 13.

GOALS –

South: Madison Bennett 3, Danielle Goding, Elyse Haussen, Hannah Munyard.

Glenelg: Lucy Bellenger 2.

Round 8

Glenelg has pulled off a stunning upset to defeat reigning premier South Adelaide by 14 points at ACH Group Stadium and make a late charge for a SANFL Women’s finals spot.

The Tigers looked rank outsiders against the highly-rated Panthers, having lost their previous four games while South had won its previous five and, incredibly, 13 of its most recent 14 games – including last year’s grand final against Norwood.

South had previously suffered just one loss this season – to the top-placed Redlegs. Glenelg, meanwhile, had slipped to fifth place, a major round place looking highly unlikely.

Glenelg did not score a single goal in its two losses against South last season. And the Panthers had beaten the Bays by 28 points at Glenelg just eight days before this clash.

But Glenelg shocked the Panthers with its intensity, strong tackling and non-stop pressure, picking up the only goal of the opening quarter through Ellen Fauser.

Lauren Bungey, in just her fourth game and having kicked one goal, turned the clash on its head with two second-quarter goals in a little over two minutes – the first from a scramble in the goalsquare, the next an impressive snap.

It took until 12 minutes into the third term for South to score its first goal – a beauty from an angle to classy Elyse Haussen. She added two behinds early in the last term and when Jessica Kirk goaled after six minutes the Panthers were within four points and seemingly on the way to a hard-fought come-from-behind win.

The Tigers, determined to secure victory for the first time on their home ground, had other ideas. Winning the clearances as they had done for most of the afternoon they regained control and composure and Bonnie Wells fired out a handball to none other than Bungey and she goaled from deep in the pocket in the 12th minute. Samantha Franson capped the impressive win when she grabbed a powerful overhead mark at centre half-forward and goaled with a strong, long shot.

Jason Fairall’s Tigers have a 4-4 win-loss record in fifth spot, one win behind North and West. The Roosters – with a percentage of 61.5 – look set for finals action but the Bloods (percentage 46.3) look under real threat from Glenelg (percentage 53.9), which faces Sturt and the Eagles in the last two rounds and would be favoured to win both. West will play the Eagles and South.

Ellie Kellock was outstanding for the Bays with 23 disposals, seven marks and seven tackles, while Czenya Cavouras had 17 touches, 12 tackles and seven clearances for South.

LEADING DISPOSALS –

Glenelg: Ellie Kellock 23, Chelsea Packer 21, Cass Hartley, Lucy Bellenger 15, Ellen Fauser 14.

South: Czenya Cavouras 17, Nicole Campbell 16, Hannah Munyard 14, Sarah Wright 13.

GOALS –

Glenelg: Lauren Bungey 3, Ellen Fauser, Samantha Franson.

South: Elyse Haussen, Jessica Kirk.

Round 9

Glenelg’s Ebony Marinoff was everywhere in her Statewide Super Women’s League debut on Friday night.

Dual premiership-winning Adelaide Crows superstar Ebony Marinoff led Glenelg to a convincing 42-point win on Friday night against Sturt to keep alive the Bays’ hopes of snatching a last-gasp spot in the SANFL Women’s finals.

For the second week in a row the Tigers beat a team they had never before beaten. Last week it was reigning premier South Adelaide, shocked by 14 points, and this time at the Bay it was the Blues, comprehensively outpointed with Marinoff, in her first game with Glenelg, dominating.

The Eagles almost did the Bays an enormous favour, falling just five points short of West Adelaide in what was so close to their first win in their inaugural season. But the Bloods’ narrow escape sees them hold on to fourth spot with a 6-3 win-loss record (percentage 47.1), just ahead of Glenelg on 5-4 but with a much stronger percentage of 57.7. In the final minor round on Saturday, May 4, Glenelg faces the Eagles at the Bay, while West is up against the powerful Panthers at Noarlunga.

Marinoff, a dual AFLW All-Australian, racked up a record 33 disposals for the Crows this year against Geelong. Against Sturt she snared 35 possessions as she showed her class and sent a warning for the finals – if the Tigers can reach them.

Marinoff, from SAWFL club Morphettville Park, was here, there and everywhere against the Blues collecting 20 kicks, 15 handballs, 10 clearances, seven inside-50s and six tackles. Her ability to win the ball cleanly in packs, evade tackles and weave through traffic helped the Tigers dominate clearances, while her lethal long left-foot kicks constantly broke the lines and regularly set up scoring opportunities.

And when there were chances to score Ellen Fauser, Lucy Armitage and Caitlin Gould all looked dangerous. Fauser bagged a stunning four goals, with Armitage and Gould snaring two each.

Fauser, who had kicked four goals in her previous seven games this season, kicked goals after strong marks late in the second quarter and early in the third, then finished the game in a blaze of glory with two goals in the final minute, snaring the ball from in a pack and snapping, then marking, playing on quickly and capping a memorable night with another cool finish.

Tall and talented ruck Gould also banged on goals in a hurry when she kicked two in a minute late in the third quarter to guarantee the Tigers triumph. Displaying good hands and plenty of strength she had 18 disposals and 22 hit-outs to go with her first two goals of an impressive season.

Armitage’s two second-quarter goals – one from an impressive snap, the other from a long set shot that was marked by the desperate Double Blues defence just over the goal-line right on the half-time siren – were among 17 touches.

Former Crow Georgia Bevan again led Sturt’s possession-winners with 15, while Maya Rigter again gave it her all, throwing herself into 12 possessions and 12 tackles. But the Blues just have one more round of footy to look forward to. The Bays are hoping their season will go on longer

LEADING DISPOSALS –

Glenelg: Ebony Marinoff 35, Caitlin Gould 18, Lucy Armitage, Lucy Bellenger 17, Chelsea Packer 16, Cass Hartley 14.

Sturt: Georgia Bevan 15, Paxton Davis-Mattner 14, Lucy Griffith, Maya Rigter 12.

GOALS –

Glenelg: Ellen Fauser 4, Lucy Armitage, Caitlin Gould 2, Lucy Bellinger.

Sturt: Tess Maple, Georgia Swan.

Round 10

Glenelg captain Cassie Hartley battles Eagles star Jaimi Tabb for the ball at ACH Group Stadium

Glenelg on Saturday night snatched the last spot in the SANFL Women’s finals with a 19-point win against Woodville-West Torrens at the Bay.

The Tigers, last year’s wooden spooners, won the last three games of the minor round to edge West Adelaide out of fourth place after the Bloods fought valiantly before falling 16 points short against reigning premier South Adelaide at Noarlunga.

Glenelg finished with six wins and four losses for the minor round, the same as Westies but with a significant percentage advantage. The Tigers’ percentage of 58.3 was clearly better than the Bloods’ 46.2, earning them a place in Friday night’s knockout first semi-final against North Adelaide at The Parade (6pm).

Premiership favourite Norwood (nine wins, one loss) wrapped up the minor premiership with a thumping 68-point win against Central District at Alberton on Saturday, while South (8-2) held on to second spot with their hard-fought win against West, setting up their second semi-final showdown with the Redlegs on Friday at The Parade (7.45pm).

North jumped above the Panthers momentarily after its crushing early-game win against Sturt but was relegated to the knockout first semi-final when South recorded its win.

The Bays were relying on South beating West in a game that started an hour earlier than theirs, then beating the bottom-placed Eagles to qualify for finals for the first time.

Glenelg captain Cass Hartley said the Tigers had deliberately paid no attention to the South-West clash, preferring to concentrate on what they had control over – winning their game.

So when the final siren sounded at the Bay, “we had no idea what was going on … it was like waiting for the Lotto results to see if you had won or not”. The cheer from the players when they heard the news left no doubt of the result of the South-West clash. “We made it a policy that no-one would tell anyone (what was happening at Noarlunga), that no-one would have a phone,” said Hartley, who has played every game in the Bays’ first three seasons in the SANFL Women’s competition. “It was pretty exciting … I was trying to keep a lid on it but at the same time, enjoy the moment – and then we’ll prepare well for next week.”

Hartley said the aim this season had been to improve as a group. “I don’t think we really set the bar,” she said but winning the first three games of the season showed “we really gelled … we didn’t have any players with egos, we just wanted to go out there and play team footy”. One of those early wins was against semi-final opponent North, by 15 points in Round 3.

Dual premiership-winning Adelaide Crows superstar Ebony Marinoff was outstanding in the Tigers’ win against the Eagles. Marinoff, who picked up 35 possessions in her debut for Glenelg against Sturt in Round 9, went one better in her second game, racking up 36 touches. Dual All-Australian Marinoff incredibly picked up 30 kicks, eight marks, nine tackles, nine clearances, 10 inside-50s, a goal and a Dream Team score of 171. To say she is a big danger for the finals is a huge understatement. Hartley praised Marinoff, saying: “You wouldn’t know she hasn’t been with us all year … she just fits in. She’s a Bays girl.”

Strong-marking Ellen Fauser, who bagged four goals against Sturt, again looked a big threat in attack, picking up 19 disposals and a goal and classy ruck Caitlin Gould continued to impress, earning 16 possessions and 22 hit-outs.

The Eagles, unlucky not to claim a win in their first Statewide Super Women’s League season, had threatened the Tigers’ finals plans, Chloe Forby booting the opening goal of the clash after three minutes. But Fauser popped up for a strong mark at half-forward and slotted a steadier from an angle five minutes later, before Lucy Bellinger got a toe on the ball in the goalsquare after Marinoff had pumped the ball in long. Just before quarter-time Sam Franson marked and handed off to Marinoff who booted a long goal and frayed Tiger nerves were settling.

By three-quarter-time Glenelg led by 33 points but again the Eagles created a scare, their leading goalkicker Kiana Lee and Jovanka Zekevic booting majors in the first three minutes of the last quarter. Rachel Dunstan added another goal but Franson sealed it for the Tigers with an impressive long bomb.

LEADING DISPOSALS –

Glenelg: Ebony Marinoff 36, Ellen Fauser 19, Caitlin Gould 16, Samantha Franson, Brooke Trevena 15.

Eagles: Kiana Lee, Stephanie Walker 14, Jaimi Tabb 13.

GOALS –

Glenelg: Lucy Armitage 2, Samantha Franson, Ebony Marinoff, Lucy Bellinger, Ellen Fauser, Bonnie Wells.

Eagles: Kiana Lee 2, Rachel Dunstan, Chloe Forby, Jovanka Zecevic.

Semi Final

Roosters edge out Tigers

The North-Glenelg first semi-final was a heartstopping battle between two in-form sides, the Roosters having won six games in succession to end the minor round with a 7-3 win-loss record, while the Bays had snatched the last finals place at the expense of West Adelaide by winning their last three home-and-away games and finishing on 6-4.

The Bays had finished bottom in 2018 and had won just one of their previous 12 games before this season. But they immediately announced their arrival with impressive wins in their first three games – the Round 3 victory their first success against North, by 15 points.

And the Roosters also had dual Crows premiership star Ebony Marinoff to worry about. The two-time All-Australian had made her debut with the Tigers in Round 9 and picked up 35 possessions against Sturt then followed up with 36 against the Eagles as Glenelg stitched up as finals spot.

Incredibly, Marinoff had an even bigger game in the semi-final, earning 38 touches against North. But the Roosters refused to be beaten.

They made the early running when, after four minutes, Emma Sampson found Kelly Barltrop, the SANFL Women’s record goalscorer for the season, on the lead. It was hardly a surprise she slotted the opening goal.

North attacked hard but Marinoff turned the Roosters away with some quality defensive work – she recorded a remarkable 11 kicks in the first quarter – but the odds were overwhelming and Leah Tynan snapped North’s second goal after 11 minutes.

Glenelg started to work its way into the contest and after two behinds Lucy Armitage looked to have broken the Tigers’ drought in the 16th minute with a sensational snap from the pocket but the ball hit the post. Barltrop started the second quarter with a great snap at goal but her shot also hit the post before Glenelg locked the ball in its forward-50, collecting another two behinds to be a wasteful 0.5 to North’s 2.1. But Ellen Fauser, the Tigers’ leading goalscorer for the minor round with nine, snared a strong, juggling contested mark and converted from an angle and it was game on. Both teams had their chances as the clash stepped up a level but it was the Tigers who went into the main break on a high after they charged out of defence for pacy Samantha Franson to find Melinda Speechley on her own in the goalsquare.

The pressure stepped up further in the third quarter as the game became a real arm wrestle, Glenelg dominating the inside-50s 9-2 for the term but neither side being able to break the deadlock. Marinoff was up to 30 disposals by the final break and the Bays would have liked their chances. But in three minutes early in the final quarter two Roosters superstars turned the game on its head. GWS Giant Brittany Perry found Cristie Castle in the forward-50 then showed her heart and strong work ethic as she sprinted on to get the ball back, slotting a crucial goal that edged the Roosters back in front. Just two minutes later Lauren Daniel capped her outstanding game by finding Barltrop, who kicked what proved the matchwinner.

Glenelg refused to concede and the crowd was at fever pitch when Tasja Batzavalis booted the goal of the night under intense pressure with a snap from an angle that miraculously bounced through the big sticks. The Bays kept coming and Marinoff lifted her stats to an incredible 31 kicks, nine marks, nine tackles and eight clearances but still the Roosters refused to buckle, Sampson and Perry making desperate and crucial late tackles to keep their finals campaign well-and-truly alive.

LEADING DISPOSALS –

North: Lauren Daniel 17, Amber Ward 14, Brittany Perry 13, Erica Greet 12, Emma Sampson, Nadia von Bertouch 11.

Glenelg: Ebony Marinoff 38, Cass Hartley 17, Samantha Franson 16, Caitlin Gould, Ellie Kellock, Chelsea Packer 15.

GOALS –

North: Kelly Barltrop 2, Brittany Perry, Leah Tynan.

Glenelg: Ellen Fauser, Melinda Speechley, Tasja Batzavalis.

GLENELG TEAM AS SELECTED