Round 2 Hostplus SANFLW Match Wraps

By ZAC MILBANK

West Adelaide superstar Lauren Young propelled her team to an upset 11-point win against reigning premier North Adelaide at Hisense Stadium.

Without Young for last year’s Hostplus SANFLW League campaign due to a knee reconstruction, the Bloods fell to bottom place having played in the 2021 Grand Final.

But with the dynamic 17-year-old back on board, West is looming as an early front-runner having sprung to a 2-0 win-loss record with wins against Glenelg and the Roosters.

Young – who finished with 21 dispsoals, seven marks and two goals – was also constructive with her possessions as evidenced by the unselfish chip over the top which led to teammate Tamika May kicking the sealing goal 10 minutes into the fourth term.

Richmond AFLW recruit Illish Ross also had an impact for the hosts with 11 disposals and a goal while Jessica Macolino (19 disposals) and Zoe Venning (17 disposals) found plenty of the ball.

The Roosters had hard-running pair Katelyn Pope (23 disposals) and Jess Edwards (20 disposals) driving them forward while ruck Isabelle Starmer was again solid with 18 disposals, six tackles and 20 hit outs.

Glenelg survived a late surge from Woodville-West Torrens to record its first win of the Hostplus SANFLW League season at Hisense Stadium.

Battling hard to establish a comfortable 19-point lead at the final change, the Bays were seriously challenged when Eagle Chloe Newton booted her second to trim the margin to seven points with just under 15 minutes to play.

But an important steadying major to Lucy Armitage, who controlled the ball nicely in traffic near the goal square, ensured the Tigers would hold on for the premiership points.

Piper Window, the Round 1 Powerade Breakthrough Player, continued her top form with 23 disposals and 10 clearances while Glenelg teammates Ellie Kellock and Tess Kohn (17 disposals each) also contributed strongly.

Tigers Chelsea Packer (two goals) and Matilda Scholz (12 disposals, 15 hit outs) made successful returns after missing Round 1 with minor injuries.

Eagles gun Shineah Goody (18 disposals, six tackles) did her best to drag her team into the contest with a classy goal assist to Newton before booting the final major of the game. Experienced teammate Beatrice Devlyn also racked up 18 possessions.

South Adelaide hung tough to hold off a fast-finishing Norwood outfit by just five points at Flinders University Stadium.

The Panthers looked to have a comfortable night ahead after Lucy Northcott barged through for the opening major before second-gamer Lily Baxter showed off her finishing skills with two goals from long range.

But Baxter’s second in the fourth minute of the second term would be the hosts’ last of the night as their scoring dried up after half-time.

Redleg Najwa Allen wound back the clock to kick the final two goals of the game, the second a freakish finish on her left foot from a challenging angle.

It brought the visitors within five points with nine minutes to play but South – with Caitlin Couch, Czenya Cavouras and Senna Gulden prominent – did enough to keep Norwood at bay.

Redleg Sarah Branford led the way statistically with 23 disposals while speedy Tesharna Maher (19 disposals) and former Panther Tahlita Buethke (16 disposals) refused to concede.

Sturt rebounded from its Round 1 loss to produce a convincing 37-point win against Central District at Thebarton Oval.

Coming off a sluggish defeat against the Panthers last week, the Double Blues – powered early by Abbey Rigter – burst out of the blocks to boot four of the first five goals of the game.

The visitors’ extreme efficiency to convert attacking forays into scores was illustrated by them remarkably having two fewer inside 50 entries for the match while also recording just six more disposals.

Consistent veteran Georgia Bevan was named her side’s best with 11 disposals, nine tackles and a goal while exciting rookie Monique Besson (16 disposals) and ball magnet Alisha Gepp (17 disposals, seven tackles) also made their presence felt.

Central’s Jovanka Zecevic (18 disposals, five tackles, five clearances) and Charlotte Riggs (16 disposals) did their best to stem the tide but couldn’t prevent their first loss of the season.