Tigers top the ladder after win against reigning premiers

It was a sound demonstration of resilience and a team effort to defeat the reigning premiers by 22 points at Hisense Stadium for First Nations Round. The players were thrilled to be wearing the First Nations playing jumper for the first time as they played with the grit and determination that has been the essence of the Glenelg Football Club for generations, and they should be extremely proud to walk away winners.

It was great to welcome back Ella Boag and Sarah Goodwin to the team, which provided us another element of offense with their pace and smarts down back and through the middle of the ground. Goodwin dominated down back with her attacking ability off half back, sending the ball forward multiple times. We were able to make the most on the scoreboard from our inside 50s and the pressure in the forward line never let up – an element of the game style that we have been focussing on. Chelsea Packer turned back the clock again to kick four goals after some linking and great delivery from Caitlyn Swanson. It’s been great to remain so offensive and allow players the freedom and trust to show their strengths and to play to these.

Serious injuries in the first quarter to Serena Waters and Shae Partington were felt by the team and I was pleased with our effort and intent to remain focussed and run out the game as well as we did. We feel for our teammates in these times and hope for some positive news. We knew that North Adelaide would retaliate in the second half, and to their credit they did at times, but we were able to respond every time and keep that high pressure on the ball carrier and also the scoreboard. Piper Window, again with 17 contested possessions, was able to link well with Brooke Tonon on the wing to use the space of Hisense well and stretch the North Adelaide defence. Shay’Lee Dayman was strong through the middle of the ground with her taps and work rate, really positioning herself well around the ground to be a presence, and it’s been great to see the growth in her each week. Our backline stood strong and remained disciplined for the game whilst still allowing Poppy Scholz to take intercept marks, and North Adelaide’s forward shape fell away as a result. We set up well behind the contest and it allowed us to use our team weapons to move the ball quickly through North Adelaide’s zone and to make sure that they were highly pressured with their kicks inside 50 and towards goal.

The game of football can be fickle, and it can teach us more about ourselves and the highs and low of life. It felt like we got to experience that. Whilst statistically, there wasn’t a lot to separate North Adelaide from Glenelg, the players ability to dig deep and play a four-quarter effort for each other, and the players that came off injured, is a metric that you cannot measure. We look forward to a week of recovery and recuperation, before we head to X Convenience Oval to take on 2^nd place Centrals.

– Lexi Edwards, Senior Coach

Goal kickers: Chelsea Packer (4), Caitlyn Swanson (2), Piper Window, Matilda Wilmore

Best: Sarah Goodwin, Chelsea Packer, Piper Window, Brooke Tonon, Shay’Lee Dayman, Violet Patterson

Final Score: GFC 3.3.21 def by NAFC 4.8.32

Goal kickers: Amy Jones, Alex Walker, Kendall Howell

Best: Alex Walker, Alana Baker, Amy Jones, Anja Bancevic, Kendall Howell