Tigers go down in one-point heartbreaker

Another tough game away for the Glenelg Tigers this week, losing by a single point to South Adelaide. Another demonstration of resilience from the playing group as we finished with three on the bench for the third week in a row.

We knew that South Adelaide are the side to beat this year, as they move the ball exceptionally well and apply a great amount of pressure at the source. Unfortunately, we struggled to move through this as the game progressed. Losing Sarah Goodwin in the first quarter meant our backline had to go through the game with a rotation down. In Goodwin’s absence, I was pleased to see Brooke Tonon step up with her intercepting marking and smart ball use on the backline. Strong midfield drive from fearless leader Kellock was aided by Piper, who continued her good form.

We started the game well, kicking two goals before South answered back with a goal late in the first quarter. We were beating them at the contest in contested possession, and playing our style of play when we moved the ball wide open and used our attacking ball movement. South Adelaide responded with intense pressure at the source, and this quickly turned the game physical. We just couldn’t wrestle back and play the brand of footy that we are able to for the second and third quarter. Our young guns in Matilda Wilmore and Jordan Horne were able to apply pressure to girls twice their size, without intimidation. This meant that we couldn’t score, but I was pleased with our backline to also not allow South any goals in the third either. It’s going to be a challenge and something we will work through in the weeks as we know that opposition will want to take our ball movement away.

The fourth quarter again was a physical endeavour from South Adelaide, and we just couldn’t find a way through their condensed numbers in front of the ball. Ella Boag stood up with a great goal to push us five points in front with three minutes left. Unfortunately, South Adelaide cleared from the stoppage to a mark in the forward 50, which was converted to a goal. Statistically, again, it was a close encounter, but it just felt like the ball didn’t bounce our way for a lot of the game, and sometimes that just happens.

It just shows that at this level, you can’t switch off even for a second. I was proud of our relentlessness to push back at the physicality and to keep moving forward with the weeks we have had; the players should be proud of their ability to stand up and play as a team once again. We know there are areas that we can improve on and we know that we didn’t play our best game of football, which we have to do against the top sides. We have a short turn around for the game on Good Friday, where we are finally playing back home at Stratarama Stadium in a triple header.

– Lexi Edwards, Senior Coach

Goal kickers: Chelsea Packer, Matilda Scholz, Ella Boag

Best: Brooke Tonon, Ellie Kellock, Ella Boag, Matilda Wilmore, Piper Window

Tough day for the D Squad coming up against the top of the table Panthers on their home deck.

We really found it hard to shut down their more experienced midfield or close down their space on a large oval they know so well. We were really pleased with how our girls didn’t give in and finally managed to get on the scoreboard with a well set up goal iced by a beautiful set shot from Eloise Mackereth.

We almost had a contender for goal of the year, with an inspiring one girl effort from Hayley Conlon after competing for the ball on the wing and carrying it through half forward. But unfortunately she just couldn’t get it over the line. There were periods of the game when we fought really hard and controlled the ball but disappointingly, we were unable to impact the scoreboard.

Casie Coombe put in a performance as good as we have seen this year. She was so dominant across half back that, even though South Adelaide led comfortably from about midway through the first quarter, they still paid her the compliment of tagging her in the second half.

Andi Moliere had some inspiring moments on the wing, where she used her pace to effect, while Hannah Wurfel and Alana Baker were steady all game. We caught glimpses of what Bella Koch can offer in the future, and Lucy Weatherald saw a fair bit of the ball across half back and got her hands on it when pushed into the midfield in the last quarter.

Another top team in Norwood this week on our home ground to finish off the season, which we are really looking forward to. Being a development squad, we get so much more out of playing the top sides, and after the experience of playing South Adelaide, we will be much better prepared.

– Damian Kitschke, Development Coach

Final Score: SAFC 7.7.49 def GFC 1.0.6

Goal kicker: Eloise Mackereth

Best: Casie Coombe, Hannah Wurfel, Alana Baker, Andi Moliere, Lucy Weatherald