GFCW challenged by Panthers in Round 13

Glenelg Women’s Football Club faced a formidable challenge against South Adelaide on Saturday night. The match highlighted both the difficulties and the promising signs within our team. Over the past few months, injuries to key personnel have made it challenging to maintain a consistent lineup, and this inconsistency has been evident in our recent performances.

Despite these setbacks, the team has shown significant growth and development in recent weeks. Our focus remains firmly on long-term development and achieving our goals. The match against South Adelaide, last year’s Grand Final runners-up, demonstrated that we have the capability to compete with the best in the league. On Saturday, a third of our players have played 10 games or less in the SANFLW league.

We had moments during the game that showcased our potential with smart movements and decisions with the ball from our young talent. After a slow start, where the ball spent a lot of time back and forth, we managed to claw our way back, levelling the score just before halftime with a couple of minutes left in the second quarter. This comeback highlighted our determination and ability to match our opponents’ intensity, and we now look to build this consistently into our game style.

However, South Adelaide’s spread and strong aerial presence proved challenging for us to counter. There were periods in the game where our concentration, defensive accountability, and effort wavered, and we know teams at the top will take advantage of these lapses, and this is an area that we are working on at training. Our inability to connect our lines was a major downfall for the style of play we have trained all season.

Despite the challenges, there were several bright spots in the game. We celebrated the first league goals for Kayla Robran and Georgie Fielder in their second games at league level. Additionally, young gun Jordan Horne’s two goals highlighted the promising future for Glenelg with a level of composure beyond her 17 years. Jo Miller once again delivered a standout performance in the midfield, accumulating 26 disposals, 5 marks, and 5 clearances, showcasing her consistency and contribution to the squad since moving to Adelaide.

As we look ahead to next week’s match against Woodville-West Torrens, our goal is to finish the minor round strong. There is a clear sense of optimism and belief within the team. The moments of brilliance against South Adelaide reaffirm that we are on the right path. With continued focus on development and resilience, Glenelg Women’s Football Club is poised for a bright future

– Lexia Edwards, Senior Coach

Goals: Horne (2), Fielder, Robran