SANFLW Match Wrap | Round 1

We were excited to reach Round 1 for the 2025 season after a 19-week preseason, which introduced a new coaching panel, new game plan, 12 new players to our program, and an additional 7 talented Glenelg juniors elevated into our program full-time.

Our playing and coaching group have worked tirelessly, and an outstanding preseason form from some youngsters saw us debut five players for their first League game – congratulations to Tessa Davis, Lucy Weatherald, Mackenzie O’Dea, Elizabeth Johnson and Jayde Hickey. We also welcomed three Club debutants in Ella Quinn, Astrid Gooley, and Asha Dufour.

We travelled north to face Central District at X Convenience Oval, a team we highly respect as opponents, knowing their forward line is perhaps the most dangerous in the competition.

As often happens in the first quarter of Rd 1, the first quarter was a tight contest, and we faced immense pressure in our defensive half as Centrals had repeat forward 50 entries. Our backline, led by experienced pair in Lauren Edwards and Marie Martino, held strong, with fantastic support from debutant Tessa Davis, who picked up 10 disposals in the first quarter alone. Unfortunately we gave up too many turnovers in the first half, something we know is damaging in the context of a SANFLW league game, and something we continue to work hard on at training by executing skills under pressure.

By half time, it was clear that we were not playing our style of football we had trained so hard over the preseason and were lacking intensity at the contest. Some positional changes were made, and we came out determined to play a better style of football in the second half with accountability on defensive transition.

The third quarter allowed us better opportunities in our front half from winning more contested football, and by stepping up our run and carry, and kicking to advantage. Great intercepting work by Mackenzie O’Dea led to Tamsyn Morris scoring our first major in her new role in 2025 as a key forward. Improved ball use by foot allowed us to hit up Jess Bates in the forward 50 shortly after this. Batesy finished with 37 disposals and a goal, capping off a typical workhorse performance we have become so familiar with. Georgie Fielder drove us forward on many occasions with poise and finished with 25 disposals and 6 clearances.

Pleasingly, we finished the game with much improved contest and defensive workrate allowing us to win the last quarter, through a smart forward 50 stoppage clearance from Kiahni Russell, finding Jordan Horne in the goal square.

One of the great parts of our game is that a week is a long time in footy. We have a six day short turnaround this week and have an opportunity to quickly make amends for our Rd 1 performance with a trip to Ottoway to face Woodville-West Torrens, who stand to be an excellent challenge for us as they remain undefeated so far in 2025.