words and pics by Peter Argent
Needing to win their round six game the previous week just to make the decider, Norwood claimed the inaugural SANFL women’s premiership, defeating minor premiers North Adelaide by a comfortable 27 point margin in the end.
The final score line, (Norwood 9.11 (65) defeated North 6.2 (38)) didn’t give a true indication of the closeness of the contest for three quarters.
Steve Symonds’ Redlegs had created a nine-point lead at half time and this edged out to two goals before Roosters teenage sensational Chloe Scheer kicked a pair of consecutive majors to level the scores.
Indigenous talent and New York marathon runner Ruth Wallace kicked a goal for Norwood against the run of play to give them a six point advantage going into the final term.
The last quarter was all the Redlegs, kicking 3.3 to no score.
Sophie Li was best on ground with a 23 possession, two goal performance, while Wallace and strong bodied midfielder Marijana Rajcic had a telling influence on the contest.
Norwood rucks, Leah Cutting and former Contax state league netball defender and captain Jane Fitzgerald dominated aerially and at the stoppages.
The defence was well led by skipper Rebekka McMahon, Nicola Burns, Georgia Taylor and Whitney Benson.
North’s better players included Leah Tynan, Scheer and Paige Allan as a high half forward.
The quartet of Li, Wallace, Rajcic and Rooster, Scheer are prime candidates to be drafted for AFL W season two.
All pics: Peter Argent
Click on any image to enlarge.
Great piece and photo-essay Peter. The picture of Wallace celebrating her goal is particularly striking. It looks like a terrific game and as you indicate in your piece, the game was closer than the final scores indicate. Did SANFL deliberately structure its competition to align with the AFLW? If so, that’s pretty smart. Is there a winter competition as well?
Cheers
Go the leggettes ! Congrats to Steve and crew a fantastic result and to answer,Rick above the ladies competition at SAAFL starts soon and yes runs pretty much thru the winter period
Thank you,Peter
Yep, great photos and summary of a top afternoon, Peter. I also thought Marinet Morgan was very good in defence for North. The Redlegs’ ability to absorb significant pressure from North and then finish the period off with a goal was the difference between the two teams. I think Wallace might find her way into the AFLW next season too.
Yep, as Rulebook said Rick the SAWFL is running this winter, rebranded as Adelaide Footy Women this season. Division 1 starts at the end of May and has been cut back to a six team competition to ensure a higher standard (in the past the league has been characterised by massive blowouts with Morphettville Park more or less thrashing everyone else). The league is, however, expanding from two to five divisions to cover the ever expanding number of clubs fielding a women’s team.
So was this SANFL comp a taster for the winter comp? The reason I like it is that it gives hundreds of local players the chance to build their fitness as have the AFLW players. Cheers
The shot of Varcoe is a cracker. Great work.