SOUTH Adelaide has fired a warning shot to minor premiers, Norwood ahead of the finals series, toppling the previously undefeated Redlegs to give them something to think about heading into the post-season series. In other games, North Adelaide destroyed Central District, West Adelaide breathed a sigh of relief with a narrow win over Woodville-West Torrens, and an Ebony Marinoff-led Glenelg took the points against Sturt.

NORTH ADELAIDE 2.1 | 6.5 | 9.7 | 11.7 (73)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.4 (10)

GOALS:

North: Christie Castle 3, Kelly Barltrop 2, Adrienne Davies, Lauren Daniel, Erica Greet, Kathryn Reynolds, Brittany Perry, Sharni Tansell.
Central: Courtney Jensen.

DISPOSALS:

North: Lauren Daniel 21, Kathryn Reynolds 19, Emma Sampson 18, Adrienne Davies, Erica Greet, Brittany Perry, Leah Tynan 16.
Central: Caitlen Teague 17

North Adelaide’s stunning resurrection since Round 5 continued with the Roosters notching up another massive victory – their fifth on the trot. With a round to go the Roosters locked away finals and look the most in-form side of the competition after a 63-point demolition of Central District. Lauren Daniel and Brittany Perry kicked off the game with early majors, and while the Bulldogs managed to pepper the goals in the second term, they could not put one through the big sticks. Instead, the likes of Cristie Castle (two goals), Kelly Barltrop and Kathryn Reynolds all added goals to North Adelaide’s cause, to lead by 38 points at the main break. The one-sided affair continued in the third term as Adrienne Davis and Sharni Tansell both added their names to the goalscorer list, while Castle booted her third later in the term. Courtney Jensen finally broke through for the Bulldogs’ first almost nine minutes into the final term, but it would just be a consolation goal as Erica Greet and Barltrop finished off the game strongly for the Roosters to run out convincing 11.7 (73) to 1.4 (10) winners. Daniel had the most disposals with 21, as well as three marks, four tackles, two clearances, two inside 50s and two rebounds, while Reynolds picked up 19 as well as three marks, seven clearances and six tackles. Emma Sampson missed opportunities to get on the goalkickers list with three behinds, but still managed 18 disposals, nine marks and five inside 50s, while Castle had 15 touches and four marks to go with her three goals. For the Bulldogs, Caitlen Teague racked up 17 touches, two marks, two clearances, two rebounds and three tackles in the loss, while Jayme-Lee Sonneman tried hard through the ruck with 11 hitouts to go with 14 disposals, six clearances, three rebounds and two inside 50s. In the final round of the season, North Adelaide faces Sturt, while Central District takes on ladder leaders, Norwood.

WEST ADELAIDE 1.1 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 5.5 (35)
WWT EAGLES 2.0 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 4.6 (30)

GOALS:

West: Marie Martino 2, Melanie Elsegood, Helen Maidment, Emma Smith.
Eagles: Jaimi Tabb, Natasha Farrier, Georgia Taylor, Stephanie Walker.

DISPOSALS:

West: Rebecca Owen 18, Marie Martino 16, Abbie Ballard, Madison Newman 15
Eagles: Natasha Farrier 24, Jaimi Tabb 16, Stephanie Walker 15

Woodville-West Torrens Eagles have fallen heartbreakingly short of their inaugural victory, going down to fourth-placed West Adelaide by five points. With only pride on the line, the Eagles pushed the Bloods – who needed a win to all but secure finals – all the way, falling less than a kick short of victory. The Eagles started strongly with Stephanie Walker and Georgia Taylor booting goals either side of West Adelaide’s Marie Martino to lead by five points at quarter time. When Natasha Farrier converted for the visitors 39 seconds into the second term, it was looking promising, but a couple of missed chances by the Eagles were punished by West Adelaide’s Emma Smith who cut the deficit to seven. The third term was all the Bloods as a couple of missed chances eventually resulted in Martino booting her second and West Adelaide levelling the score by the final break. The Bloods skipped away in the final term with goals to Helen Maidment and Melanie Elsegood putting it out to a 13-point lead. Jaimi Tabb missed a chance then converted, and a late opportunity was rushed through the Eagles goals before the siren sounded not long after for the home side to hold on for the 5.5 (35) to 4.6 (30) victory. Rebecca Owen was busy across the ground with 18 disposals, six marks and four inside 50s, while Martino had 16 touches, four marks, four tackles and two inside 50s. Abbie Ballard and Madison Newman both had 15 touches, while Ballard finished with four clearances and four tackles. For the Eagles, Farrier was the standout player on the ground, racking up 24 disposals – 22 kicks – as well as two marks, four tackles, five clearances, five inside 50s, three rebounds and a goal. Tabb (16 touches, three marks, five tackles and three clearances) and Walker (15 disposals, four marks, two inside 50s and two rebounds) were also prolific in the loss. In the final round, West Adelaide has to defeat South Adelaide to guarantee finals, while Woodville-West Torrens must defeat Glenelg to both grab its first win of the season, and deny the Tigers a finals spot.

GLENELG 0.1 | 4.2 | 7.4 | 9.5 (59)
STURT 0.3 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 2.5 (17)

GOALS:

Glenelg: Ellen Fauser 4, Lucy Armitage, Caitlin Gould 2, Lucy Bellinger.
Sturt: Tess Maple, Georgia Swan.

DISPOSALS:

Glenelg: Ebony Marinoff 35, Caitlin Gould 18, Lucy Armitage, Lucy Bellenger 17, Chelsea Packer 16
Sturt: Georgia Bevan 15

Adelaide Crows’ star Ebony Marinoff has led Glenelg to a memorable victory over Sturt to set up a potential finals berth for the Tigers. Glenelg needs to win in the final round against the winless Woodville-West Torrens, while West Adelaide has to defeat second placed South Adelaide to retain fourth spot. In the Round 9 win over the Double Blues, a goalless first quarter saw Sturt lead by two points, with Marinoff getting on the board early with a behind. Lucy Bellinger took just 16 seconds to slam through the first major of the game after the restart in the second term, before Tess Maple levelled it up with a goal apiece and Sturt leading by two once again. Four consecutive goals to the Tigers between the seventh minute of the second quarter and fourth minute of the third quarter – two each to Lucy Armitage and Ellen Fauser powered the Tigers away, before Georgia Swan got one back for the visitors. It ultimately meant very little as Caitlin Gould and Fauser would finish off the game with another two goals each – Fauser nailing four straight for the match as the Tigers ran out seven-goal winners and kept their finals dream alive. Marinoff was clearly the standout player on the field to no-one’s surprise, racking up 35 disposals – the most of any player in a single game this season – as well as 10 clearances, seven inside 50s, two rebounds and six tackles. She had plenty of support however, as Gould registered 18 touches and 22 hitouts through the ruck, while also having four clearances. Armitage accompanied her two goals with 17 disposals, five marks, four tackles and three clearances, while Bellinger laid seven tackles and had 17 disposals. Fauser was the dominant forward on the ground with 12 disposals, five marks – two contested – four hitouts and two inside 50s as well as her four majors. For Sturt, Georgia Bevan had a team-high 15 disposals, four clearances, three rebounds and four tackles in the defeat, while Paxton Mattner player her best game of the season with 14 touches, four rebounds and five tackles. Maya Rigter was her usual self around the stoppages laying a massive 12 tackles and having four clearances and four inside 50s from 12 disposals. In the final round of the season, Glenelg faces Woodville-West Torrens, while Sturt takes on the in-form North Adelaide.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 1.2 | 1.2 | 4.6 | 5.6 (36)
NORWOOD 1.0 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 4.5 (29)

GOALS:

South: Madison Bennett, Lauren Buchanan, Elyse Haussen, Hannah Munyard, Tamara Page.
Norwood: Monique Hollick 2, Jo Hill, Sally Riley.

DISPOSALS:

South: Czenya Cavouras 22, Elyse Haussen 20, Teah Charlton 18, Nikki Gore 15
Norwood: Najwah Allen 24, Hannah Dunn, Sally Riley 20

In the predicted match of the round, South Adelaide has upstaged minor premiers Norwood with a seven-point victory in what could be a grand final preview. The Panthers bounced back from a rare loss to Glenelg last week to topple the Redlegs despite conceding three of the first four goals. Lauren Buchanan booted the first for the home side in just 10 seconds, before Sally Riley responded for Norwood a few minutes later. Jo Hill and Monique Hollick boosted Norwood’s chances of victory with goals in the second term as the favourites headed into the main break with a 12-point advantage. The third term belonged to the Panthers as Tamara Page and Elyse Haussen slammed home majors in the opening few minutes and in a scoring frenzy, Teah Charlton was amongst everything. Unfortunately the talented teen forward could not covert, heading into the final break with five behinds to her name. Fellow South Australian Under-18 representative Hannah Munyard could convert however, handing the Panthers a 10-point lead at three quarter time having kept the Redlegs scoreless in the premiership quarter. Madison Bennett soon added another nail to the Norwood coffin two minutes into the final term as they led by 16, and while the Redlegs chipped away in the final term, Hollick was the only one who could put through a major and Norwood fell five points short of remaining undefeated heading into the final round. Czenya Cavouras had a team-high 22 disposals, two marks, eight tackles, two clearances, three inside 50s and two rebounds, while Haussen found plenty of the ball with 20 touches, four clearances, two inside 50s and two tackles. Charlton might have had the five behinds, but her endeavour was always there with an impressive 14 tackles as well as 18 disposals, two marks and three inside 50s. Nikki Gore had 15 disposals, four tackles, three clearances and three inside 50s in a strong effort, while Cheyenne Hammond was impressive in defence with four rebounds as well as 14 disposals and four marks. For Norwood, Najwa Allen was on fire once again with 24 disposals, eight marks, four clearances, three inside 50s and five rebounds, while partners in crime, Hannah Dunn (20 disposals, four marks, three clearances, two inside 50s and seven tackles) and Riley (20 disposals, six marks, three inside 50s and three tackles) were also impressive. Hollick had an influence with 10 touches, four marks and four inside 50s and two goals. In the final round, South Adelaide can try and end West Adelaide’s finals hopes with a victory, while Norwood round out its season again Central District.