Round 1 Hostplus SANFLW Match Wraps
Woodville-West Torrens 5.4 (34) drew with Sturt 5.4 (34)
It was a melancholy start to the Hostplus SANFLW League season for Sturt and Woodville-West Torrens, with the sides’ first meeting ending in a draw at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval.
It was a big day at the Eagles’ home ground, as Sturt looked to secure a win for new coach Ange Foley, whilst the Eagles were celebrating ruck Leah Cutting becoming just the second SANFLW player to reach the 100-game milestone.
The Double Blues got off to a flying start as Millie McCarthy slotted a sensational goal from the pocket, which was backed up by goals from Georgia King and Madeline Nuss (two), leaving the Eagles scoreless in the first quarter at home.
It was a lacklustre second quarter for both teams, with both sides failing to register a score.
King got things underway for Sturt in the third term, finding the scoreboard again to extend her side’s lead out to 34 points at the three-minute mark, before the Eagles finally kicked into gear and came out firing.
Goals to Jiarna Zerella, Alice Tentye and Klaudia O’Neill cut the margin back to 15 points at three-quarter-time as the Eagles looked to continue their momentum from the 2025 season, in which they finished minor premiers and featured in the grand final for the first time.
Marlie Fiegert and Zerella combined for two goals in the final term, with a handful of points levelling the score at 34-all.
Eagles’ South-East product Alice Tentye – who starred for the SANFLW in its clash against the VFLW – continued her excellent form with 23 disposals and 14 tackles, with Ruby Lynch (19 disposals, six marks, five tackles), Lucy Moore (20 disposals, eight tackles) and the milestone-woman Leah Cutting (35 hit outs) also among the best for the home side.
Sturt ball magnet Isobel Kuiper picked up where she left off last year, recording a whopping 37 disposals to go along with nine marks and nine tackles.
Former Tiger Alex Pearce slotted in nicely for the Double Blues with 15 disposals, four tackles and 23 hit outs, with captain Alex Ballard (17 disposals, seven rebound 50s) and Sophie Thredgold (six marks, four tackles) all playing their part for Sturt.
Sturt will now turn its attention to its clash with Glenelg at home on Saturday morning, with the Eagles heading to Richmond Oval to tackle the Bloods on Saturday afternoon.
Central District 8.8 (56) d North Adelaide 4.5 (29)
Central District defeated North Adelaide by 27 points at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval.
It was a big day for the Doggies, who had premiership hero Shelby Smith return to the side after coming out of retirement, and inaugural coach Shaun Ribbons coach his first game since 2021.
Smith wasted no time in reminding the league on what they had been missing, kicking the Doggies’ first goal and going into quarter time seven points up.
Polly Turner got the Roosters on the board early in the second quarter, before Central responded with four unanswered goals from 50-gamer Dakota Williams, Lauren Breguet, Aoife Berry, and last week’s SANFLW Best on Ground against the VFLW, Mikaylah Antony.
Going into the second half 27 points down, North came out firing with back-to-back goals from Sky Jensen and captain Amber Ward, with new Doggies recruit Ella Randall kicking her first for the club.
North’s Julia Clark found the goals late in the third term to reduce the margin back to 17 points heading into the final term.
Berry and Randall – both recruited from the GWS Academy – combined for two goals in the fourth quarter as the Doggies ran out 27 point winners.
Smith (19 disposals, three clearances), Miyu Endersby (26 hit outs, 10 tackles), Williams (five marks) and Antony (four marks, four tackles) were some of the standouts for the Dogs.
Clark was excellent for the Roosters with 20 disposals, four marks, eight tackles, and five clearances, as Ella Metcalfe (13 disposals, five marks, eight tackles), Jensen (six tackles, four marks, three inside 50s) and former Tiger Lakeisha Sheffield (14 disposals, five clearances) all playing their part for North.
Next up, North will host Norwood at Revo Fitness Oval on Saturday morning, whilst Central take on reigning premiers South Adelaide at X Convenience Oval on Saturday afternoon.
West Adelaide 9.4 (58) d Glenelg 8.6 (54)
West Adelaide came from behind to secure a thrilling four-point win over Glenelg at Magain Stadium.
The Tigers got off to the perfect start with four unanswered goals from star recruit Kiana Lee (two), Eloise Mackereth and Astrid Gooley, giving the Bloods plenty to think about at quarter time as they were faced with a 24-point deficit.
The message from new coach Shane Pill at the first change had an impact as Westies kicked a staggering six unanswered goals in the second term, with majors from Sarah Deed (two), Jemma Ellis, Emily Mableson, Chelsea Newitt and new recruit Alaitz Kelly – giving the Bloods a two-goals advantage at the main break.
Lee kicked her third for Glenelg early in the first term, with the Bloods responding via Woods eight minutes later, before Charlotte O’Sullivan, Cassie McWilliam and Mackereth kicked three goals in succession to give the Bays a six-point lead heading into the final term.
It was Newitt who proved to be the hero for West, keeping her composure to slot her second – levelling the scores at 52 points, before kicking the winning goal shortly after.
Last year’s SANFLW Best and Fairest Zoe Venning picked up where she left off for Westies, amassing 38 disposals, eight marks, four tackles and six inside 50s in her side’s thrilling win.
She was well supported by Newitt (three goals, 17 disposals, five marks, five tackles), Woods (23 disposals, four tackles, five inside 50s), Mableson (21 disposals, four tackles, five inside 50s), and Deed (19 disposals, five marks, four marks, five inside 50s).
New Glenelg recruit Isla Wiencke earned her stripes with an excellent first outing for the Bays with 29 disposals and 10 tackles, with Georgie Fielder (16 disposals, nine tackles, five marks), Mackereth (six marks), and Lee (three goals, 13 disposals, four marks), among the Tigers’ best in a heart-breaking loss.
The Tigers will now turn their attention to their clash with Sturt at Thomas Farms Oval on Saturday morning, as West Adelaide host Woodville-West Torrens at Richmond Oval on Saturday afternoon.
South Adelaide5.10 (40) d Norwood 2.2 (14)
South Adelaide started its premiership defence in style with a 26-point win over Norwood at Magain Stadium.
Melissa Anderson got the Panthers 2026 account off to a flying start with her side’s first major, giving South an eight-point buffer heading into the first break.
An onslaught of goals from South followed in the second term, including majors for from Doreena Hansen, 50-gamer Emily Brockhurst, and debutant Chanel May (two), whilst there was an early goal of the year contender in which Hope Taylor tapped the ball down to May, who kicked it through in spectacular fashion.
Hectorville product Elle Lineage got the Redlegs on the board late in the second term to reduce the margin to 26 points at the main break.
No goals were recorded by either side in the third quarter, with it taking until the sixth minute mark of the final quarter for Norwood young gun Lani Cocks to break through for the Redlegs’ second goal.
But the damage by the reigning premiers was already done as the Panthers ran out 26-point winners at home.
Soriah Moon was prolific for South with 24 disposals, six marks, 18 hit outs and seven clearances. She was well supported by debutant Madison Brown (19 disposals, nine tackles, five marks, five inside 50s), Esther Schirmer (19 disposals, six tackles, five clearances) and Layla Vizgaudis (22 disposals, five tackles, six clearances).
Newly-appointed Norwood captain Jade Halfpenny was excellent in her side’s loss with 25 disposals, six marks, and six inside 50s, with Lani Cocks (19 disposals, eight tackles, five inside 50s), the returning Coby Morgan (21 disposals, six tackles) and Charlee Brooksby (16 disposals, seven marks) among the Redlegs’ best in a disappointing start to 2026.
Norwood will now head to Revo Fitness Oval to take on North Adelaide on Saturday morning, with the Panthers making the journey to The Ponderosa to tackle Central District.

