LIAM PHILLIPS
SOUTH Gawler won its first
women’s football game since
June 16, 2019 on Saturday when
its under-16s beat Tanunda 5.1
(31) to 3.2 (20) after losing its last
three games by a combined 333
points.
Coach Colin Wardrop was ecstatic
with the result, and said it was
only a matter of time before his
side’s efforts were rewarded.
“All the bumps and bruises along
the way only made it sweeter,” he
said.
“They’ve got this belief about
them now – they know what it takes
to win, and the way they dug in late
in the game when we were up by
less than a goal shows they’re serious
about getting better.
“I talk to the girls every week
one-on-one about what they bring
to the table and where they can improve,
and they’ve come so far in
such a short space of time in how
they see the game and what they can
do out there.
“It was like winning a grand final
for these girls.”
In the seniors, Willaston is the
only side to start the season 2-0 after
an incredibly impressive 12.11
(83) to zero demolition of a Kapunda
side that had some players out,
but still fielded some real talent.
Two of the three Wendland triplets
– Jessica and Kasey – starred
for the Donnybrooks while the
third, Caitlin, is playing consistent
footy for Central District in the
SANFL.
Willaston juniors Dakota Williams
and Mia Nolan-Grigg also
showed they are comfortable at the
senior level, being named in the
best players after spending a chunk
of the off-season playing for the
BL&GW All-Stars.
Barossa District could’ve won by
much more, but inaccurate finishing
kept the final score against Angaston
at 3.9 (27) to 1.0 (6).
Ashleigh Chomik was named
best-on-ground for the Bulldogs,
along with Kiarra Pring and Erin
Young, who both kicked a goal
each.
Superstar Libby Fiebiger kicked
the Panthers’ only goal and was
named the home side’s best.
It was also a monumental day for
Gawler Central, winning its first senior
women’s game since May 20,
2018 after going a combined 0-13
across 2019 and 2020.
The Tigers trailed at quarter time
by two points, had the edge in the
field position battle and produced
three more scoring shots, and that
ascendancy started to show in the
second term, heading into halftime
up 3.5 (23) to 2.0 (12).
Tanunda fought back in the third,
pulling the margin back to nine,
but this Tigers team refused to be
denied, holding the Magpies scoreless
in the last quarter while Ainslee
Knight (three goals) and Kayla
McInerney (two goals) finished the
job up forward to record a 5.6 (46)
to 3.2 (20) win.
Along with the goalkickers,
Tegan Nottle, Julia Linarello, Erica
Rowe and Kristina Caitlin were
named in the best players in a game
these Tigers will remember for a
long time.
In under-16s, Kapunda continued
to be a wrecking ball as it wiped out
Willaston 15.9 (99) to 1.2 (8), with
standout junior Sophie Eaton kicking
eight goals.
Akeira-Juliet Whichello kicked
the Donnybrooks’ only major and
was named the visitors’ best, while
Mikaylah Antony and Holly Tralaggan
were recognised alongside Eaton
as the best Bombers.
Barossa District held Angaston
scoreless for the first three quarters
on the way to a 6.6 (42) to 1.1 (7)
win.
Macy Lane and Sienna Bates
kicked a pair of goals each for the
Bulldogs, while the best-on-ground
honours went to Samara Bellchambers.
In under-13s, Kapunda and Freeling
played the only close game of
the round, with Bomber Maisie
Leslie kicking a bag of five to help
propel her side to an 8.4 (52) to 5.3
(33) win.
Angaston beat Barossa District
9.7 (61) to 0.0, with Miyu Endersby
and Matilda Barrett snagging
a couple goals each, while Tanunda
hammered Willaston 16.17
(113) to 0.0.