The Southern Saints faced the monumental challenge of coming up against the unbeaten league-leaders, the NT Thunder.
The Thunder boasts a host of ready-made AFLW stars in the form of nine Adelaide Crows, all of whom had been strong contributors to their impressive season record to date.
In stark contrast, Peta Searle’s side featured nine players under the age of 20, including six from the TAC Cup Girls system.
Opening term goals to Ashleigh Allsopp and newly-signed AFLW superstar Lauren Arnell gave the Saints a two-goal headstart as the NT failed to register a major in the first quarter.
READ: Arnell bolsters Southern Saints
Greasy conditions by the bay helped limit the influence of the Thunder’s normally silky ball use, with a strong defensive showing by several Saints restricted them to just 1.3 (9) for the first half.
A scoreless third quarter for the Saints meant the margin was reduced to just two points at three-quarter time, setting the stage for a make-or-break final term.
A determined fourth quarter effort from the underdogs in red, white and black was required, and that’s precisely what they delivered.
Back-to-back goals to Tara Bohanna (3.0) took the Saints’ lead out to 14
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The full-time stats sheet reflected the evenness of the arm-wrestle, with both sides all but matching up in inside 50s, tackles and disposals; the discrepancy in the final score lay in the Saints’ ability to maximise their chances at goal.
The Southern Saints have another bye this week before taking on the Casey Demons on their home turf at Casey Fields at
Southern Saints 2.0 3.1 3.1 6.2 (38)
NT Thunder 0.3 1.3 2.6 2.6 (18)
GOALS T. Bohanna (3), A. Allsopp, L. Arnell, A. Drennan
BEST K. Ripari, S. Heath, M. Macdonald, S. Johnson, L. Arnell, T. Bohanna
