With the home-and-away season now in its penultimate week, the fight for positions in the 2025 TIO Central Australian Football League is reaching fever pitch. For some sides, momentum is building at the right time; for others, the margin for error has evaporated.
At Albrecht Oval, second-placed West’s women’s side made a powerful statement by toppling Federal in what could prove to be a Grand Final dress rehearsal. In a match short on scoring chances but high on intensity, West’s control at the stoppages tipped the balance. Seven scoring shots to Federal’s four told the story, with West prevailing by 13 points.
Caitlin Couch was again in the thick of the action, continuing her consistent run of form, while Rose Mernagh produced her best outing of the year. Up forward, Rachel Davine and Annabelle Glossop were clinical, each finishing with two goals. Federal, who have set the pace all season, will now turn their attention to locking in the minor premiership next week.
Rovers, meanwhile, delivered a wonderful performance in their clash with South. With eight individual goalkickers, it was the twin spearheads who stole the show. Ebony Abbott-McCormack had nine goals, while Doreena Hansen added seven in a devastating double act. Their dominance was underpinned by strong contributions from Lara Harding and Carly Wilson. South, still searching for positives, will look to close their campaign with pride in the final round.
Alkamilya faced a stern examination against a Pioneer side desperate to finish the season on a high. Although the ladder-leaders looked set to assert themselves early, Pioneer refused to let the game slip, matching Alkamilya stride for stride. The 12 scoring shots to 11 painted a picture of a contest that could have gone either way.
For Alkamilya, Regan Maher-Moldrich’s five goals not only guided her team over the line but also all but wrapped up the league’s goalkicking title. She now holds a seven-goal buffer over teammate Danielle Woods heading into the final week. Hayley Maher and Kylie Huxtable also showed their quality in a timely confidence boost before finals. For Pioneer, the fight was led by Danika McDonald, Kiarra Tilmouth and Viviana Petyarre, with Marika Club’s three goals giving the underdogs plenty to cheer about.
In the men’s, South’s charge towards September gathered further steam with a crucial 16-point win over Rovers, a result that lifted them into the all-important fourth spot. The Roos controlled much of the contest, holding a 26-point margin at three-quarter time before withstanding a spirited Rovers comeback in the final term.
Rohan Watts was immense for South, dictating play and setting the tone. He was well supported by the hard running of Jerome Dickson, Jynan Barnes and Akiel Webb, who kept the pressure on throughout. For Rovers, Deacon Braun and Lucas Ross gave their all at every contest, but their side still faced a tough week on the ladder.
At the top end of the table, Federal’s perfect season remains intact after accounting for West in another polished display. With the minor premiership firmly in their sights, Federal had stars across the ground. Abraham Ankers was once again prolific, gathering possessions at will and finishing with two goals. Braydon Weily, Thomas Hynes and Oscar Weichmann were all influential in maintaining the pressure and linking play.
West fought hard, with Jordan Bailey producing a tireless performance and Andrew Murdoch providing a spark up forward with four goals, but they were ultimately outclassed. Federal now looks primed to carry their undefeated run into the finals, while West will be searching for answers against the league’s benchmark side.