- May 8, 2001
- 5,696
- 873
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
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- CDFC (SANFL), Port Melb (VFL)
Hi Footy fans...
A saga that had dragged on for a while finally came to an end a week ago as the Adelaide Football Club's re-development proposal for the Thebarton Oval was finally given the seal of approval. Much to the chagrin of local residents, the Crows will move into the former home of West Torrens and give the ground a makeover, bringing it up to standard for training and a home ground for the Women's side. In the process, the SANFL will return to West Lakes to build a next-gen talent facility. But will this also mean that the Crows' seconds will start hosting games? When the AFC were admitted to the SANFL, the club's participation in the state league was conditional upon having no home ground advantage in contrast to Port Adelaide's continued use of Alberton. As we speak, the operating conditions are under review by the SANFL and the other eight club officials while the two AFL clubs are looking for better conditions... whatever they think better conditions are anyway. But with the takeover of the former home of the Eagles, will the Crows now make a push to start having home games? Seems logical and I'm sure many SA footy-heads would welcome the opportunity to revisit an old stomping ground a bit more often, though many will likely forego the nostalgia trip in their continued distaste for all things associated with the AFL.Not to mention that at this point, such an eventuality is pure speculation. But I digress... onto the action.
Welcome to the Round 13 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.
All of the weekend's action would take place on the Sunday afternoon, the first game takes us north to the X-Convenience Oval in Elizabeth where the Bulldogs faced the Crows. Back in Round 2, the Bulldogs were in fine form in their early-season run and the Crows were one of their conquests. Centrals were victorious by 55 points at the Ponderosa, the Crows had a dog of a day in front of goal for a return of 5.12. But as of late, the Doggies' form has been patchy at best despite winning their last three games including against the Magpies last week, while the Crows shocked everyone with their dominant 39-point disposal of a misfiring reigning premier at Glenelg. A good deal of that could be put down to some key ins, some of which would find their way to Goodman Road today. The Bulldogs would score the first goal, but then the Crows talls down back smothered their attack for the rest of the term while four goals were bagged at the other end. The board would read 4.3 to 1.1 Adelaide's way at the quarter-time siren. Another three Adelaide goals were scored before Centrals would get another of their own as the visitors' advantage was stretched to 34 points going into the long break. Further adding to the Bulldogs' frustration in that second quarter was a pair of bewildering umpire calls in front of goal, including one that saw three Crows bodies clash for the ball, only for a free kick to be called against the Dogs. That aside however, the Bulldogs were not playing like they did last week, history would repeat itself from their 2023 games where the Dogs won the earlier match only to be pantsed in the follow-up. The Crows' advantage would stretch to eight straight shots going into the final change, they added a further four goals without a miss while the home side's 2.3 put the deficit to 43 points come three quarter-time. The final term was awash with behinds for both sides, try as they did in the finish the Bulldogs could only make up a small bit of ground. Adelaide didn't find the goals again, managing just three behinds to the Dogs' 1.4 as they left with a six-goal win and rose to seventh on the ladder. Ned McHenry was named best for the Crows, collecting 22 disposals, six marks and drawing four frees. Harry Grant was Centrals' bes twith 27 disposals, nine tackles and eight clearances.
Next up we head to the Thomas Farms Oval in Unley for the battle of the southerners, or the "Big Blue" derby between the Double Blues and the Panthers. The Blues blitzed the Panthers in their last encounter back in Round 2, winning by 65 points at Noarlunga. Sturt had as many missed chances as the Panthers in the first half, but led by 31 at half-time before kicking 10 goals to four in the second half to run out easy winners. The Blues have had a run somewhat similar to Centrals, in that they have won games but not as convincingly. Though a strong showing against the table-topping Norwood a few weeks ago is the big difference. They managed to escape the Roosters grasp last week, while the Panthers couldn't catch the Redlegs even at their worst at The Parade. The Blues' injury issues had already deepened prior to this match, with several more key players on the sidelines as well as a late withdrawal. While the Panthers had a good run early on however, that work was undone as the Blues evened things up going into the first change, the two sides kicking 2.1 each in an opening term of two halves -- South owning the first 12 minutes, the Blues the remaining period. The Blues then outscored the Panthers 4.1 to 2.2 in the second term to set up a 17-point lead going into the changerooms at half-time. When play resumed, the Panthers looked as they had returned to the game with some renewed enthusiasm. However their accuracy was rather shocking. They were all over the Blues elsewhere, holding the home side to a mere 1.2. But a return of 3.8 would see them ahead by the narrowest of margins, instead of possibly a few goals. It was those opportunities wasted that South would be made to mull over at the end of the day, the Blues stirring back to life in the final term, albeit with their own problems with the inaccuracy bug. They kept the visitors to a single minor score and peppered through 3.5 of their own to win by 21 points and hold onto second place. James Battersby was best for the Blues with 25 disposals, 11 tackles and six clearances. For South, Kobe Mutch was voted in as their standout with 29 disposals, nine clearances and eight tackles.
Over to match number three now and we're heading to the seaside city of Glenelg and into the Stratarama Stadium for the battle of fourth and fifth between the Tigers and the Eagles. It was back in Round 7 that the Tigers were only just able to escape the Eagles talons, winning by 11 points at Woodville. The reigning premiers were dominant for the most part, but their opening quarter should have had them in front by a lot more than just four straight kicks at the long break. The Eagles made a comeback in the second half, but of course fell short despite a run of seven goals to five. The Tigers' accuracy problems were well in the spotlight last week when a stacked Crows line-up raided Brighton Road last week, while the Eagles ran a "fowl" of the Roosters at Prospect in a 23-point loss. Early on in the afternoon's proceedings, the Eagles looked to have put the Tigers on blast after keeping them to a sinlge minor score for the entire first term whilst kicking four goals without a blemish to lead by 23 points at quarter-time. But this wasn't the case as the Bays rocketed back to tie the game up deep into second quarter time-on, bagging 5.1 to the Eagles' 1.2. One last score to Glenelg put them ahead prior to the half-time siren by a point. The behinds would continue to rain down for the Tigers in the second half and the Eagles would once again have the ascendancy going into the final change. The visitors bagged the first three goals over 11 minutes while it took the Tigers early into added time to score their one and only major among their five scores across the third term. At three quarter-time, the Eagles held a 10-point lead. However, much like the Eagles were able to keep the Tigers away from the big sticks in the opening term, the tables would be turned in the final quarter. The Eagles were held to two behinds, the Tigers sprayed their sticks for a return of 3.6 as the home side emerged winners by two goals. The Bays were made to work for it, with no one single player getting more than 20 disposals. James Bell came closest as Glenelg's best afield, with 19 disposals, nine tackles and five clearances. The Eagles named Riley Knight as their best on ground with 26 disposals, 11 tackles and eight clearances.
The fourth game for the Sunday arvo brings us back towards town but deviating up South Road and into Hisense Stadium in Richmond for the clash of west and east, the Bloods against the Redlegs. It was back in Round 3 that these sides last met, it was their annual road trip out to the Eyre Peninsula that went wrong in more ways than one for the red & black. A low-scoring battle at Port Lincoln was won by the Redlegs by 13 points, but after the match, a Bloods player's misadventures would end in a hospital stay and his very life under a cloud. Thankfully the player in question since that time did in fact recover. Unfortunately for the Bloods their own fortunes have taken a dive since a win against Adelaide back in Round 8, last week it was a 45-point defeat to Sturt at Oxford Terrace. For the Redlegs, it was a win against South at home by 39 points. Sorry to say that this wasn't going to be as closely fought as it was on the West Coast, the Redlegs holding the Bloods to a lowly 1.2 whist bagging 6.1 for themselves to lead by 29 points at the first change. The Redlegs' accuracy went astray in the second term, but the Bloods' forwards were reduced to spectators as they were kept scoreless, Norwood scoring 2.6 to lengthen the gap to 47 points going into the sheds at half-time. The Bloods continually got caught leaving the Redleg forwards without any opposition pressure and if not that, handballing each other into instant strife. The nail was practically driven into the home side's hearts in the third quarter as the 'Legs piled on a further five goals to three, with missed chances counted the visitors were well and truly away with a 10-goal three quarter-time advantage. Westies just looked lost, a sight all too familiar over the last few years and earlier this year it looked as though they had turned around their fortunes. Norwood finished with a 4.4 to 2.2 final term to leave Milner Road with a 74-point win, no doubt hearing the warning sent by Adelaide from Elizabeth ahead of their meeting next week. Izaak Twelftree had quite a day as Norwood's best on ground, with 21 disposals, seven marks, six tackles and kicking four goals. Sam Frost was the Bloods' shining light, with 33 disposals, 11 clearances, six marks along with five tackles and free kicks.
The final game for the round sends us to the leafy surrounds of the inner north and into the Prospect Oval for the meeting between the Roosters and the Magpies. The black & whites will not forget their last encounter in a hurry, the Roosters inflicting a heavy 14-goal hammering at Alberton Oval in Round 6. After kicking three goals in the opening quarter, Port were made to wait until the final term to get another as North ran riot, overcoming inaccuracy and overturning a four-point quarter-time deficit to kick 15 of the following 17 goals. Its up for debate whether fan apathy or the conditions played a part in one of the worst turnouts in the Magpies' history as they went down to the Bulldogs last week, with less than 1000 passing through the Queen Street gates. The Roosters on the other hand won by 23 points against the Eagles at home. The Magpies' opening quarter was quite an improvement over last week, a term they largely dominated but couldn't convert on the board. This time they kicked 4.4 to the Roosters' 3.1 to lead by nine points at quarter-time. The second term wasn't nearly as plentiful with scores, the tussle tightening up going into the rooms at the long break. At the half-time siren, the Magpies' lead was cut back to three points with North kicking two goals to one. When play resumed, the two sides kicked a couple of goals each over 10 minutes to continue the tug-o-war. But then from the 15th minute onwards, the Magpies finally clicked. The Roosters only added a further three points, Port kicked another 5.2 as they sprinted to a match-high 31-point lead by three quarter-time. The Roosters could very well have given this a decent shake, but despite keeping the Magpies to just 1.2, they also couldn't get more than one goal. They blew a further four chances as Port took their second win of the year by 29 points. Tom Clurey was Port's best with 26 disposals and 15 marks in defence, while the Roosters had Campbell Combe with 25 disposals, 10 tackles and five marks.
FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 13 OF THE SANFL...
Sunday July 7
Adelaide 11.9 (75)
Central District 5.9 (39)
1,519 @ X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth
Sturt 11.9 (75)
South Adelaide 7.12 (54)
2,216 @ Thomas Farms Oval, Unley
Glenelg 9.13 (67)
Woodville-West Torrens 8.7 (55)
2,318 @ Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg
Norwood 17.13 (115)
West Adelaide 6.5 (41)
1,556 @ Hisense Stadium, Richmond
Port Adelaide 13.8 (86)
North Adelaide 8.9 (57)
2,381 @ Prospect Oval
INJURIES
Sturt -- Adams (leg), Katsaros (shoulder)
Norwood -- McLean (groin)
West -- Bramich (back), O'Donoghue (hamstring), Corbett (knee), Laudato (leg)
North -- Fellows (ankle), Tully (shoulder)
REPORTS
Adelaide -- Edwards (rough conduct)
Central -- Larkins (striking)
Sturt -- Fryer (rough conduct)
LEAGUE LADDER
-------------------------------------------------------
Norwood -- 20pts (10-2-0), 59.4%
Sturt -- 18pts (9-3-0), 59.7%
Glenelg -- 18pts (9-3-0), 54.3%
Central -- 16pts (8-4-0), 53.4%
W-WT -- 14pts (7-5-0), 56.1%
-------------------------------------------------------
North -- 10pts (5-7-0), 48.7%
Adelaide -- 8pts (4-8-0), 45.8%
West -- 8pts (4-8-0), 44.3%
South -- 4pts (2-10-0), 41.8%
Port -- 4pts (2-10-0), 39.1%
-------------------------------------------------------
JUNIOR CROWEATERS TWO FROM TWO
The South Australians have backed up their triumph at home against the Sandgropers, downing Victoria Metro in the second game of the AFL U-16 National Championships at People First Stadium on the Gold Coast. The Vics misfired early, kicking five behinds as the Croweaters kicked to 3.1 on their way to a 14-point quarter-time lead. Then they ramped it up with a game-breaking second quarter with seven more goals to Metro's single major and three more missed chances as SA were now ahead by eight goals at the long break. Taking their foot off the pedal in the second half, the Vics didn't really make a big impression on the Croweater's advantage. They continued to spray shots wide in their attempt at a comeback, cutting the gap down to 34 points with their 3.3 to 1.1 in the third term. It was South Australia's turn with the inaccuracy bug in the final stanza, but it was of no consequence in the end as the kids in red romped to victory. They finished with 1.5 to 2.1, winning by 32 points. They'll need to probably improve their accuracy ahead of their final match against Victoria Country, to be played this Friday morning at Fankhauser Reserve in Southport.
South Australia 12.8 (80) def. Victoria Metro 6.12 (48)
PANTHERS REDEMPTION COMES WITH PREMIERSHIP TRIUMPH
In a tense and extremely low-scoring battle, South Adelaide emerged the victors in the 2024 SANFL-W Grand Final against a more fancied Redlegs at Coopers Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers, stung hard by their defeat in last season's premiership decider at the hands of Centrals, would not enjoy a home field advantage or neutral venue despite finishing minor premier and winning the first Grand Final berth. This didn't hinder them initially and would strike first with the only goal of the opening term from Mel Anderson, then followed it with two more in the second term through Lauren Clifton and Shae Archbold whilst holding the Redlegs to a single behind for the entire half. But then the Panthers' attack would go quiet in the second half and were forced to defend grimly as the Redlegs made their move. But goals to Adrienne Davies and Tahlita Buethke across both quarters would not be enough as South ran out five-point winners to secure the premiership. The best on ground award would go to the Panthers' Jordann Hickey, who collected 21 disposals, 10 vital tackles and seven clearances. League B&F winner Nikki Nield and Caitlin Couch were the damage inflicters with 25 tackles between them, while Taya Maxwell had five clearances. Candice Belbin was best afield for Norwood with 19 disposals, nine tackles and six clearances.
SANFL WOMEN'S GRAND FINAL
Saturday July 6
South Adelaide 3.0 (18)
Norwood 2.1 (13)
Coopers Stadium, Norwood
Next weekend in Round 14...
Saturday July 13
Norwood vs. Adelaide; Coopers Stadium, Norwood @ 1:10pm
Port Adelaide vs. Glenelg; Alberton Oval @ 2:10pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. Sturt; Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville @ 2:10pm
Central District vs. West Adelaide; X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth @ 2:10pm
South Adelaide vs. North Adelaide; Victor Harbor Oval @ 2:30pm
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
A saga that had dragged on for a while finally came to an end a week ago as the Adelaide Football Club's re-development proposal for the Thebarton Oval was finally given the seal of approval. Much to the chagrin of local residents, the Crows will move into the former home of West Torrens and give the ground a makeover, bringing it up to standard for training and a home ground for the Women's side. In the process, the SANFL will return to West Lakes to build a next-gen talent facility. But will this also mean that the Crows' seconds will start hosting games? When the AFC were admitted to the SANFL, the club's participation in the state league was conditional upon having no home ground advantage in contrast to Port Adelaide's continued use of Alberton. As we speak, the operating conditions are under review by the SANFL and the other eight club officials while the two AFL clubs are looking for better conditions... whatever they think better conditions are anyway. But with the takeover of the former home of the Eagles, will the Crows now make a push to start having home games? Seems logical and I'm sure many SA footy-heads would welcome the opportunity to revisit an old stomping ground a bit more often, though many will likely forego the nostalgia trip in their continued distaste for all things associated with the AFL.Not to mention that at this point, such an eventuality is pure speculation. But I digress... onto the action.
Welcome to the Round 13 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.
All of the weekend's action would take place on the Sunday afternoon, the first game takes us north to the X-Convenience Oval in Elizabeth where the Bulldogs faced the Crows. Back in Round 2, the Bulldogs were in fine form in their early-season run and the Crows were one of their conquests. Centrals were victorious by 55 points at the Ponderosa, the Crows had a dog of a day in front of goal for a return of 5.12. But as of late, the Doggies' form has been patchy at best despite winning their last three games including against the Magpies last week, while the Crows shocked everyone with their dominant 39-point disposal of a misfiring reigning premier at Glenelg. A good deal of that could be put down to some key ins, some of which would find their way to Goodman Road today. The Bulldogs would score the first goal, but then the Crows talls down back smothered their attack for the rest of the term while four goals were bagged at the other end. The board would read 4.3 to 1.1 Adelaide's way at the quarter-time siren. Another three Adelaide goals were scored before Centrals would get another of their own as the visitors' advantage was stretched to 34 points going into the long break. Further adding to the Bulldogs' frustration in that second quarter was a pair of bewildering umpire calls in front of goal, including one that saw three Crows bodies clash for the ball, only for a free kick to be called against the Dogs. That aside however, the Bulldogs were not playing like they did last week, history would repeat itself from their 2023 games where the Dogs won the earlier match only to be pantsed in the follow-up. The Crows' advantage would stretch to eight straight shots going into the final change, they added a further four goals without a miss while the home side's 2.3 put the deficit to 43 points come three quarter-time. The final term was awash with behinds for both sides, try as they did in the finish the Bulldogs could only make up a small bit of ground. Adelaide didn't find the goals again, managing just three behinds to the Dogs' 1.4 as they left with a six-goal win and rose to seventh on the ladder. Ned McHenry was named best for the Crows, collecting 22 disposals, six marks and drawing four frees. Harry Grant was Centrals' bes twith 27 disposals, nine tackles and eight clearances.
Next up we head to the Thomas Farms Oval in Unley for the battle of the southerners, or the "Big Blue" derby between the Double Blues and the Panthers. The Blues blitzed the Panthers in their last encounter back in Round 2, winning by 65 points at Noarlunga. Sturt had as many missed chances as the Panthers in the first half, but led by 31 at half-time before kicking 10 goals to four in the second half to run out easy winners. The Blues have had a run somewhat similar to Centrals, in that they have won games but not as convincingly. Though a strong showing against the table-topping Norwood a few weeks ago is the big difference. They managed to escape the Roosters grasp last week, while the Panthers couldn't catch the Redlegs even at their worst at The Parade. The Blues' injury issues had already deepened prior to this match, with several more key players on the sidelines as well as a late withdrawal. While the Panthers had a good run early on however, that work was undone as the Blues evened things up going into the first change, the two sides kicking 2.1 each in an opening term of two halves -- South owning the first 12 minutes, the Blues the remaining period. The Blues then outscored the Panthers 4.1 to 2.2 in the second term to set up a 17-point lead going into the changerooms at half-time. When play resumed, the Panthers looked as they had returned to the game with some renewed enthusiasm. However their accuracy was rather shocking. They were all over the Blues elsewhere, holding the home side to a mere 1.2. But a return of 3.8 would see them ahead by the narrowest of margins, instead of possibly a few goals. It was those opportunities wasted that South would be made to mull over at the end of the day, the Blues stirring back to life in the final term, albeit with their own problems with the inaccuracy bug. They kept the visitors to a single minor score and peppered through 3.5 of their own to win by 21 points and hold onto second place. James Battersby was best for the Blues with 25 disposals, 11 tackles and six clearances. For South, Kobe Mutch was voted in as their standout with 29 disposals, nine clearances and eight tackles.
Over to match number three now and we're heading to the seaside city of Glenelg and into the Stratarama Stadium for the battle of fourth and fifth between the Tigers and the Eagles. It was back in Round 7 that the Tigers were only just able to escape the Eagles talons, winning by 11 points at Woodville. The reigning premiers were dominant for the most part, but their opening quarter should have had them in front by a lot more than just four straight kicks at the long break. The Eagles made a comeback in the second half, but of course fell short despite a run of seven goals to five. The Tigers' accuracy problems were well in the spotlight last week when a stacked Crows line-up raided Brighton Road last week, while the Eagles ran a "fowl" of the Roosters at Prospect in a 23-point loss. Early on in the afternoon's proceedings, the Eagles looked to have put the Tigers on blast after keeping them to a sinlge minor score for the entire first term whilst kicking four goals without a blemish to lead by 23 points at quarter-time. But this wasn't the case as the Bays rocketed back to tie the game up deep into second quarter time-on, bagging 5.1 to the Eagles' 1.2. One last score to Glenelg put them ahead prior to the half-time siren by a point. The behinds would continue to rain down for the Tigers in the second half and the Eagles would once again have the ascendancy going into the final change. The visitors bagged the first three goals over 11 minutes while it took the Tigers early into added time to score their one and only major among their five scores across the third term. At three quarter-time, the Eagles held a 10-point lead. However, much like the Eagles were able to keep the Tigers away from the big sticks in the opening term, the tables would be turned in the final quarter. The Eagles were held to two behinds, the Tigers sprayed their sticks for a return of 3.6 as the home side emerged winners by two goals. The Bays were made to work for it, with no one single player getting more than 20 disposals. James Bell came closest as Glenelg's best afield, with 19 disposals, nine tackles and five clearances. The Eagles named Riley Knight as their best on ground with 26 disposals, 11 tackles and eight clearances.
The fourth game for the Sunday arvo brings us back towards town but deviating up South Road and into Hisense Stadium in Richmond for the clash of west and east, the Bloods against the Redlegs. It was back in Round 3 that these sides last met, it was their annual road trip out to the Eyre Peninsula that went wrong in more ways than one for the red & black. A low-scoring battle at Port Lincoln was won by the Redlegs by 13 points, but after the match, a Bloods player's misadventures would end in a hospital stay and his very life under a cloud. Thankfully the player in question since that time did in fact recover. Unfortunately for the Bloods their own fortunes have taken a dive since a win against Adelaide back in Round 8, last week it was a 45-point defeat to Sturt at Oxford Terrace. For the Redlegs, it was a win against South at home by 39 points. Sorry to say that this wasn't going to be as closely fought as it was on the West Coast, the Redlegs holding the Bloods to a lowly 1.2 whist bagging 6.1 for themselves to lead by 29 points at the first change. The Redlegs' accuracy went astray in the second term, but the Bloods' forwards were reduced to spectators as they were kept scoreless, Norwood scoring 2.6 to lengthen the gap to 47 points going into the sheds at half-time. The Bloods continually got caught leaving the Redleg forwards without any opposition pressure and if not that, handballing each other into instant strife. The nail was practically driven into the home side's hearts in the third quarter as the 'Legs piled on a further five goals to three, with missed chances counted the visitors were well and truly away with a 10-goal three quarter-time advantage. Westies just looked lost, a sight all too familiar over the last few years and earlier this year it looked as though they had turned around their fortunes. Norwood finished with a 4.4 to 2.2 final term to leave Milner Road with a 74-point win, no doubt hearing the warning sent by Adelaide from Elizabeth ahead of their meeting next week. Izaak Twelftree had quite a day as Norwood's best on ground, with 21 disposals, seven marks, six tackles and kicking four goals. Sam Frost was the Bloods' shining light, with 33 disposals, 11 clearances, six marks along with five tackles and free kicks.
The final game for the round sends us to the leafy surrounds of the inner north and into the Prospect Oval for the meeting between the Roosters and the Magpies. The black & whites will not forget their last encounter in a hurry, the Roosters inflicting a heavy 14-goal hammering at Alberton Oval in Round 6. After kicking three goals in the opening quarter, Port were made to wait until the final term to get another as North ran riot, overcoming inaccuracy and overturning a four-point quarter-time deficit to kick 15 of the following 17 goals. Its up for debate whether fan apathy or the conditions played a part in one of the worst turnouts in the Magpies' history as they went down to the Bulldogs last week, with less than 1000 passing through the Queen Street gates. The Roosters on the other hand won by 23 points against the Eagles at home. The Magpies' opening quarter was quite an improvement over last week, a term they largely dominated but couldn't convert on the board. This time they kicked 4.4 to the Roosters' 3.1 to lead by nine points at quarter-time. The second term wasn't nearly as plentiful with scores, the tussle tightening up going into the rooms at the long break. At the half-time siren, the Magpies' lead was cut back to three points with North kicking two goals to one. When play resumed, the two sides kicked a couple of goals each over 10 minutes to continue the tug-o-war. But then from the 15th minute onwards, the Magpies finally clicked. The Roosters only added a further three points, Port kicked another 5.2 as they sprinted to a match-high 31-point lead by three quarter-time. The Roosters could very well have given this a decent shake, but despite keeping the Magpies to just 1.2, they also couldn't get more than one goal. They blew a further four chances as Port took their second win of the year by 29 points. Tom Clurey was Port's best with 26 disposals and 15 marks in defence, while the Roosters had Campbell Combe with 25 disposals, 10 tackles and five marks.
FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 13 OF THE SANFL...
Sunday July 7
Adelaide 11.9 (75)
Central District 5.9 (39)
1,519 @ X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth
Sturt 11.9 (75)
South Adelaide 7.12 (54)
2,216 @ Thomas Farms Oval, Unley
Glenelg 9.13 (67)
Woodville-West Torrens 8.7 (55)
2,318 @ Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg
Norwood 17.13 (115)
West Adelaide 6.5 (41)
1,556 @ Hisense Stadium, Richmond
Port Adelaide 13.8 (86)
North Adelaide 8.9 (57)
2,381 @ Prospect Oval
INJURIES
Sturt -- Adams (leg), Katsaros (shoulder)
Norwood -- McLean (groin)
West -- Bramich (back), O'Donoghue (hamstring), Corbett (knee), Laudato (leg)
North -- Fellows (ankle), Tully (shoulder)
REPORTS
Adelaide -- Edwards (rough conduct)
Central -- Larkins (striking)
Sturt -- Fryer (rough conduct)
LEAGUE LADDER
-------------------------------------------------------
Norwood -- 20pts (10-2-0), 59.4%
Sturt -- 18pts (9-3-0), 59.7%
Glenelg -- 18pts (9-3-0), 54.3%
Central -- 16pts (8-4-0), 53.4%
W-WT -- 14pts (7-5-0), 56.1%
-------------------------------------------------------
North -- 10pts (5-7-0), 48.7%
Adelaide -- 8pts (4-8-0), 45.8%
West -- 8pts (4-8-0), 44.3%
South -- 4pts (2-10-0), 41.8%
Port -- 4pts (2-10-0), 39.1%
-------------------------------------------------------
JUNIOR CROWEATERS TWO FROM TWO
The South Australians have backed up their triumph at home against the Sandgropers, downing Victoria Metro in the second game of the AFL U-16 National Championships at People First Stadium on the Gold Coast. The Vics misfired early, kicking five behinds as the Croweaters kicked to 3.1 on their way to a 14-point quarter-time lead. Then they ramped it up with a game-breaking second quarter with seven more goals to Metro's single major and three more missed chances as SA were now ahead by eight goals at the long break. Taking their foot off the pedal in the second half, the Vics didn't really make a big impression on the Croweater's advantage. They continued to spray shots wide in their attempt at a comeback, cutting the gap down to 34 points with their 3.3 to 1.1 in the third term. It was South Australia's turn with the inaccuracy bug in the final stanza, but it was of no consequence in the end as the kids in red romped to victory. They finished with 1.5 to 2.1, winning by 32 points. They'll need to probably improve their accuracy ahead of their final match against Victoria Country, to be played this Friday morning at Fankhauser Reserve in Southport.
South Australia 12.8 (80) def. Victoria Metro 6.12 (48)
PANTHERS REDEMPTION COMES WITH PREMIERSHIP TRIUMPH
In a tense and extremely low-scoring battle, South Adelaide emerged the victors in the 2024 SANFL-W Grand Final against a more fancied Redlegs at Coopers Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers, stung hard by their defeat in last season's premiership decider at the hands of Centrals, would not enjoy a home field advantage or neutral venue despite finishing minor premier and winning the first Grand Final berth. This didn't hinder them initially and would strike first with the only goal of the opening term from Mel Anderson, then followed it with two more in the second term through Lauren Clifton and Shae Archbold whilst holding the Redlegs to a single behind for the entire half. But then the Panthers' attack would go quiet in the second half and were forced to defend grimly as the Redlegs made their move. But goals to Adrienne Davies and Tahlita Buethke across both quarters would not be enough as South ran out five-point winners to secure the premiership. The best on ground award would go to the Panthers' Jordann Hickey, who collected 21 disposals, 10 vital tackles and seven clearances. League B&F winner Nikki Nield and Caitlin Couch were the damage inflicters with 25 tackles between them, while Taya Maxwell had five clearances. Candice Belbin was best afield for Norwood with 19 disposals, nine tackles and six clearances.
SANFL WOMEN'S GRAND FINAL
Saturday July 6
South Adelaide 3.0 (18)
Norwood 2.1 (13)
Coopers Stadium, Norwood
Next weekend in Round 14...
Saturday July 13
Norwood vs. Adelaide; Coopers Stadium, Norwood @ 1:10pm
Port Adelaide vs. Glenelg; Alberton Oval @ 2:10pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. Sturt; Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville @ 2:10pm
Central District vs. West Adelaide; X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth @ 2:10pm
South Adelaide vs. North Adelaide; Victor Harbor Oval @ 2:30pm
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
