- May 8, 2001
- 5,692
- 860
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
- Other Teams
- CDFC (SANFL), Port Melb (VFL)
Hi Footy fans...
It's not long now folks. We can now officially consider ourselves on the road to finals football, with just five more rounds to go until the 2024 SANFL Hostplus League Finals Series and the race for the Thomas Seymour-Hill Trophy. While there's still plenty of time for some slip-ups over the next six weeks, some have probably already pegged the Redlegs as the inevitable minor premiers and favourites to win their second flag in three seasons. The Blues are just behind them and could easily usurp said position with a pretty favourable run home, with three games against bottom five sides. The Tigers have been having some scoring troubles lately, so they can probably think themselves lucky to be in a Qualifying Final spot. The Bulldogs have been hot and cold even when they've been winning, the same can be said about the Eagles as well and while either are capable of serving up some last minute shocks on the run to Adelaide Oval, for now they sit in the Elimination Final spots. Prior to this weekend, the Dogs had two games in hand over the Eagles and sitting in sixth are the Roosters, who are still within striking distance. It's not exactly out of reach for the Crows or the Bloods either, but with the games they have coming, they can probably kiss September goodbye now barring a miracle. But again... banana peels are often unsighted and costly slip ups happen.
Welcome to the Round 14 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.
First up in the wrap we take a short ride toward the inner eastern suburbs and into the Coopers Stadium in Norwood for the outing between the Redlegs and the Crows. Back in Round 6 at The Parade, the Crows were unable to catch the 'Legs after being just three straight kicks shy at half-time. That's was pretty much as close as they were for the entire second half, the Redlegs answering every challenge to emerge winners by three goals. Fast forward to now and while the Redlegs did drop points only a few weeks ago, they've been taking no prisoners lately with a couple of hammerings over the last three rounds. The latest victim was the Bloods, the 'Legs winning by over 12 goals at Richmond. Lately though, an influx of AFL-level players has seen the Crows hand out defeats to the reigning premiers and Centrals over consecutive weeks. Some would think that despite two promotions to the senior side would still allow Adelaide to give the top side a decent shake... and the answer would be emphatic no. Norwood proceeded to make a mockery of the Crows past fortnight, as well as the Crows mocking themselves with a first term effort of six behinds to the Redlegs' 5.5. At quarter-time the 'Legs were 29 points ahead. Adelaide found the big sticks at the 14th minute mark of the second term, but a further two missed chances while Norwood added 3.3 to their tally to take their lead to 41 points going into the rooms at the long break. There was one more quarter of embarrassment coming for the Crows, the Redlegs' grip on the game made absolute in the third quarter where they held the visitors scoreless. The punishment could have been more than the eventual three quarter-time gap of almost 13 goals, Norwood launching attack after attack for a return of 5.6. At the final change it was an unassailable 77-point lead to the home side. The 'Legs must have decided this was enough, the Crows finally got back on the goal column as they kicked 4.1 to 1.5 to reduce the deficit to 63 points in the end... a resounding thud heard everywhere no doubt. Baynen Lowe had a quite a day out, named best for Norwood with 27 disposals, eight clearances, five tackles and marks as well as three goals. Daniel Curtain was Adelaide's standout with 22 disposals, seven tackles and two of the Crows' five goals.
We now go from the inner east to the outer north-west and into wharfie territory for a meeting of the old 80's enemies in the Magpies and the Tigers at the Alberton Oval. Last time these sides met, there wouldn't have been too many Tigers fans not laughing maniacally at the final siren back in the opening round of 2024. Port had just one decent quarter in them, but that was the first term. After a competitive first term, the Magpies led by a point before the reigning premiers romped away to an 11-goal win after kicking 19 of the next 28 goals. That was their best showing of the year, since then they've won games but have haven't done it quite as convincingly. Last week was a good example, defeating the Eagles at Oval Avenue by two goals with a tally of 9.13. At the same time, the Magpies got their second win for the season in their raid of the chook-house at Prospect. The ongoing issues with the Bays' shooting on goal was very much on display in the opening quarter as the Magpies kicked four goals without a miss to Glenelg's 1.4 to lead by 14 points at quarter-time. The shoe was on the other foot to a degree in the second quarter, but the Tigers would still be lagging behind at the half-time siren. The gap was drawn back to 11 points in Port's favour at the long break, outscored 2.1 to 1.4. The game descended into an arm-wrestling contest, the Magpies' defenders holding pretty well against the expected Tigers' fightback in the second half. The visitors were still putting several cruicial chances wide which stopped them taking over the lead, but chipped a couple more points off the Magpies' earlier advantage. The Tigers got back to within a kick of the lead, but a goal prior to time-on by Port had a nine-point lead. The Tigers' continued problems with accuracy would cruel them in the end, despite again making a comeback run. Port had kicked to a 23-point lead after 11 minutes, then the Tigers kicked 2.3 of their own to draw it back to eight points. That was as close as they got as the home side nailed one last major deep into time-on to win by 14 points. Dante Visentini ruled the rucking contests with 54 hitouts, laid seven tackles and effected six clearances as best afield for Port, while Max Proud was best for Glenelg with 26 disposals, seven marks and five tackles.
The next game for the afternoon takes us a few kilometres back towards town, detouring toward the Maughan Thiem Kia Oval in Woodville where the Eagles faced the Double Blues. The Eagles fell behind in the third quarter in their last encounter back in Round 5 at Unley, going from 20 points up at half-time to 13 down at the final change. But they proceeded to shock the Oxford Terrace crowd with a dominant final quarter, holding the Blues to one goal while scoring four of their own to win by eight points. The Blues withstood a third quarter scare in the southern derby against the Panthers last week, finishing strongly to win by 21 points. The Eagles on the other hand, were unable to take advantage of the Tigers' scoring problems as they went down by two goals at Brighton Road. The match opened with a tit-for-tat struggle in the first quarter, neither side getting much of an upper hand with a run of behinds for both sides in the middle of the period. They both scored 2.3 each to tie the scores at the first change. The inaccuracy continued for both teams in the second term, but the Blues would finish the first half with a three-kick buffer. They kicked 1.4 to the Eagles' 1.3 before kicking the last two majors of the half along with one more behind to lead by 14 points at the long break. While their forwards weren't doing a heck of a lot of damage, it was Sturt's defenders that were making up for that at the other end. Said group would put on a clinic in the third quarter as they held the Eagles scoreless while stretching their lead to five kicks going into the final change. The Blues added 2.3 to lead by 29 points at three quarter-time. That third term would cost the home side in the end, despite their final term heroics. They kicked the first four goals of the last quarter to Sturt's single minor score, closing to within a goal of equalising prior to additional time, but the visitors held on and scored 1.2 to the Eagles' one last major to win by eight points, an identical margin to the result earlier this season. James Battersby was named Sturt's best on ground with 25 disposals, seven marks along with five each in the tackle, clearance and free kick columns. For the Eagles, it was Adam D'Aloia with 28 disposals, nine tackles and six clearances.
Now we head up to the outer north for game number four of the Saturday arvo, the Bulldogs hosting the Bloods at the X-Convenience Oval in Elizabeth. The Doggies have had an awful habit of dropping their guard at some point against the Bloods in recent times, including their Round 5 match at Richmond where they had their advantage cut from 35 points at three quarter-time back to 21 by full-time. Some will say you can't argue with results, but the way that the Dogs have been playing seems to be at odds with their ladder position. Their loss to Adelaide can only be partially attibuted to the quality of players in the opposition's line-up at the time, even in victory they're still serving up small periods of brilliance before almost letting it go. The Bloods copped a bath from the Redlegs last week, belted at home by 74 points. The Dogs took a while to get going, conceding the first goal and behind of the opening quarter before kicking 3.2 for themselves in the latter half of the period to lead by 13 points at the first change. The gap would then see-saw between the two and three goal gap for the better part of the second quarter before the Bloods cut the deficit back to a single kick going into the rooms at half-time. The Bloods outscored the Dogs 4.3 to three goals as the home sides' lead was reduced to four points at the long break. Westies would fall back onto some old habits when play resumed in the third quarter, restricted to 1.1 while the Bulldogs bagged 4.1 to take a 22-point lead at three quarter-time. Momentum was apparently with the Bulldogs, three of those goals were the last of that term and two were during time-on. Centrals added another 1.2 to start the final quarter, but in similar fashion to a game last season, they would almost cough it up as the Bloods stirred to life. The visitors kicked the final four goals of the match, forcing the home side to defend grimly in the dying stages, holding on for a six-point victory. No arguing with results, but with a looming clash with a rampant Norwood... I think you know where I'm going. Reigning Magarey Medallist Harry Grant was best afield for the Bulldogs, with 26 disposals, 10 tackles and seven clearances. For the Bloods, it was Kobe Ryan with 34 disposals, 12 tackles and clearances along with six marks.
The final game for the round takes us down to the south coast where the 2024 SA Country Football Championships were taking place, in the middle of this was the SANFL's Civil war of South and North, the Panthers taking on the Roosters at Victor Harbor Oval. One good quarter of football was all the red & whites needed to put the Panthers away and it was the opening term. Back in Round 8 at Prospect, the Roosters kicked a bag to open up a six-kick lead by quarter-time and maintained that advantage for the rest of the afternoon to win by 38 points. Last weekend the Panthers dropped their intensity in the final term at Unley to lose the southside derby by 21 points, while the Roosters' second half at Alberton saw them go from three points down at half-time to a 29-point defeat. The stakes for the Panthers were quite high, with the Magpies' eventual win they could finish the day in last place. They started on the right note with the first two majors inside five minutes, but repeated turnovers were preventing further scoreboard damage. Those two goals along with three minors to North's 1.3 had the Panthers up by a goal at the first change. The second quarter began with the Roosters kicking a string of minor scores in the windy conditions. After North kicked the first goal of the term to get five points up after seven minutes, the Panthers looked to have steadied with their 2.1 to regain the lead, but they would then concede three late goals as the Roosters went into the long break with a 10-point lead. The third term provided plenty of scoring chances for both sides, the Panthers being more efficient in attack while North put more shots wide. Scores were levelled deep into injury time with South scoring 4.2 to 2.3, a Roosters' minor score prior to the three quarter-time siren put them back ahead. In the end, the Roosters simply overwhelmed South in the finish, dominating territory and possession to condemn the blue & whites to the bottom of the ladder. They still blasted shots on goal wide, but their 2.7 to two goals was more than enough to leave the tourist centre with an eight-point victory. Campbell Combe was North's pressure man, named best afield with 33 disposals, 15 tackles and seven clearances. The Panthers named Elliot Dunkin as their standout with 33 disposals and 11 marks.
FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 14 OF THE SANFL...
Saturday July 13
Norwood 14.18 (102)
Adelaide 5.9 (39)
1,661 @ Coopers Stadium, Norwood
Port Adelaide 9.7 (61)
Glenelg 6.11 (47)
1,178 @ Alberton Oval
Sturt 8.14 (62)
Woodville-West Torrens 8.6 (54)
1,685 @ Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville
Central District 11.5 (71)
West Adelaide 10.5 (65)
1,292 @ X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth
North Adelaide 9.18 (72)
South Adelaide 10.4 (64)
2,687 @ Victor Harbor Oval
INJURIES
Norwood -- Taheny, Jenkin (hamstring)
Glenelg -- Guerher (knee)
W-WT -- Nicholls (shoulder), Toole (ankle)
West -- Tozer (quad), Rundle (hamstring), Meline (knee)
South -- Birt (hamstring)
REPORTS
Norwood -- Murley (striking)
Glenelg -- Adams (striking)
North -- Wissman (striking)
South -- Davis (striking)
LEAGUE LADDER
-------------------------------------------------------
Norwood -- 22pts (11-2-0), 60.5%
Sturt -- 20pts (10-3-0), 59.3%
Glenelg -- 18pts (9-4-0), 53.7%
Central -- 18pts (9-4-0), 53.3%
W-WT -- 14pts (7-6-0), 55.6%
-------------------------------------------------------
North -- 12pts (6-7-0), 49%
West -- 8pts (4-9-0), 44.5%
Adelaide -- 8pts (4-9-0), 44.4%
Port -- 6pts (3-10-0), 40.1%
South -- 4pts (2-11-0), 42.2%
-------------------------------------------------------
LATE LAPSE COSTLY FOR JUNIOR CROWEATERS
The AFL U-16 National Championships have ended in defeat for South Australia, going down in heartbreaking circumstances to eventual champions Victoria Country in Game 3 at Fankhauser Reserve on Queensland's Gold Coast. It was a tight tussle early on with Country leading by one point at quarter-time, then extending that to nine points going into the half-time break. Inaccuracy kept the Croweaters in it with the Vics burning several chances on goal. The South Australians then had a bumper period when play resumed, keeping Vic Country to 1.2 and banging through 6.2 for themselves in the premiership quarter to take a 21-point lead going into the final quarter. That sudden burst of confidence would then go straight down the gurgler as the Vics answered back in the final term with four unanswered, tying the scores up deep into the quarter as they kept South Australia to only three behinds. Then came the arrow through the Croweaters' hearts, a minor score at 24 minutes that proved the decisive blow. Cain Florance was best afield for the day, but it was Dougie Cochrane that won the accolades overall, taking out the SA MVP award and the Kevin Sheehan Medal as player of the tournament.
Victoria Country 9.11 (65) def. South Australia 9.10 (64)
EASTERN ZONE RULES THE LANDS AT COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
The South Australian Country Football Championships belonged to the red, black and blue of the Eastern Zone in both the men's and the women's divisions in this year's tournament at Victor Harbor. First its the ladies, the Eastern girls beginning with a tense encounter with Southern which they won by seven points, then dominated against Northern to win that outing by 37 points, both games on the Saturday. In the last game on Sunday, Central proved to be no problem either as Eastern won by 26 points. Sarah Campbell of Hills league outfit Blackwood was named B&F overall, while fellow Easterner Holly Alston from Mount Lofty was the recipient of the SA Power Networks Leadership Award. Damien Venning was named coach of the championships, with four members of his victorious side named in the Women's team of the tournament. The goal-kickers award was shared three ways by Jess Kirk (Southern), Lillian Bornholdt (Central) and Yahna Chynoweth (Eyre Peninsula). In the Men's division, the Easterners began with a hard-fought three point win against Southern, then by 28 points against Northern on Saturday, followed by a six-goal win against Central in the final game. There was a distinct Sturt flavour amongst the winners of the various individual accolades, the Don McSweeny Medal going to former Blues player Joel Parker-Boers of Hahndorf, while Eastern Zone coach Adam Klun received the Bill Murdoch Medal. Eastern would also secure the U-21 B&F award which went to Jordan Hein, yet another alumnus of Oxford Terrace, along with six spots on the team of the tournament. Former Port Adelaide player Yohann Wagner (Eyre Peninsula) was the leading goal-kicker, while Jack Penfold (Eastern) won the Leadership Award.
Next weekend in Round 15...
Saturday July 20 @ 2:10pm
Norwood vs. Central District; Coopers Stadium, Norwood
West Adelaide vs. Woodville-West Torrens; Hisense Stadium, Richmond
North Adelaide vs. Adelaide; Prospect Oval
Sunday July 21 @ 2:10pm
Sturt vs. Glenelg; Thomas Farms Oval, Unley
Port Adelaide vs. South Adelaide; Alberton Oval
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
It's not long now folks. We can now officially consider ourselves on the road to finals football, with just five more rounds to go until the 2024 SANFL Hostplus League Finals Series and the race for the Thomas Seymour-Hill Trophy. While there's still plenty of time for some slip-ups over the next six weeks, some have probably already pegged the Redlegs as the inevitable minor premiers and favourites to win their second flag in three seasons. The Blues are just behind them and could easily usurp said position with a pretty favourable run home, with three games against bottom five sides. The Tigers have been having some scoring troubles lately, so they can probably think themselves lucky to be in a Qualifying Final spot. The Bulldogs have been hot and cold even when they've been winning, the same can be said about the Eagles as well and while either are capable of serving up some last minute shocks on the run to Adelaide Oval, for now they sit in the Elimination Final spots. Prior to this weekend, the Dogs had two games in hand over the Eagles and sitting in sixth are the Roosters, who are still within striking distance. It's not exactly out of reach for the Crows or the Bloods either, but with the games they have coming, they can probably kiss September goodbye now barring a miracle. But again... banana peels are often unsighted and costly slip ups happen.
Welcome to the Round 14 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.
First up in the wrap we take a short ride toward the inner eastern suburbs and into the Coopers Stadium in Norwood for the outing between the Redlegs and the Crows. Back in Round 6 at The Parade, the Crows were unable to catch the 'Legs after being just three straight kicks shy at half-time. That's was pretty much as close as they were for the entire second half, the Redlegs answering every challenge to emerge winners by three goals. Fast forward to now and while the Redlegs did drop points only a few weeks ago, they've been taking no prisoners lately with a couple of hammerings over the last three rounds. The latest victim was the Bloods, the 'Legs winning by over 12 goals at Richmond. Lately though, an influx of AFL-level players has seen the Crows hand out defeats to the reigning premiers and Centrals over consecutive weeks. Some would think that despite two promotions to the senior side would still allow Adelaide to give the top side a decent shake... and the answer would be emphatic no. Norwood proceeded to make a mockery of the Crows past fortnight, as well as the Crows mocking themselves with a first term effort of six behinds to the Redlegs' 5.5. At quarter-time the 'Legs were 29 points ahead. Adelaide found the big sticks at the 14th minute mark of the second term, but a further two missed chances while Norwood added 3.3 to their tally to take their lead to 41 points going into the rooms at the long break. There was one more quarter of embarrassment coming for the Crows, the Redlegs' grip on the game made absolute in the third quarter where they held the visitors scoreless. The punishment could have been more than the eventual three quarter-time gap of almost 13 goals, Norwood launching attack after attack for a return of 5.6. At the final change it was an unassailable 77-point lead to the home side. The 'Legs must have decided this was enough, the Crows finally got back on the goal column as they kicked 4.1 to 1.5 to reduce the deficit to 63 points in the end... a resounding thud heard everywhere no doubt. Baynen Lowe had a quite a day out, named best for Norwood with 27 disposals, eight clearances, five tackles and marks as well as three goals. Daniel Curtain was Adelaide's standout with 22 disposals, seven tackles and two of the Crows' five goals.
We now go from the inner east to the outer north-west and into wharfie territory for a meeting of the old 80's enemies in the Magpies and the Tigers at the Alberton Oval. Last time these sides met, there wouldn't have been too many Tigers fans not laughing maniacally at the final siren back in the opening round of 2024. Port had just one decent quarter in them, but that was the first term. After a competitive first term, the Magpies led by a point before the reigning premiers romped away to an 11-goal win after kicking 19 of the next 28 goals. That was their best showing of the year, since then they've won games but have haven't done it quite as convincingly. Last week was a good example, defeating the Eagles at Oval Avenue by two goals with a tally of 9.13. At the same time, the Magpies got their second win for the season in their raid of the chook-house at Prospect. The ongoing issues with the Bays' shooting on goal was very much on display in the opening quarter as the Magpies kicked four goals without a miss to Glenelg's 1.4 to lead by 14 points at quarter-time. The shoe was on the other foot to a degree in the second quarter, but the Tigers would still be lagging behind at the half-time siren. The gap was drawn back to 11 points in Port's favour at the long break, outscored 2.1 to 1.4. The game descended into an arm-wrestling contest, the Magpies' defenders holding pretty well against the expected Tigers' fightback in the second half. The visitors were still putting several cruicial chances wide which stopped them taking over the lead, but chipped a couple more points off the Magpies' earlier advantage. The Tigers got back to within a kick of the lead, but a goal prior to time-on by Port had a nine-point lead. The Tigers' continued problems with accuracy would cruel them in the end, despite again making a comeback run. Port had kicked to a 23-point lead after 11 minutes, then the Tigers kicked 2.3 of their own to draw it back to eight points. That was as close as they got as the home side nailed one last major deep into time-on to win by 14 points. Dante Visentini ruled the rucking contests with 54 hitouts, laid seven tackles and effected six clearances as best afield for Port, while Max Proud was best for Glenelg with 26 disposals, seven marks and five tackles.
The next game for the afternoon takes us a few kilometres back towards town, detouring toward the Maughan Thiem Kia Oval in Woodville where the Eagles faced the Double Blues. The Eagles fell behind in the third quarter in their last encounter back in Round 5 at Unley, going from 20 points up at half-time to 13 down at the final change. But they proceeded to shock the Oxford Terrace crowd with a dominant final quarter, holding the Blues to one goal while scoring four of their own to win by eight points. The Blues withstood a third quarter scare in the southern derby against the Panthers last week, finishing strongly to win by 21 points. The Eagles on the other hand, were unable to take advantage of the Tigers' scoring problems as they went down by two goals at Brighton Road. The match opened with a tit-for-tat struggle in the first quarter, neither side getting much of an upper hand with a run of behinds for both sides in the middle of the period. They both scored 2.3 each to tie the scores at the first change. The inaccuracy continued for both teams in the second term, but the Blues would finish the first half with a three-kick buffer. They kicked 1.4 to the Eagles' 1.3 before kicking the last two majors of the half along with one more behind to lead by 14 points at the long break. While their forwards weren't doing a heck of a lot of damage, it was Sturt's defenders that were making up for that at the other end. Said group would put on a clinic in the third quarter as they held the Eagles scoreless while stretching their lead to five kicks going into the final change. The Blues added 2.3 to lead by 29 points at three quarter-time. That third term would cost the home side in the end, despite their final term heroics. They kicked the first four goals of the last quarter to Sturt's single minor score, closing to within a goal of equalising prior to additional time, but the visitors held on and scored 1.2 to the Eagles' one last major to win by eight points, an identical margin to the result earlier this season. James Battersby was named Sturt's best on ground with 25 disposals, seven marks along with five each in the tackle, clearance and free kick columns. For the Eagles, it was Adam D'Aloia with 28 disposals, nine tackles and six clearances.
Now we head up to the outer north for game number four of the Saturday arvo, the Bulldogs hosting the Bloods at the X-Convenience Oval in Elizabeth. The Doggies have had an awful habit of dropping their guard at some point against the Bloods in recent times, including their Round 5 match at Richmond where they had their advantage cut from 35 points at three quarter-time back to 21 by full-time. Some will say you can't argue with results, but the way that the Dogs have been playing seems to be at odds with their ladder position. Their loss to Adelaide can only be partially attibuted to the quality of players in the opposition's line-up at the time, even in victory they're still serving up small periods of brilliance before almost letting it go. The Bloods copped a bath from the Redlegs last week, belted at home by 74 points. The Dogs took a while to get going, conceding the first goal and behind of the opening quarter before kicking 3.2 for themselves in the latter half of the period to lead by 13 points at the first change. The gap would then see-saw between the two and three goal gap for the better part of the second quarter before the Bloods cut the deficit back to a single kick going into the rooms at half-time. The Bloods outscored the Dogs 4.3 to three goals as the home sides' lead was reduced to four points at the long break. Westies would fall back onto some old habits when play resumed in the third quarter, restricted to 1.1 while the Bulldogs bagged 4.1 to take a 22-point lead at three quarter-time. Momentum was apparently with the Bulldogs, three of those goals were the last of that term and two were during time-on. Centrals added another 1.2 to start the final quarter, but in similar fashion to a game last season, they would almost cough it up as the Bloods stirred to life. The visitors kicked the final four goals of the match, forcing the home side to defend grimly in the dying stages, holding on for a six-point victory. No arguing with results, but with a looming clash with a rampant Norwood... I think you know where I'm going. Reigning Magarey Medallist Harry Grant was best afield for the Bulldogs, with 26 disposals, 10 tackles and seven clearances. For the Bloods, it was Kobe Ryan with 34 disposals, 12 tackles and clearances along with six marks.
The final game for the round takes us down to the south coast where the 2024 SA Country Football Championships were taking place, in the middle of this was the SANFL's Civil war of South and North, the Panthers taking on the Roosters at Victor Harbor Oval. One good quarter of football was all the red & whites needed to put the Panthers away and it was the opening term. Back in Round 8 at Prospect, the Roosters kicked a bag to open up a six-kick lead by quarter-time and maintained that advantage for the rest of the afternoon to win by 38 points. Last weekend the Panthers dropped their intensity in the final term at Unley to lose the southside derby by 21 points, while the Roosters' second half at Alberton saw them go from three points down at half-time to a 29-point defeat. The stakes for the Panthers were quite high, with the Magpies' eventual win they could finish the day in last place. They started on the right note with the first two majors inside five minutes, but repeated turnovers were preventing further scoreboard damage. Those two goals along with three minors to North's 1.3 had the Panthers up by a goal at the first change. The second quarter began with the Roosters kicking a string of minor scores in the windy conditions. After North kicked the first goal of the term to get five points up after seven minutes, the Panthers looked to have steadied with their 2.1 to regain the lead, but they would then concede three late goals as the Roosters went into the long break with a 10-point lead. The third term provided plenty of scoring chances for both sides, the Panthers being more efficient in attack while North put more shots wide. Scores were levelled deep into injury time with South scoring 4.2 to 2.3, a Roosters' minor score prior to the three quarter-time siren put them back ahead. In the end, the Roosters simply overwhelmed South in the finish, dominating territory and possession to condemn the blue & whites to the bottom of the ladder. They still blasted shots on goal wide, but their 2.7 to two goals was more than enough to leave the tourist centre with an eight-point victory. Campbell Combe was North's pressure man, named best afield with 33 disposals, 15 tackles and seven clearances. The Panthers named Elliot Dunkin as their standout with 33 disposals and 11 marks.
FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 14 OF THE SANFL...
Saturday July 13
Norwood 14.18 (102)
Adelaide 5.9 (39)
1,661 @ Coopers Stadium, Norwood
Port Adelaide 9.7 (61)
Glenelg 6.11 (47)
1,178 @ Alberton Oval
Sturt 8.14 (62)
Woodville-West Torrens 8.6 (54)
1,685 @ Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville
Central District 11.5 (71)
West Adelaide 10.5 (65)
1,292 @ X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth
North Adelaide 9.18 (72)
South Adelaide 10.4 (64)
2,687 @ Victor Harbor Oval
INJURIES
Norwood -- Taheny, Jenkin (hamstring)
Glenelg -- Guerher (knee)
W-WT -- Nicholls (shoulder), Toole (ankle)
West -- Tozer (quad), Rundle (hamstring), Meline (knee)
South -- Birt (hamstring)
REPORTS
Norwood -- Murley (striking)
Glenelg -- Adams (striking)
North -- Wissman (striking)
South -- Davis (striking)
LEAGUE LADDER
-------------------------------------------------------
Norwood -- 22pts (11-2-0), 60.5%
Sturt -- 20pts (10-3-0), 59.3%
Glenelg -- 18pts (9-4-0), 53.7%
Central -- 18pts (9-4-0), 53.3%
W-WT -- 14pts (7-6-0), 55.6%
-------------------------------------------------------
North -- 12pts (6-7-0), 49%
West -- 8pts (4-9-0), 44.5%
Adelaide -- 8pts (4-9-0), 44.4%
Port -- 6pts (3-10-0), 40.1%
South -- 4pts (2-11-0), 42.2%
-------------------------------------------------------
LATE LAPSE COSTLY FOR JUNIOR CROWEATERS
The AFL U-16 National Championships have ended in defeat for South Australia, going down in heartbreaking circumstances to eventual champions Victoria Country in Game 3 at Fankhauser Reserve on Queensland's Gold Coast. It was a tight tussle early on with Country leading by one point at quarter-time, then extending that to nine points going into the half-time break. Inaccuracy kept the Croweaters in it with the Vics burning several chances on goal. The South Australians then had a bumper period when play resumed, keeping Vic Country to 1.2 and banging through 6.2 for themselves in the premiership quarter to take a 21-point lead going into the final quarter. That sudden burst of confidence would then go straight down the gurgler as the Vics answered back in the final term with four unanswered, tying the scores up deep into the quarter as they kept South Australia to only three behinds. Then came the arrow through the Croweaters' hearts, a minor score at 24 minutes that proved the decisive blow. Cain Florance was best afield for the day, but it was Dougie Cochrane that won the accolades overall, taking out the SA MVP award and the Kevin Sheehan Medal as player of the tournament.
Victoria Country 9.11 (65) def. South Australia 9.10 (64)
EASTERN ZONE RULES THE LANDS AT COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
The South Australian Country Football Championships belonged to the red, black and blue of the Eastern Zone in both the men's and the women's divisions in this year's tournament at Victor Harbor. First its the ladies, the Eastern girls beginning with a tense encounter with Southern which they won by seven points, then dominated against Northern to win that outing by 37 points, both games on the Saturday. In the last game on Sunday, Central proved to be no problem either as Eastern won by 26 points. Sarah Campbell of Hills league outfit Blackwood was named B&F overall, while fellow Easterner Holly Alston from Mount Lofty was the recipient of the SA Power Networks Leadership Award. Damien Venning was named coach of the championships, with four members of his victorious side named in the Women's team of the tournament. The goal-kickers award was shared three ways by Jess Kirk (Southern), Lillian Bornholdt (Central) and Yahna Chynoweth (Eyre Peninsula). In the Men's division, the Easterners began with a hard-fought three point win against Southern, then by 28 points against Northern on Saturday, followed by a six-goal win against Central in the final game. There was a distinct Sturt flavour amongst the winners of the various individual accolades, the Don McSweeny Medal going to former Blues player Joel Parker-Boers of Hahndorf, while Eastern Zone coach Adam Klun received the Bill Murdoch Medal. Eastern would also secure the U-21 B&F award which went to Jordan Hein, yet another alumnus of Oxford Terrace, along with six spots on the team of the tournament. Former Port Adelaide player Yohann Wagner (Eyre Peninsula) was the leading goal-kicker, while Jack Penfold (Eastern) won the Leadership Award.
Next weekend in Round 15...
Saturday July 20 @ 2:10pm
Norwood vs. Central District; Coopers Stadium, Norwood
West Adelaide vs. Woodville-West Torrens; Hisense Stadium, Richmond
North Adelaide vs. Adelaide; Prospect Oval
Sunday July 21 @ 2:10pm
Sturt vs. Glenelg; Thomas Farms Oval, Unley
Port Adelaide vs. South Adelaide; Alberton Oval
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
