SANFL 2024 -- Round 17 Wrap-Up

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raboyle

Norm Smith Medallist
May 8, 2001
5,694
868
X Convenience Oval, Elizabeth
AFL Club
Adelaide
Other Teams
CDFC (SANFL), Port Melb (VFL)
Hi Footy fans...

The last in-season bye has come and gone, the clock is ticking down once again. There's now just two more rounds of football ahead of us and time is fast running out for some to make their move. Four teams know they will contest finals, but two spots in particular are still up in the air. All eyes are on the Tigers and the Bulldogs, who share the same number of points but the reigning premiers have a better percentage in third spot. Both the Tigers and the Bulldogs have had average days in front of the sticks, but the Bays have been the most consistent attackers even in defeat. The Bulldogs' have largely found patches of brilliance that haven't lasted enough to make a decent challenge, or when they have managed victory its not been without a brain fade that has almost cost them. As it stands, Centrals can at the very least look forward to a cut-throat Elimination Final, against one of four possible opponents. The fifth-placed Eagles are no certainty to feature in September, a run of five straight losses putting them well within the crosshairs of the Roosters and now even a resurgent Adelaide. Only a miracle could bring forth the Bloods as a contender at this point, sitting three wins outside the five. Tick tock... tick tock... time is running out.

Welcome to the Round 17 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.

The opening contest for this week's football takes us to the inner east, the first of three Saturday afternoon games brings us to Coopers Stadium in Norwood between the Redlegs and the Panthers. The typical wintry Noarlunga conditions made goal-kicking hard for the Redlegs back in Round 12, allowing the Panthers to stay within a couple of kicks for most of the game. But then Norwood found their way to goal more often in the final term, kicking five unanswered goals to run out 39-point winners. The Redlegs have still got one hand on the minor premiership, but the grip has been lessened a little after a shocking afternoon at Brighton Road last weekend, resulting in a 34-point loss to the Tigers. As for South, a win against the Bloods at home allowed them to put a couple of points between them and the cellar currently held by Port. With a far brighter and clearer day compared to their earlier clash, the Redlegs weren't to be hindered. They dominated from the outset, though their opening quarter accuracy wasn't great. They kicked 4.5 to 1.2 to go into the first change with a 21-point lead, the Panthers' goal coming from the final score of the quarter. The Panthers would go on to waste a trio of chances early in the second quarter, while the Redlegs would kick five unanswered goals. They each kicked three behinds, Norwood's advantage now out to 51 points at the long break. The Panthers' tackling was very much top notch, with 25 more tackles inflicted in the final tally. It was in other departments that the Redlegs had it all over the more inexperienced South, 40 more kicks, 50 more handballs, not to mention the fact they ruled the packs and the middle. The gap reached a game-high 63 points just prior to time-on in the third quarter, however at the final change it was back to 50 points after the visitors kicked 3.2 to 3.1. In the end, the home side would maintain their hold on top spot, finishing the day off with a 4.2 to 3.3 last quarter to run out 55-point winners. Harry Boyd made up the bulk of the Redlegs' lop-sided ruck tally, he took best afield honours with 54 hit-outs, 31 disposals and 16 clearances. For the Panthers, their standout was Oliver Davis with 14 disposals and nine tackles.

The second match for the weekend sends us on a short drive towards the inner north of town and into the Prospect Oval where the Roosters faced the Tigers. Their last clash back in Round 9 made for some riveting viewing out at Tiger-land, the Tigers only just evading the Roosters' grasp in the final term to win by two goals. The scores were tied up at 63 points each at the final change following a first half where North had a reasonable opening term before dropping their intensity in the second. The Tigers' third term inaccuracy allowed the Roosters back in before scoring three goals to one in the last quarter for the victory. The Tigers had one of their most complete efforts of the season last week, defeating the Redlegs by 34 points. The Roosters' final quarter against Centrals was a costly one, going from three goals up to two goals in arrears at Elizabeth. Indeed, just because of Glenelg's triumph against the Redlegs would see them as favourites, however it was only the Roosters' inaccuracy during first term time-on that had them behind the eight-ball at the quarter-time siren. The Tigers would hold a mere 11-point lead at the change, having scored 4.3 to 2.4. The second term was a shootout, the Roosters keeping step with the reigning premiers to cut the deficit back to a single kick going into the long break. The Roosters outscored them 5.3 to 4.2 to bring the visitors lead down to just four points. Perhaps a little overconfidence by the Tigers after their win against the table topping 'Legs crept into their game... and they were about to get a massive reality check. Glenelg's bouts of inaccuracy would reach a whole different level, kept to a lowly four behinds in the third quarter while the Roosters kicked six unanswered goals without a miss. At the final change, the home side were ahead by 28 points. North's finals chances are now very much alive, while Glenelg's hold on the double chance was loosened. The Tigers attempted a comeback in the final term, but the bug hadn't left their camp and the three quarter-time deficit would go unchanged. North finished up 28-point winners, having kicked three goals to Glenelg's 2.6. Mitch Harvey kicked five goals, but North's best afield honours went to the multi-functional Dyson Hilder with 18 hitouts and disposals, nine clearances and eight tackles. The Tigers best afield was Cameron McGree with 17 disposals and eight marks.

In the last of the Saturday afternoon games, we now head south through the city centre and head for the Thomas Farms Oval in Unley where the Double Blues clashed with the Bulldogs. These two teams last met back in Round 6, the Dogs' second term costing them dearly as the Blues kicked nine of the next 11 goals to win by 35 points at Elizabeth. In fact, the Blues are the Bulldogs' nighmare side, having dropped just one of the previous 19 meetings. That one win that the northerners managed was back in Round 7 in 2021. This streak, along with the fact that the Bulldogs haven't won against top three opposition this year, doesn't bode well for the Bulldogs with finals looming large. The Blues did have what could be considered a near miss against the Magpies last week, winning by 23 points at home. The Bulldogs' final term efforts were what saved them blushes against North, but Unley is always a different kettle of fish. The Blues would put three through the middle before the Bulldogs managed one of their own, however a trio of missed chances late in the term allowed the Dogs to reel them back to within a kick at quarter-time with the board reading 3.4 to three goals. But the rot set in once more for the Bulldogs on the Oxford Terrace turf, the Blues lead stretching out to 19 points by half-time after kicking 4.4 to 2.1 in the second period. Centrals were not exactly shrinking violets in the pressure stakes, it was their decision making while in possession that brought them unstuck again and again. Even though the Blues weren't fully efficient in attack, they were finding players to keep the ball away from the Dogs. When play resumed the Blues would continue to build on their lead, adding another 3.1 to the visitors' 1.3, their lead now out to 29 points. In the end, the Blues dominance of Centrals would continue for a eighth-straight match and staying well in the hunt for the minor premiership. They finished with a 2.5 to two goal last quarter to run out 34-point winners. Will Snelling was named Sturt's best on ground with 32 disposals, 10 clearances and nine tackles. Harry Grant was Centrals' best with 26 disposals and six tackles.

Its now time for some Sunday afternoon footy to finish off and we're going to league HQ at the Adelaide Oval where the Bloods took on the Crows. It wasn't a complete four-quarter effort when they last met back in Round 8 at Richmond, but the Bloods outran a wayward Crows outfit to win by 20 points. They led at every change, but were made to withstand Adelaide's fightbacks in the second and final terms. The Bloods' third term was their game-breaker, kicking five goals to one while Adelaide peppered their sticks for some poor returns, they got to within a couple of kicks in the last period before Westies put the finishing touch on for victory. The Bloods' finals chances went from a rope to a thread after their loss to South last weekend, while the Crows push for an Elimination Final berth got another shot in the arm after their win at Woodville. The Crows began with a wasteful opening quarter, they kicked the opening major then added just three minor scores as the Bloods overtook them to lead by 15 points at quarter-time with their four goals without a miss. But then it wall went seriously pear-shaped for the red & blacks from there as the Crows began their ascent. Westies' sixth goal for the game deep into second quarter added time would prove to be their last, despite going into the long break with the lead it was back to just three points after Adelaide kicked four goals to two. The Bloods added two behinds when play resumed and then it was all Adelaide from there, booting 5.1 to skip off to a 26-point three quarter-time lead. The gulf in class was well visible now and the Bloods' finals hopes were burnt to a crisp, Adelaide ramming through a further seven goals to none in the final term as they ran out 68-point winners and making fifth spot officially a three-way dance, only percentage keeping the Eagles where they are. Lachlan Gollant kicked eight goals, but the best on ground was Charlie Edwards with 31 disposals, nine tackles and six marks. Brady Searle was the Bloods' standout with 24 disposals, 11 tackles and six marks.

The concluding game for the weekend takes us up to the north-west for the Battle of the Birds, the Magpies facing the Eagles at the Alberton Oval. Only a goal had separated these two sides at half-time in their Round 3 game at Woodville, then the Eagles booted seven goals to four in the second half to take out a 26-point victory against the mob from the other end of Port Road. This was just the beginning of the Magpies' woes in 2024, having lost the previous two games and wouldn't taste victory until Round 10, last week's loss and the Panthers' win put them back at the foot of the ladder. The Eagles on the other hand cling to fifth by the skin of their beaks, their loss to Adelaide and the previous day's victory by North and the Crows put them in a precarious position indeed. The Eagles began well enough despite their inaccuracy, kicking to a 14-point quarter-time lead with their 4.4 to Port's 2.2. However, the Magpies returned serve in the second quarter, overturning the deficit in their favour after bagging 6.4 to the Eagles' 2.2 to lead by two goals going into the rooms at half-time. In the crowd would be a reunion of the 1994 premiership-winning side that beat the Eagles in that year's Grand Final, so no doubt there was a bit of motivation not only to give the side a fitting welcome back but also to perhaps avoid a wooden spoon that they haven't been handed since the end of the 19th century. The Eagles' hold on that Elimination Final spot was about to get a bit more loose as they missed four cruicial chances on goal in the third quarter, the Magpies not taking full advantage just yet as they stretched their advantage to four kicks going into the final change. They added 2.3 to their tally, their lead out to 23 points at three quarter-time. The 'Pies would still be at the bottom of the league at the end of the day, but only by a small percentage. They finished with a 5.4 to 2.1 last quarter to run out 44-point victors, with two games to go it's next week's mini-Showdown with Adelaide that could decide their ultimate fate for 2024. The Magpies' best afield would be Will Lorenz with 27 disposals, eight clearances and four tackles. For the Eagles, it was Sam Rowland with 22 disposals and five marks.

FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 17 OF THE SANFL...

Saturday August 10
Norwood 16.11 (107)
South Adelaide 7.10 (52)
1,920 @ Coopers Stadium, Norwood

North Adelaide 16.7 (103)
Glenelg 10.15 (75)
1,878 @ Prospect Oval

Sturt 12.14 (86)
Central District 8.4 (52)
2,327 @ Thomas Farms Oval, Unley

Sunday August 11
Adelaide 17.9 (111)
West Adelaide 6.7 (43)
Adelaide Oval -- AFL curtain raiser

Port Adelaide 15.13 (103)
Woodville-West Torrens 8.11 (59)
1,480 @ Alberton Oval


INJURIES
Norwood -- Hodge (hamstring)
South -- Lovelock, Lambert (concussion)
North -- Grubb (leg)
Glenelg -- Chandler (back), Holder (abdominal), Stevens (ankle)
Sturt -- McEntee (leg), Breuer (ankle)
Central -- Gasper, Tippins (knee), Howe (head knock)
West -- Tozer (shoulder/ribs), Maguire (wrist)

REPORTS
North -- Magor (wrestling)
Glenelg -- Bailey (wrestling)
Adelaide -- Ryan, Schoenberg (melee)
West -- Searle (striking), Minchella (melee)


LEAGUE LADDER
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Norwood -- 26pts (13-3-0), 59.9%
Sturt -- 26pts (13-3-0), 59.3%
Glenelg -- 20pts (10-6-0), 52.6%
Central -- 20pts (10-6-0), 51.2%
W-WT -- 14pts (7-9-0), 52.4%

-------------------------------------------------------
North -- 14pts (7-9-0), 48.8%
Adelaide -- 14pts (7-9-0), 48.1%
West -- 10pts (5-11-0), 44.4%
South -- 8pts (4-12-0), 43.4%
Port -- 8pts (4-12-0), 42.1%
-------------------------------------------------------


CROWEATER GIRLS FALL TO METRO
It was a slow start that would end up costing the South Australians against Victoria Metro in their second match of this year's AFL-W U-18 National Championship Series in at RSEA Park in Melbourne on Sunday. The rampaging display against the Allies was all but absent here against more powerful opposition, SA were held to just two points in the first term while the Vics put three majors through, then more inaccuracy in the second term allowed the home side to stretch it out to 20 points going into the long break after managing two goals to the visitors' 1.2. That single goal wouldn't come until late in that period. The Croweaters still wouldn't get anymore than one goal in a whole quarter of football in the third quarter, the gap taken to five straight kicks as Metro added 2.2 to 1.1 to go into the final change with a 27-point advantage. By the time the Croweaters were able to string some together it was already too late, their 3.2 to the Vics' 2.2 cutting the eventual losing deficit back to 21 points. SA's best afield was Laela Ebert with 25 disposals along with five tackles and clearances. Their next and final outing will be against Western Australia at Thebarton Oval on August 24.

Victoria Metro 9.4 (58) def. South Australia 5.7 (37)


Next weekend in Round 18...

Friday August 16 @ 7:40pm
Norwood vs. North Adelaide; Coopers Stadium, Norwood

Saturday August 17
Central District vs. Glenelg; X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth @ 2:10pm
South Adelaide vs. Woodville-West Torrens; Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga @ 2:10pm
West Adelaide vs. Sturt; Hisense Stadium, Richmond @ 2:10pm
Port Adelaide vs. Adelaide; Adelaide Oval @ 3:20pm


So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
 

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SANFL 2024 -- Round 17 Wrap-Up

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