- May 8, 2001
- 5,696
- 872
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
- Other Teams
- CDFC (SANFL), Port Melb (VFL)
Hi Footy fans...
The interstate football arena at senior level has been all but dominated by the SANFL over the last few years with a string of victories over the WAFL, as well as most recently against the Victorian Football League. There has also been a triumph for the women's division, taking the chocolates in the first ever senior state match against their Western Australian counterparts in Perth. State football has been kept alive only by the likes of the second-tier leagues for a quarter of a century after the Australian Football League ended State of Origin, a format of footy that was regarded as one of the best expositions of the game and gave us many iconic moments in South Australian football history -- ending an 18-year drought against Victoria in 1983, back-to-back wins against the Vics in '86 & '87, a breakthrough 30-year wait for a win on the MCG in 1993 and the epic finish of 1994. With Rugby League's marquee event having been played in all three traditional football territories over the last few years, some highly respected former players in media circles have again called for the return of one of football's oldest traditions at the highest level. How good would it be to have the red running around at the top-tier once more? Should it be a single game event per year, or a three-year wait for a multi-game carnival for a title? Wouldn't it be nice!
Welcome to the Round 8 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.
We begin the weekend's action with some Friday Night Mayhem under the massive lights of the Alberton Oval, a clash of old rivals as the Magpies took on the Double Blues. These sides shared the points from their 2023 games, the Blues winning the Round 3 game at Unley by 38 points, then the 'Pies at Alberton in Round 14 by 19 points. A big second quarter effort by the Blues broke the backs of the Magpies in the earlier match, bagging six goals to one. But they couldn't reproduce that later on, Port taking advantage of the Blues' accuracy issues in the second and third terms to coast to victory. The Magpies still hadn't got a win to their name after two capitulations in succession including last week against the Panthers, while the Blues put the Crows to the sword in their 61-point win. The football quality this night would suffer greatly in the chilly conditions, temperatures falling below 10 degrees. It would take until almost the 13th minutes for a score to be registered, the Blues kicking the first of just two goals. Sturt also kicked three behinds, but the Magpies' single missed chance would be the only score that they would get for an entire half of football. At quarter-time, it was the Blues with a 14-point lead. That gap was more than doubled going into the sheds at the long break, though it could have been tripled. Sturt scored 2.3, taking their lead to 29 points by half-time. Anyone expecting the Blues to simply race to victory were going to be disappointed. There must be something about Queen Street that puts Sturt's forwards off, but it was more likely the icy air this time around. They added a further 2.5 during the third quarter, the home side finally finding the big sticks again for a return of three goals, the earlier deficit reduced by a point going into the last term. The goals would completely dry up for the visitors here, adding just four behinds. Not that the Magpies would get too close though, they managed just 1.2 in the finish. A rather average outing by the Blues standards, but a win's a win. In the end it was a 22-point victory. James Battersby was the standout for the Blues in the cold, with 28 disposals, nine clearances as well as seven tackles and marks. In the Port camp, they named Dylan Aldridge as their best with 14 tackles and 13 disposals.
There would be just two games on the Saturday afternoon, the first would take us to the western side of Adelaide as the Bloods hosted the Crows at the Hisense Stadium in Richmond. The Crows took out both games last season to retain the Neil Kerley Memorial Trophy, with a 33-point win at Richmond in Round 2, then by 37 points in Round 16 in Murray Bridge. Adelaide had a filthy afternoon in front of goal at Milner Road in the early match, but after being behind the eight-ball at half-time, would boot 10 of the last 14 goals of the match for the victory. They were far more accurate at the home of the Imperials, kicking nine goals without a blemish in the first half and answering all further challenges in kind. The Bloods now sit on the cusp of a top-five spot, their 31-point win against North last week notching up their third victory overall, while the Crows went down hard at Unley. The presence of Sam May in the stands was definitely a positive for the Bloods, having been released from hospital after his mishap in Port Lincoln. The Bloods began very positively, restricting the Crows to a mere two behinds, racing out to a three-goal lead at quarter-time with their score of 3.2. But Adelaide reeled them back to just under a third of that by the long break, scoring 3.3 to 1.2 in the second term. At half-time, Westies were up by five points. The change in attitude at Richmond that would be reflected in their third quarter, answering the Crows' challenge by booting 5.3. Adelaide were now struggling for majors, managing just one from five scores as they fell back to a 28-point deficit going into the final change. The visitors made a charge in the last quarter, kicking 3.2 over 17 minutes and closing to eight points before the Bloods replied with two goals of their own deep into the term. In the end, the Bloods would take out their fourth win for the season thus far with a 20-point triumph. Sam Frost was best for West, with 28 disposals, 12 clearances and seven tackles. For the Crows, it was Billy Dowling with 30 disposals, eight marks and six tackles.
We now go from the west side out to the south west for one of the week's TV games, to the Stratarama Stadium in Glenelg where the Tigers hosted the Bulldogs. The Tigers have won their previous 10 outings against the northerners, last year's outings resulting in a nine-point win at Elizabeth in Round 7, then a 63-point hammering at Brighton Road just a few weeks later in Round 11. A pre-game washout of the Ponderosa resulted in a low-scoring match, Centrals' late challenge falling short despite having plenty of time to make up the difference. The Bays would kick nine goals in each half of the later match, the Dogs' second term being their most wasteful with seven scoring shots and only kicking two goals. The Tigers' goal-kicking radar has been in the spotlight as of late, though it didn't stop them taking points at Woodville last week. The Dogs on the other hand have hit a speed bump with consecutive losses, last week it was a humiliation at home to Norwood. Both had plenty of chances to begin with here, the Dogs ahead by a point after a 2.4 to 2.3 opening term. The lead changed hands three times over 24 minutes during the second term, but then a pair of goals deep into time on would have the Tigers going into the long break with a 14-point advantage after scoring 6.3 to the Bulldogs' four goals. Centrals' confidence has been given some shakes after starting the season so well and when play resumed, it looked as though they'd gotten over the yips, outscoring the reigning premiers 4.3 to 1.4 in the third quarter to re-take the lead going into the final change. At three quarter-time, the visitors were in front by just three points. But they couldn't maintain the rage, though the Tigers had to really battle for their forward entries for a return of 2.2 while the Dogs only managed four behinds in the latter half. The home side would escape with a seven-point win. Matt Allen was again at the forefront as best for Glenelg, with 19 disposals, five tackles and three goals including the match winner. Centrals would name Billy Iles as their best with 24 disposals and eight tackles.
The remaining couple of matches were scheduled for the Sunday afternoon, a second TV match for the viewers at home as the Roosters faced the Panthers at Prospect Oval. The games between these sides last year were won by the respective away sides, with the Panthers victorious by 27 points at Prospect in Round 8, then the Roosters returning serve at Noarlunga by 15 points in Round 12. The Panthers' second term was probably the decisive period of football, they scored five goals to two and took advantage of North's first term accuracy issues. The roles were reversed at Noarlunga, both sides got 15 scoring shots each but South's three goals weren't going to stack up against the Roosters' six. North were on the wrong end of the resurgence of the Bloods last week, going down by 31 points at Richmond while the Panthers tasted victory for the first time this year by mauling the Magpies. Spoiler alert... the Panthers unfortunately weren't going to make a repeat performance, the Roosters opening term effectively ending the game as a contest. North booted 6.3 to the Panthers' single major, a 33-point lead to the red & whites at quarter-time. The margin wouldn't be reduced by that much after that, with several chances on goal to the Panthers going wide. The Roosters added 2.1 to 1.4 in the second term, stretching the lead to six goals even by the long break. Injuries to a pair of key Roosters prior to half-time wouldn't affect them much, the 36-point deficit would go unchanged going into the final term after both sides scored 3.2 in the third quarter. It would end as a lesson to the young visitors, back on the losers list as the Roosters maintained their advantage to be within strike of the top five. They finished with a 3.4 to 3.2 last quarter, running out 38-point victors. Tariek Newchurch kicked four goals, but it was Alex Spina with 23 disposals, 10 marks and five tackles that saw him bag North's best on ground votes. For the Panthers, it was Sam Skinner with 20 disposals and 14 marks.
The last game for the weekend's action takes us a few suburbs east of Prospect and into the Coopers Stadium in Norwood for the top of the table contest between the Redlegs and the Eagles. Both games went the way of the Eagles last year, with wins in the season opener and then in Round 13. The Eagles reigned on The Parade of the Redlegs' 2022 flag raising, winning by 46 points after kicking eight goals to one in the first half. Norwood put up more of a fight in the follow up game at Oval Avenue, but dropped a 13-point quarter-time lead, then couldn't find the sticks in the final quarter as the Eagles escaped their clutches by 11 points. The Redlegs were still on top and yet to taste defeat in seven games after belting a disappointing Bulldogs at Elizabeth, while the Eagles couldn't find a way past the reigning premiers at Woodville. The Eagles would go in without two key players, including their captain. But they started the match with a bang, kicking the first three goals in eight minutes. As expected though, the Redlegs did return fire and would draw the Eagles' lead back to a single goal by quarter-time, the board reading 4.2 to 3.2. However in the second term, the Redlegs put five cruical chances wide and the Eagles would kick three goals before Norwood managed one. One last goal to the visitors deep in added time and an earlier rushed behind would see the Eagles take their lead to 20 points come half-time. Mid-way through the third quarter the home team had brought it back down to 14 points, having kicked three goals to two. But once more the Eagles hit back with two more goals of their own, the visitors out to a 26-point lead at three quarter-time. The Redlegs' unbeated run was done and dusted, managing just 1.3 in the final term. The Eagles had accuracy problems as well, but was hardly a real issue as they ran out to a 39-point victory with their additional 3.4. Adam D'Aloia was named best afield for the Eagles, finishing with 28 disposals, 11 clearances and seven tackles. The Redlegs would name Henry Nelligan as their best on ground, with 19 disposals, 17 tackles and five clearances.
FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 8 OF THE SANFL...
Friday May 31
Sturt 6.15 (51)
Port Adelaide 4.3 (27)
Alberton Oval -- crowd number unknown
Saturday June 1
West Adelaide 11.8 (74)
Adelaide 7.12 (54)
1,102 @ Hisense Stadium, Richmond
Glenelg 11.12 (78)
Central District 10.11 (71)
2,514 @ Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg
Sunday June 2
North Adelaide 14.10 (94)
South Adelaide 8.8 (56)
2,234 @ Prospect Oval
Woodville-West Torrens 15.9 (99)
Norwood 8.12 (60)
2,921 @ Coopers Stadium, Norwood
INJURIES
Sturt -- Jefferies (ankle), Walter (collarbone)
Glenelg -- Proud (shoulder), Smith (knee)
Central -- Whitelum (leg)
North -- Raak (ankle), Ramsey (concussion)
South -- Lovelock (concussion)
W-WT -- Menzel (hamstring)
Norwood -- White (calf strain)
REPORTS
West -- Corbett (rough conduct, melee), Laudato (striking), Stevens, McCormick (melee)
Adelaide -- Madgen, Ryan, Tahana (melee), Bond (striking, melee)
Glenelg -- Proud, Allen, Adams (rough conduct)
South -- Clavarino (striking)
W-WT -- McKay (rough conduct)
Norwood -- Morris (rough conduct), Ling (striking)
LEAGUE LADDER
-----------------------------------------------------
Norwood -- 14pts (7-1-0), 55.9%
W-WT -- 12pts (6-2-0), 58%
Glenelg -- 12pts (6-2-0), 54.9%
Sturt -- 10pts (5-3-0), 59%
Central -- 10pts (5-3-0), 52.2%
-----------------------------------------------------
West -- 8pts (4-4-0), 49.9%
North -- 8pts (4-4-0), 49.4%
Adelaide -- 4pts (2-6-0), 43.3%
South -- 2pts (1-7-0), 43.5%
Port -- 0pts (0-8-0), 36%
-----------------------------------------------------
Next weekend in Round 9...
Saturday June 8
South Adelaide vs. Adelaide; Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga @ 1:10pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. Central District; Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville @ 2:10pm
Monday June 10
Glenelg vs. North Adelaide; Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg @ 2:10pm
Sturt vs. Norwood; Thomas Farms Oval, Unley @ 2:30pm
West Adelaide, Port Adelaide have a bye.
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
The interstate football arena at senior level has been all but dominated by the SANFL over the last few years with a string of victories over the WAFL, as well as most recently against the Victorian Football League. There has also been a triumph for the women's division, taking the chocolates in the first ever senior state match against their Western Australian counterparts in Perth. State football has been kept alive only by the likes of the second-tier leagues for a quarter of a century after the Australian Football League ended State of Origin, a format of footy that was regarded as one of the best expositions of the game and gave us many iconic moments in South Australian football history -- ending an 18-year drought against Victoria in 1983, back-to-back wins against the Vics in '86 & '87, a breakthrough 30-year wait for a win on the MCG in 1993 and the epic finish of 1994. With Rugby League's marquee event having been played in all three traditional football territories over the last few years, some highly respected former players in media circles have again called for the return of one of football's oldest traditions at the highest level. How good would it be to have the red running around at the top-tier once more? Should it be a single game event per year, or a three-year wait for a multi-game carnival for a title? Wouldn't it be nice!
Welcome to the Round 8 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.
We begin the weekend's action with some Friday Night Mayhem under the massive lights of the Alberton Oval, a clash of old rivals as the Magpies took on the Double Blues. These sides shared the points from their 2023 games, the Blues winning the Round 3 game at Unley by 38 points, then the 'Pies at Alberton in Round 14 by 19 points. A big second quarter effort by the Blues broke the backs of the Magpies in the earlier match, bagging six goals to one. But they couldn't reproduce that later on, Port taking advantage of the Blues' accuracy issues in the second and third terms to coast to victory. The Magpies still hadn't got a win to their name after two capitulations in succession including last week against the Panthers, while the Blues put the Crows to the sword in their 61-point win. The football quality this night would suffer greatly in the chilly conditions, temperatures falling below 10 degrees. It would take until almost the 13th minutes for a score to be registered, the Blues kicking the first of just two goals. Sturt also kicked three behinds, but the Magpies' single missed chance would be the only score that they would get for an entire half of football. At quarter-time, it was the Blues with a 14-point lead. That gap was more than doubled going into the sheds at the long break, though it could have been tripled. Sturt scored 2.3, taking their lead to 29 points by half-time. Anyone expecting the Blues to simply race to victory were going to be disappointed. There must be something about Queen Street that puts Sturt's forwards off, but it was more likely the icy air this time around. They added a further 2.5 during the third quarter, the home side finally finding the big sticks again for a return of three goals, the earlier deficit reduced by a point going into the last term. The goals would completely dry up for the visitors here, adding just four behinds. Not that the Magpies would get too close though, they managed just 1.2 in the finish. A rather average outing by the Blues standards, but a win's a win. In the end it was a 22-point victory. James Battersby was the standout for the Blues in the cold, with 28 disposals, nine clearances as well as seven tackles and marks. In the Port camp, they named Dylan Aldridge as their best with 14 tackles and 13 disposals.
There would be just two games on the Saturday afternoon, the first would take us to the western side of Adelaide as the Bloods hosted the Crows at the Hisense Stadium in Richmond. The Crows took out both games last season to retain the Neil Kerley Memorial Trophy, with a 33-point win at Richmond in Round 2, then by 37 points in Round 16 in Murray Bridge. Adelaide had a filthy afternoon in front of goal at Milner Road in the early match, but after being behind the eight-ball at half-time, would boot 10 of the last 14 goals of the match for the victory. They were far more accurate at the home of the Imperials, kicking nine goals without a blemish in the first half and answering all further challenges in kind. The Bloods now sit on the cusp of a top-five spot, their 31-point win against North last week notching up their third victory overall, while the Crows went down hard at Unley. The presence of Sam May in the stands was definitely a positive for the Bloods, having been released from hospital after his mishap in Port Lincoln. The Bloods began very positively, restricting the Crows to a mere two behinds, racing out to a three-goal lead at quarter-time with their score of 3.2. But Adelaide reeled them back to just under a third of that by the long break, scoring 3.3 to 1.2 in the second term. At half-time, Westies were up by five points. The change in attitude at Richmond that would be reflected in their third quarter, answering the Crows' challenge by booting 5.3. Adelaide were now struggling for majors, managing just one from five scores as they fell back to a 28-point deficit going into the final change. The visitors made a charge in the last quarter, kicking 3.2 over 17 minutes and closing to eight points before the Bloods replied with two goals of their own deep into the term. In the end, the Bloods would take out their fourth win for the season thus far with a 20-point triumph. Sam Frost was best for West, with 28 disposals, 12 clearances and seven tackles. For the Crows, it was Billy Dowling with 30 disposals, eight marks and six tackles.
We now go from the west side out to the south west for one of the week's TV games, to the Stratarama Stadium in Glenelg where the Tigers hosted the Bulldogs. The Tigers have won their previous 10 outings against the northerners, last year's outings resulting in a nine-point win at Elizabeth in Round 7, then a 63-point hammering at Brighton Road just a few weeks later in Round 11. A pre-game washout of the Ponderosa resulted in a low-scoring match, Centrals' late challenge falling short despite having plenty of time to make up the difference. The Bays would kick nine goals in each half of the later match, the Dogs' second term being their most wasteful with seven scoring shots and only kicking two goals. The Tigers' goal-kicking radar has been in the spotlight as of late, though it didn't stop them taking points at Woodville last week. The Dogs on the other hand have hit a speed bump with consecutive losses, last week it was a humiliation at home to Norwood. Both had plenty of chances to begin with here, the Dogs ahead by a point after a 2.4 to 2.3 opening term. The lead changed hands three times over 24 minutes during the second term, but then a pair of goals deep into time on would have the Tigers going into the long break with a 14-point advantage after scoring 6.3 to the Bulldogs' four goals. Centrals' confidence has been given some shakes after starting the season so well and when play resumed, it looked as though they'd gotten over the yips, outscoring the reigning premiers 4.3 to 1.4 in the third quarter to re-take the lead going into the final change. At three quarter-time, the visitors were in front by just three points. But they couldn't maintain the rage, though the Tigers had to really battle for their forward entries for a return of 2.2 while the Dogs only managed four behinds in the latter half. The home side would escape with a seven-point win. Matt Allen was again at the forefront as best for Glenelg, with 19 disposals, five tackles and three goals including the match winner. Centrals would name Billy Iles as their best with 24 disposals and eight tackles.
The remaining couple of matches were scheduled for the Sunday afternoon, a second TV match for the viewers at home as the Roosters faced the Panthers at Prospect Oval. The games between these sides last year were won by the respective away sides, with the Panthers victorious by 27 points at Prospect in Round 8, then the Roosters returning serve at Noarlunga by 15 points in Round 12. The Panthers' second term was probably the decisive period of football, they scored five goals to two and took advantage of North's first term accuracy issues. The roles were reversed at Noarlunga, both sides got 15 scoring shots each but South's three goals weren't going to stack up against the Roosters' six. North were on the wrong end of the resurgence of the Bloods last week, going down by 31 points at Richmond while the Panthers tasted victory for the first time this year by mauling the Magpies. Spoiler alert... the Panthers unfortunately weren't going to make a repeat performance, the Roosters opening term effectively ending the game as a contest. North booted 6.3 to the Panthers' single major, a 33-point lead to the red & whites at quarter-time. The margin wouldn't be reduced by that much after that, with several chances on goal to the Panthers going wide. The Roosters added 2.1 to 1.4 in the second term, stretching the lead to six goals even by the long break. Injuries to a pair of key Roosters prior to half-time wouldn't affect them much, the 36-point deficit would go unchanged going into the final term after both sides scored 3.2 in the third quarter. It would end as a lesson to the young visitors, back on the losers list as the Roosters maintained their advantage to be within strike of the top five. They finished with a 3.4 to 3.2 last quarter, running out 38-point victors. Tariek Newchurch kicked four goals, but it was Alex Spina with 23 disposals, 10 marks and five tackles that saw him bag North's best on ground votes. For the Panthers, it was Sam Skinner with 20 disposals and 14 marks.
The last game for the weekend's action takes us a few suburbs east of Prospect and into the Coopers Stadium in Norwood for the top of the table contest between the Redlegs and the Eagles. Both games went the way of the Eagles last year, with wins in the season opener and then in Round 13. The Eagles reigned on The Parade of the Redlegs' 2022 flag raising, winning by 46 points after kicking eight goals to one in the first half. Norwood put up more of a fight in the follow up game at Oval Avenue, but dropped a 13-point quarter-time lead, then couldn't find the sticks in the final quarter as the Eagles escaped their clutches by 11 points. The Redlegs were still on top and yet to taste defeat in seven games after belting a disappointing Bulldogs at Elizabeth, while the Eagles couldn't find a way past the reigning premiers at Woodville. The Eagles would go in without two key players, including their captain. But they started the match with a bang, kicking the first three goals in eight minutes. As expected though, the Redlegs did return fire and would draw the Eagles' lead back to a single goal by quarter-time, the board reading 4.2 to 3.2. However in the second term, the Redlegs put five cruical chances wide and the Eagles would kick three goals before Norwood managed one. One last goal to the visitors deep in added time and an earlier rushed behind would see the Eagles take their lead to 20 points come half-time. Mid-way through the third quarter the home team had brought it back down to 14 points, having kicked three goals to two. But once more the Eagles hit back with two more goals of their own, the visitors out to a 26-point lead at three quarter-time. The Redlegs' unbeated run was done and dusted, managing just 1.3 in the final term. The Eagles had accuracy problems as well, but was hardly a real issue as they ran out to a 39-point victory with their additional 3.4. Adam D'Aloia was named best afield for the Eagles, finishing with 28 disposals, 11 clearances and seven tackles. The Redlegs would name Henry Nelligan as their best on ground, with 19 disposals, 17 tackles and five clearances.
FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 8 OF THE SANFL...
Friday May 31
Sturt 6.15 (51)
Port Adelaide 4.3 (27)
Alberton Oval -- crowd number unknown
Saturday June 1
West Adelaide 11.8 (74)
Adelaide 7.12 (54)
1,102 @ Hisense Stadium, Richmond
Glenelg 11.12 (78)
Central District 10.11 (71)
2,514 @ Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg
Sunday June 2
North Adelaide 14.10 (94)
South Adelaide 8.8 (56)
2,234 @ Prospect Oval
Woodville-West Torrens 15.9 (99)
Norwood 8.12 (60)
2,921 @ Coopers Stadium, Norwood
INJURIES
Sturt -- Jefferies (ankle), Walter (collarbone)
Glenelg -- Proud (shoulder), Smith (knee)
Central -- Whitelum (leg)
North -- Raak (ankle), Ramsey (concussion)
South -- Lovelock (concussion)
W-WT -- Menzel (hamstring)
Norwood -- White (calf strain)
REPORTS
West -- Corbett (rough conduct, melee), Laudato (striking), Stevens, McCormick (melee)
Adelaide -- Madgen, Ryan, Tahana (melee), Bond (striking, melee)
Glenelg -- Proud, Allen, Adams (rough conduct)
South -- Clavarino (striking)
W-WT -- McKay (rough conduct)
Norwood -- Morris (rough conduct), Ling (striking)
LEAGUE LADDER
-----------------------------------------------------
Norwood -- 14pts (7-1-0), 55.9%
W-WT -- 12pts (6-2-0), 58%
Glenelg -- 12pts (6-2-0), 54.9%
Sturt -- 10pts (5-3-0), 59%
Central -- 10pts (5-3-0), 52.2%
-----------------------------------------------------
West -- 8pts (4-4-0), 49.9%
North -- 8pts (4-4-0), 49.4%
Adelaide -- 4pts (2-6-0), 43.3%
South -- 2pts (1-7-0), 43.5%
Port -- 0pts (0-8-0), 36%
-----------------------------------------------------
Next weekend in Round 9...
Saturday June 8
South Adelaide vs. Adelaide; Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga @ 1:10pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. Central District; Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville @ 2:10pm
Monday June 10
Glenelg vs. North Adelaide; Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg @ 2:10pm
Sturt vs. Norwood; Thomas Farms Oval, Unley @ 2:30pm
West Adelaide, Port Adelaide have a bye.
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
