Australian Football

Round 18

Premiership season 2015 - Round 18 Review

Total Crowd 10,335 (Avg 2,067)

Hi Footy fans...

One more round, folks. Just one more round. The 2015 SANFL Finals Series is imminent and the top four has been pretty much sealed in stone. Wait... did I say top four? Thanks to this past weekend's results from two of the matches played out, the final round of the year will play host to an early elimination final. What could have been a weekend with a bunch of dead rubber games has now become something bigger, with one game becoming the big talking point for the last week of the minor round. Call it fate if you want, fifth spot is not decided and one of two outcomes will happen. It will either be consecutive finals appearances for a club that surprised everyone in 2014 or the return of a club to the big stage which it ruled for over a decade. Stay tuned folks.

Welcome to the Round 18 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.

The first match up for the Saturday afternoon football bonanza takes us up north to the Playford Alive Oval in Elizabeth where the Bulldogs faced the Tigers. The Dogs managed to escape with the points following a stern test from the Bays under the lights at Tiger-land in Round 3, a 15-point victory which was their first for the year and their only one for the first seven rounds. A win for the Tigers at the Ponderosa has been hard to come by, their last win at Elizabeth was back in 2008. Some upset wins here and there have made 2015 another year wasted, their only saving grace is their avoidance of this year's wooden spoon. This was the Dogs' game to win, the possibility of nicking fifth should have been motivation enough but things took a while to really get going as both sides kicked 2.2 for the first term. The Bulldogs would put a little distance between them and the Tigers in the second term though, Glenelg's wasteful kicking at goal allowing them just 2.4 to Central's 4.2. At the half-time break, the Dogs were holding a 10-point lead. The first half from the Dogs was littered with skill errors and turnovers, the Tigers just could not for the life of them take full advantage. Centrals would keep up their scoring tempo when play resumed, their work ethic stepped up a little as the Tigers continued to waste opportunities on goal. The Dogs would add a further 3.2 to 1.4 as their lead stretched out to 20 points by three quarter-time. The home side would finally hammer the point home in the last quarter, they saved some for last as they added 5.2 to the Tigers' two goals to take a 40-point win to perhaps enhance their last-ditch finals hopes. Young-gun Wayne Milera was named best for the Dogs, while the Tigers voted in Matt Snook as their best afield.

The next game brings us back up the Main North Road and over to Port Road as far as Woodville where the Eagles hosted the Roosters at Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval. It was back in Round 7 that these teams last exchanged feathers, the Eagles flew into Prospect and left with the points following a 44-point victory. The Eagles have gone on to finish minor premiers and are almost certain to take out the Stanley H. Lewis Trophy, while the Roosters will have a wooden spoon for their dismal showing in 2015. However, this match may have inadvertently shown their fellow finals participants some holes in the top side for the year... or maybe it was a case of nothing to lose for North. After the Eagles started off with a dominant first term which saw them kick 5.1 to 1.2 to lead by 23 points at the first change, they seemed to switch off. But while the Roosters were able to run hard, they lacked the one thing that really mattered. Scoreboard impact. It was that alone that allowed the Eagles to extend their lead to 31 points by the long break, they kicked 2.2 to North's one goal. There would be no doubt that opposition coaches would want vision of this match, if the Roosters could slow them up then what could other teams do come finals? By the final change, the Roosters would manage to chip a point off the Eagles' half-time lead. Just imagine what could have been if they could have turned 1.2 into three goals against the home sides' 1.1. It could have been just three goals instead of five! But the Eagles would still win the day, a further 2.4 to 1.1 would see them off to a 39-point win. Jake Von Bertouch was named best for the Eagles, while the Roosters named Marlon Motlop as their best.

Match number three for the afternoon would have plenty of eyes on it thanks to the league's mobile app, a bit further up the Port Road and we arrive at Alberton Oval for the match between the Magpies and the Panthers. We have to go back to Round 2 for the last outing between these sides, the Magpies would go on to smash the Panthers from pillar to post and take a 65-point win at Noarlunga. The Panthers picked themselves up off the canvas to stay in the top end of the ladder, but a few losses and the improvement of other top five rivals would see them drop to fifth. The Magpies have notched up a couple of victories over the past few weeks and have elevated into the top three and with the Power's season put to the sword, one can only guess how much damage they can do from here. The Panthers would take the quarter-time lead, but their wayward shooting on goal limited them to a nine-point lead after scoring 2.4 to 1.1. The Magpies would wrestle back control by half-time as the two sides exchanged blows on the board in the second term, Port adding 6.3 to South's 4.2 to lead by four points at the break. A costly lapse from the Panthers in the third quarter would see the deficit stretch out to 25 points, Port kept the visitors to just one point but their own inaccuracy prevented them from putting it truly beyond doubt. There would be some reluctant cheers emanating from Elizabeth by afternoon's end, the Panthers late charge all too late as the 'Pies kicked 4.2 to 3.2 to win by 31 points and add some spice to their match next weekend against West. Andrew Moore was named Port's best afield, the Panthers would vote in Joel Cross as their standout.

The fourth match for the afternoon takes us to the leafy back streets of Unley, where the Double Blues prepared to face the Crows at the Peter Motley Oval. The Crows haven't got September to look forward to in the SANFL, but the AFL is a different story at the moment so for the seconds its all about making an impression on the seniors. The Blues are another mob who won't figure in September action but they won't be finishing last either so for them its all about pride. The last time these sides met, the Crows broke through for their first victory against the Blues after two failed attempts in 2014. They made up for those two losses in a single effort, hammering the Blues by 49 points after a final term goal-fest. Pride for the home side was put to the sword quickly as the Crows raced off to a 43-point lead by quarter-time after they kicked 8.3 to Sturt's horrid two behinds in the opening term. The Blues seemed to stop the rot in the second term, keeping the Crows to just 2.3 whilst kicking 5.3 for themselves to bring the gap back to 31 points by the half-time break. But it would appear that the Crows had mere taken their foot off the pedal for a brief moment. When play resumed, the rot was firmly replaced in the Sturt camp as the Crows but the foot back down on the gas. The Blues scored 2.1 while Adelaide went on their merry way once more to score 6.4 to take their advantage way beyond the home team's reach. At three quarter-time, it was a 58-point gap. But the Crows were still not finished dealing out the destruction. In fact they didn't just finish the job, they pretty much demoralised the Blues in the end. Adelaide rammed through a further 8.2 to a single behind to run out 107-point winners. James Podsiadly could have won the game off his own boot with his nine goals and was named best for Adelaide, the Blues named Zane Kirkwood as their standout.

The final match takes us to the city's western fringes, over the railyards of Mile End to Richmond's City Mazda Stadium where the Bloods hosted the Redlegs. This was to be an interesting match up, aside from an expected win against the Roosters, the 'Legs have taken a few costly losses in the latter half of the season and at the time of the game were sitting third. Westies had dropped to fourth, some losses of their own to top five opposition had some pundits putting a question mark over how far they would go come finals time. Their last encounter came down to a single kick, back in Round 9 the Redlegs survived the Bloods challenge to win by a goal at The Parade. The last time they faced off at Richmond, a low-scoring affair saw the Bloods go down by 21 points so home ground advantage in recent times had not been an issue. Early on, it seemed the Redlegs had addressed their ill-timed form slump as they went into the first change with a 14-point lead after kicking 4.2 to the Bloods' two goals. But the reigning premiers would be in for a shock as the Bloods went bonzo in the second term to kick 7.3 to a paltry 1.1. At the long break, Westies were ahead by four goals. Both teams had a hard time finding the big sticks when play resumed, the Redlegs took just one point but the Bloods peppered their goal continuously for little reward for 1.7. By the final change, the home side were out to a six-goal lead. But it looked as though the Bloods saved their best for last, putting the exclamation point on the final result as they rammed through 8.4 to Norwood's 3.1. The final gap would be blown out to 69 points, the Bloods perhaps sending a warning to the Magpies ahead of their final round match. The result would also have the effect of putting the Redlegs into fourth position, their last match against the Eagles could see them facing a sudden death premiership defence. The Bloods would vote in Chris Schmidt as their best afield, while the 'Legs named Matt Suckling as their best on a dirty afternoon.

FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 18 OF THE SANFL...

Saturday August 22

Central District 14.8 (92)
Glenelg 7.10 (52)
1,950 @ Playford Alive Oval, Elizabeth

Woodville-West Torrens 10.8 (68)
North Adelaide 4.5 (29)
1,487 @ Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval, Woodville

Port Adelaide 14.10 (94)
South Adelaide 9.9 (63)
2,396 @ Alberton Oval

Adelaide 24.12 (156)
Sturt 7.7 (49)
2,287 @ Peter Motley Oval, Unley

West Adelaide 18.14 (122)
Norwood 8.5 (53)
2,215 @ City Mazda Stadium, Richmond

INJURIES
Central -- Retzlaff (hamstring), Stephenson (ankle)
Sturt -- Duldig (calf)
Norwood -- Baulderstone (back)

REPORTS
None known at time of post

LEAGUE LADDER
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W-WT -- 30pts (15-2-0), 58.3%
Port -- 24pts (12-5-0), 55.5%
West -- 22pts (11-6-0), 55.9%
Norwood -- 22pts (11-6-0), 51.4%
South -- 19pts (9-7-1), 51.2%
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Central -- 17pts (8-8-1), 51.5%
Adelaide -- 15pts (7-9-1), 53.3%
Sturt -- 10pts (5-12-0), 45.9%
Glenelg -- 9pts (4-12-1), 45.1%
North -- 2pts (1-16-0), 33.8%
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DULDIG HANGS UP BOOTS, PROMOTED TO FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT ROLE
The South Australian Community Football League is delighted to announce Matthew Duldig has been appointed to the position of Community Football Manager. With more than 13 years of experience in football administration, Duldig has built an impressive resume, culminating in his most recent role as SANFL Football Services Manager.

Armed with a Bachelor of Sports and Event Management, Duldig not only boasts an exceptional knowledge of South Australian football but also an understanding of grassroots level after spending his formative years on the Eyre Peninsula and in the South-East. "The Community Football Board is pleased to have Matt joining our team," SACFL Chairman David Shipway said. "Matt was one of a large number of applicants and after interviewing several candidates, it became obvious he was the best fit for the job and the best person to guide Community Football into the future. His football administration experience with the SANFL is one of the many assets he brings to the table and we look forward to working with him well into the future."

During his six years with the SANFL, Duldig was heavily involved in forming the league’s entry regulations for SA’s two AFL teams as well as managing the Channel 7 broadcast schedule. This was in addition to managing the SANFL’s Tribunal system and the West End State program, as well as forming the annual fixture for all SANFL grades. "Matthew Duldig is a highly respected employee of the SANFL," League GM of Football, Adam Kelly, said. "Over the past six years as SANFL Football Services Manager he has operated with integrity, diligence and a great level of care for a competition that he loves. Matt is highly regarded by his colleagues and our football stakeholders. It is Matt’s love for the game and respect for those involved which has made him such a valued team member. This will ensure his success as the Community Football Manager for the SACFL."

An accomplished SANFL player, Duldig this week announced he will play his final match for Sturt in Round 19. The reliable key forward has booted a total of 329 goals in 165 games for the Double Blues and Glenelg between 2003 and 2015. Duldig will make the transition to his role as SACFL Community Football Manager during September.

*Above taken from SANFL website, by Zac Milbank

Next weekend in Round 19...

Saturday August 29
Norwood vs. Woodville-West Torrens; Coopers Stadium, Norwood @ 2:10pm
South Adelaide vs. Central District; Hickinbotham Oval, Noarlunga @ 2:10pm
North Adelaide vs. Sturt; Prospect Oval @ 2:10pm
Glenelg vs. Adelaide; Gliderol Stadium, Glenelg @ 4:30pm

Sunday August 30 @ 2:10pm
Port Adelaide vs. West Adelaide; Alberton Oval

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

R-18, Ladder