Australian Football

Match Report

The elimination final was first of the double-headers at midday, with the Roosters and the Bloods kicking off the finals series. North Adelaide, whose last finals win was in 1997 which was also an elimination final had a lot of expectation on their backs considering their form for most of the year. However, the Bloods were keen to continue their badly-timed form drop which saw the Roosters drop from a double chance position to a sudden death one. On a slippery Adelaide Oval, Jarman's original game plan came more than a little undone as West established a first term lead of 15 points.

It was left to Ian Perrie to score North's first goal, which came at the end of the first quarter courtesy of a free kick. But the second term reaped more rewards for the Roosters, finding the goal more often than West, booting 5.5 to the Bloods' 3.2 to draw equal at the long break. North started to bare its talons in the second half and from there, the Roosters outfit that we saw most of this year were back. Westies fell behind badly, inaccurate shots on goal allowing North to get a lead of seven points at the third quarter siren. The first casualty of finals footy ended up being West Adelaide, as the Roosters romped home to win by 33 points. A last quarter 6.5 to West's 2.3 setting up a place in the first semi-final next weekend.