Australian Football

Match Report

Down Port Road, the Magpies hosted the Tigers at the Alberton Oval. The Magpies only just escaped the Tigers in their two matches from season 2015, with an eight-point win in Round 8 followed by a one-pointer in Round 17. After some average performances against top-five sides in the last few rounds tempered only by wins against lower-ranked clubs, the Magpies were expected to catch the Tigers off-guard with their fortnight on the sidelines thanks to the two-week bye.

But the Tigers began the afternoon with a 5.2 to 1.3 opening quarter to lead by 23 points at the first change. The Magpies kicked back though, taking an 11-point lead into the half-time break after kicking 7.2 to the Tigers' inaccurate 1.4. Alarm bells were no doubt ringing after that quarter, Glenelg's single goal giving way to that wholly unanswered streak from the Magpies. The Tigers hadn't won at Alberton for five years and with the current climate at Brighton Road the way it is at present, the team needed this badly. With that, the Tigers returned to the field with the claws out, re-taking control and the lead, they scored 7.4 to 4.1 to go into the three quarter-time huddle with a 10-point lead. The final quarter would end up as a near shootout as the Tigers withstood the Magpies' challenge, the home side's five goals without a miss would not be enough as the visitors kicked 6.3 to break their Alberton hoodoo with their 19-point win.

Willie Rioli's five goals would see him named Glenelg's best, while the 'Pies voted in Brendon AhChee as their best afield.