Australian Football

Match Report

Saturday afternoon found at the leafy streets of Adelaide's inner south, the Peter Motley Oval in Unley hosting the match between the Double Blues and the Bloods. Their last meeting was back in Round 4, where the Blues took advantage of a wayward Bloods outfit -- six goals from 18 scores -- to win by 45 points at Richmond. This would definitely be the mismatch of the year, first against last, despite the Bloods finally getting wins on the board since that last encounter. The Bloods came back from the bye after a 73-point hammering from the Magpies, while the Blues had to fight for their win against the Bulldogs.

A massive pounding was about to be inflicted, although not straight away. The Blues only managed three goals to the Bloods' 2.3 to begin the game, Sturt leading by three points at quarter-time. But the games were over from here, the Blues slamming on 6.2 to the Bloods' 2.1 in the second term to set up a 22-point lead going into the half-time break. The goals would completely dry up for the Bloods from here, their forwards all but silenced as the Blues began their hatchet job. They added on 5.3 to Westies' one behind to stretch their advantage to nine goals by three quarter-time. A lousy three behinds was all the visitors had left in the final quarter, the Blues ramming home a further 6.2 to finish the match with an 89-point win.

James Battersby was voted Sturt's best afield, West named captain Chris Schmidt as their standout on a horrid afternoon.