Australian Football

Round 13

Premiership season 2008 - Round 13 Review

Total Crowd 18,873 (Avg 4,718)

While the Crows and the Power were away, there was only one alternative for a footy fix and it was no better timed than this past weekend for the fans of Glenelg and Sturt as they turned out in force and then some at the Bay for the much anticipated top of the table match-up that headlined Round 13. The overall crowd for the entire round was up 10% on the corresponding round last year... which would no doubt have made the execs at West Lakes happy.

What happened during Round 13 is in this week's edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.

First we head to the Woodville Oval for the match between the Eagles and the Bulldogs. In the last meeting between these two teams, the Bulldogs prevailed at Elizabeth by 17 points and along with all the Grand Final pain inflicted on them, it was expected that they would ground them again. It wasn't going to be that way this time, the Eagles running out to a 16 point lead by quarter time after they booted 4.2 to 1.4 in the first term. The Dogs didn't even get a look in at their goal in the second term, the Eagles on the other hand bagged an inaccurate 4.6 to extend their lead to 46 points by the long break. The Eagles' charges hardly ever made any mistakes, despite the Dogs finally getting onto the scoreboard again in the third quarter. They only managed 3.3, while the Eagles added a further 4.1 to put the gap out to 50 points at three quarter-time. It will be remembered as one of the lowest points in Bulldog history next to their Grand Final humbling of 2006, as the Eagles landed home a further 6.5 to the Bulldogs' lousy 1.1 to post an 14-goal victory. Ben Schwarze booted seven goals, but Luke Jarrad was named best for the Eagles, while Brad Symes was the only standout for Centrals.

Meanwhile over at the Alberton Oval, the Magpies faced the Roosters. North got the better of the Magpies mob on Port soil back in Round 4 to the margin of just two points. Although the 'Pies welcomed Michael Wilson back to the SANFL ranks, it looked likely to happen again early on, the Magpies spraying their shots wide in the first term to score five behinds while North got 2.1 to lead by eight points at quarter-time. But the Magpies responded by keeping the Roosters to just seven behinds in the second term whilst bagging 2.1 for themselves to reduce the gap to two points going into the long break. When the teams returned to the field, the good boots must have been broken out in preparation for a third term goalfest. It was Port who had the better time in goal though, they booted 8.2 to the Roosters' 5.1. At three quarter-time the home side lead by 17 points. North made a desperate run at the Magpies to finish the afternoon's proceedings, but a 25m penalty against them in the dying moments cost them victory. The Magpies took the points with a four point win, to which North coach Andrew Jarman responded with a no show for the media. Wilson was named best for the Maggies, but he'll have to wait for another week to return to the Power. North voted in Leigh Ryswyk as their best.

The Redlegs were barely holding onto their fifth spot and with the Eagles victory, they fell out of the five. How long that would last would depend on their efforts against the Bloods at Coopers Stadium. Norwood would kick away to a 17 point lead in the first term after booting 4.2 to Westies' 1.3. Goals were less plentiful in the second term, more so for the visiting Bloods who only managed three behinds while Norwood added another 2.3 to extend their lead to 29 points by the half-time break. The goal lull didn't extend into the second half, where Norwood would begin its charge to victory. Had the Bloods had better accuracy at their goal, the story could have been far different. The Redlegs' booted 5.2 to Westies' 4.4 in the third quarter to put their lead out to 27 points by the final change. The home side romped away with it in the final term, kicking 6.3 to the visitors' 4.4 to take out a 38 point win to retake fifth spot on the league ladder. Jamie Vlatko kicked seven majors and Adam Cockshell was named best for Norwood, while Simon McCormick was named best afield for West Adelaide.

In the final game of Round 13, this is the one the people turned out for. The ABC may have had it on TV, but the much anticipated match up between the Tigers and the Double Blues at Challenge Recruitment Oval was too much for SA footy-heads to resist. Almost 12,000 fans rushed through the turnstiles for this one, these two hadn't even met in 2008 before this one. The Tigers kicked off proceedings by posting a 19 point lead by quarter-time after kicking 4.4 to the Blues' 1.3 in the first quarter. The Blues would then proceed to snatch the lead in the second term, going up by three points at half-time after they booted 7.1 to Glenelg's 3.3. The third quarter was almost devoid of scores, with the Blues getting the only goal of the term. More behinds to both sides saw the visitors extend the gap to 10 points at three quarter-time, setting things up for a furious finish. The Tigers weren't about to let their fans down and they went on to keep the Blues to four behinds whilst scoring 3.4 for themselves. The Tigers took out an eight point victory, sending thousands of home fans into raptures. Brett Backwell was named best on ground for Glenelg, while Tristian Gum's efforts bagged him best afield votes.

FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 13 OF THE SANFL

Saturday June 28
Woodville-West Torrens 18.14 (122)
Central District 5.8 (38)
1,906 @ Woodville Oval

Port Adelaide 11.10 (76)
North Adelaide 10.12 (72)
2,662 @ Alberton Oval

Norwood 17.10 (112)
West Adelaide 10.14 (74)
2,478 @ Coopers Stadium, Norwood

Glenelg 10.13 (73)
Sturt 9.11 (65)
11,827 @ Challenge Recruitment Oval, Glenelg

South Adelaide had the bye.


INJURIES
W-WT -- Colville (hamstring)
Port -- King (hamstring), Krakouer (hamstring), J. Clayton (shoulder)
Norwood -- Puopolo (back), Jackman (back)
Glenelg -- Murphy (ankle)

REPORTS
Central -- Slade (high contact)


Next weekend in Round 14...

Saturday July 5
Central District vs. West Adelaide; Hamra Homes Oval, Elizabeth
Port Adelaide vs. Woodville-West Torrens; Alberton Oval
South Adelaide vs. Norwood; Hickinbotham Oval, Noarlunga

Sunday July 6
North Adelaide vs. Glenelg; Prospect Oval

Sturt has the bye.

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

R-13, Ladder