Australian Football

Round 15

Premiership season 2008 - Round 15 Review

Total Crowd 9,562 (Avg 2,391)

Strains of 'The Great Escape' could be heard at one game this past weekend and once again the SANFL went to the River Murray to showcase the state league game. Also in a surprising weekend, the top team were shut up for over half a game... no doubt there will be plenty of demand for a video of that by the coaches of the other teams this week!

Lets check out what happened in the Round 15 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.

First its off to the Hamra Homes Oval in Elizabeth where the Bulldogs fronted up against the Magpies. In the last meeting between these two, the reigning premiers hammered the black & whites into submission to the margin of 70 points. But this time, with some key personnel out and some players a little out of sorts, the result was going to be quite different. The Magpies looked the goods early, kicking 4.3 in the first term to the Bulldogs paltry two behinds to start the match. But the Doggies then kept the 'Pies to just two behinds themselves whilst drawing the margin back to five points by the half time break. Although the Magpies booted 3.2 to the Dogs' two goals in the third quarter, putting the gap at 13 points at the final change, the Dogs still had some fuel in the tank for the final stanza and pounced. Pressure on the ball and the man payed off in the last quarter and whilst keeping the visitors to just three behinds, they landed home 3.5 for themselves to get over the line by seven points. Chad O'Sullivan was voted best for Central, while Port named Jeremy Clayton as their best afield.

Over at the Broadspectrum Oval in Richmond, the Bloods seemed to have some kind of game plan in place when the Tigers came to visit. What came to be known as the "Blood-flood" on Monday was what would frustrate the hell out of the Glenelg forwards for over an hour of football in the first half. The flooding tactic saw the Tigers manage just 1.3 to West's three behinds, a six point margin at quarter-time. Inaccuracy was Glenelg's other worst enemy in the second quarter when they kicked 1.5 to the Bloods' 1.3, extending the Tigers' lead to eight points by half time. Finally in the second half, the Tiger engine was able to fire. When play resumed in the third quarter, the Bays booted home 7.3 to 1.1 to blow the margin out to 46 points by the final change. Thanks to West's flooding tactics, when they finally did get the ball there was no one to send it forward to. What worked in the first half blew up in their face in the second, as the Tigers added a further 4.2 to the Bloods' 2.2 in the final quarter to take out a 58 point win. Luke Panozzo was voted Glenelg's best player, West named Gregory Rowe as their best.

In the last Saturday afternoon match, the ABC Match of the Day was not far from their headquarters, as the Roosters headed to Coopers Stadium to face the Redlegs. In the last encounter between Norwood and North Adelaide, the Redlegs invaded Menzies Crescent and left with the points. With a breeze favouring them early on, the Redlegs attack began swiftly, kicking 7.4 to the Roosters' lousy three behinds to take a 43 point lead at quarter-time. The pain continued in the second term, the Roosters finally got a goal but it was the only one they got. They kicked 1.4 while the Redlegs added a further 5.1 to stretch the gap to 64 points by the long break. The Roosters tried everything in the second half but the damage was done on both the scoreboard and the Roosters' psyche. The Redlegs added 4.5 to their score in the third quarter to North's 2.1 to extend the gap to 74 points at three quarter-time. Norwood just took it easy from there, North outscoring them 3.3 to 1.1. That reduced the final margin to 66 points, a big confidence boost for Norwood as they continue to hold onto fourth spot. Taylor Walker kicked five, but James Gallagher was voted best for the 'Legs while Luke Ivens got best afield votes for North.

In the final match to finish off Round 15, the Double Blues took their home game against the Panthers on the road to the Johnstone Park Oval in Murray Bridge where a crowd of 2,200+ locals turned up. Its a shame that the Blues couldn't have picked a different side to play against in the River Murray town, had the match been earlier in the year there could have been a bigger fight put up by the Panthers. The Blues stamped their authority on the match early, restricting the "visitors" to just two behinds while kicking an inaccurate 4.6 for themselves to establish a 28 point advantage at quarter time. They then proceeded to smash home 7.5 in the second quarter, South kicked 2.1 and the long break margin was extended to 62 points. Inaccuracy continued to hassle Sturt but not nearly enough for South to kick back into the match. The third quarter was rather dull in regards to scores, both sides only managing one goal each. Mere behinds decided the margin at three quarter-time, where Sturt maintained its stranglehold with a 65 point advantage. The Blues finished off with a 3.4 to 2.5 final term to take out a 70 point victory. Brant Chambers kicked 6.5 for his day but Michael Coad was voted best for Sturt, while the Panthers named James Boyd as their standout.

FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 15 OF THE SANFL

Saturday July 12
Central District 8.11 (59)
Port Adelaide 7.10 (52)
3,030 @ Hamra Homes Oval, Elizabeth

Glenelg 13.13 (91)
West Adelaide 4.9 (33)
1,816 @ Broadspectrum Oval, Richmond

Norwood 17.11 (113)
North Adelaide 6.11 (47)
2,437 @ Coopers Stadium, Norwood

Sunday July 13
Sturt 15.20 (110)
South Adelaide 5.10 (40)
2,279 @ Johnstone Park Oval, Murray Bridge

Woodville-West Torrens had the bye.


INJURIES
Central -- Schell (groin)
Port -- Saunders (concussion), Biacsi (hamstring)
North -- K. Thompson (back), Wright (groin), Sporn (back)

REPORTS
North -- K. Thompson (headbutting)


Next weekend in Round 16...

Saturday July 19
Glenelg vs. South Adelaide; Challenge Recruitment Oval, Glenelg
North Adelaide vs. Woodville-West Torrens; Prospect Oval
Norwood vs. Central District; Coopers Stadium, Norwood
West Adelaide vs. Sturt; Broadspectrum Oval, Richmond

Port Adelaide has the bye.

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

R-15, Ladder