Australian Football

Round 5

Premiership season 2008 - Round 5 Review

Total Crowd 11,774 (Avg 2,944)

Its a tradition that has covered many years. Every year when the nation stops for a while to honour those people that lived to tell the tale and to remember those that did not. This past weekend, we celebrated another Anzac Day. Many years ago, it wasn't just full-time military personnel that went into battle, but also many South Australian footballers and probably many of their adoring fans. Port Adelaide champion Bob Quinn was one such man. A premiership player/coach before he went to war, he would return to the football field better than ever over five years later. Its little wonder that the SANFL named a medal after him for the Anzac Day match. This past weekend also saw the attendance figure for 2008 so far pass the 70,000 mark despite the weather. Sweet as, eh?

So with that said, lets get into the Wrap-Up for Round 5 of the SANFL.

With the redevelopment of the Adelaide Oval put off for the time being, SANFL football would be able to take to the historic ground for its traditional Grand Final re-match -- for 2008 it would be the Bulldogs and the Roosters in the West End Battle. The reigning premiers would start off best if not a bit inaccurate on goal, kicking 3.6 to North's 1.4 to be up by 14 points at quarter-time. That gap would be extended to 20 points by the half time break, a highlight for the Dogs fans in this quarter was what looked almost like a WWE-style spinebuster on a Rooster opponent! The third quarter saw the umpires lose some of their consistency, a rash of 25 metre penalties plus more holding the ball and high tackle charges which weren't paid during the other periods of the game. The Roosters were able to draw the margin back to two points at this stage, their goals coming from those said penalties. But the Dogs didn't let them get any closer.They kicked three goals to the Roosters' 1.1 to run out 19-point winners, but the Dogs need to work harder if they plan to be the same threatening team they have been for the last nine seasons. Paul Thomas was named best afield for Centrals and collected the Bob Quinn Medal, while North named Rory O'Brien as their standout performer.

Across town at The Parade on the Friday evening, Coopers Stadium lit up for the clash between the Redlegs and the Panthers. The game started with an equally contested first quarter, South's forwards however didn't capitalise on every opportunity they had and were up by only two points at quarter time. That inaccuracy cost them in the second quarter as the Redlegs surged forward to a 29 point lead after booting 6.3 to 1.2. After the long break, the Panthers fought their way back into the match, bringing the margin back to 20 points by the final change after South landed home five goals without a miss -- four of them in succession -- to Norwood's 3.3. The home side didn't get another goal for the rest of the match, the Panthers had a genuine chance to nick the points after a goal kicked by Dylan Williams left 18 seconds to pull off something special as scores were levelled. But no further scores happened and the two teams shared the premiership points at 78 a piece. Nick Duigan was named best for the Redlegs, while the Panthers named James Boyd as their best on ground.

The following day at the House Brothers Oval in Unley, the Double Blues hosted the Tigers in what I reckon was the match of the week. Sturt's undefeated run went to four last week after their dominating performance against South, which was supposed to send a message to the rest of the league. Glenelg weren't intimidated, getting off to great start in the first term taking an eight point lead at quarter-time after kicking 4.3 to Sturt's 3.1. The Tigers still kept the Blues at arms length in the second term, stretching the lead to 14 points by the half-time break. Part way through the third quarter the visitors managed to get out to a 26 point lead, but the home side were persistent and brought the gap back again and at the final change the margin was 15 points. But the Tigers weren't going to let this one slip, every Sturt attack was answered in kind at each turn. Glenelg would go on to inflict Sturt's first loss for 2008, proving that the Blues aren't as invincible as many thought. They won by 14 points, naming Ty Allen as their best player while Sturt voted in Luke Crane as their best afield.

In the final match for the round and this week's ABC TV Saturday match, if the Bloods had any reason to win then this was it. They were celebrating their 50th anniversary of their first match at Broadspectrum Oval, where in 1958 they played West Torrens to open the facility. These days the Eagles are two teams in one, but the significance was not lost. West started off proceedings with a 10 point lead at quarter-time after kicking 4.5 to 3.1, but like many games in the last few years the Bloods couldn't hold on. The Eagles wrested complete control for the rest of the game and started by kicking 5.1 to West's two measly behinds to be in front by 19 points at half time. When play resumed the Eagles continued to punish the Bloods poor skills, a further 4.3 to the home side's three goals saw the margin extend to 28 points by three quarter-time. Had the Bloods been more accurate in the final term they may have rattled the Eagles' cage. The visitors ran out seven goal winners, after kicking 5.2 to West's 2.6. Paul Stewart was best for the Eagles, while West named Brad Moran as their best on ground.

FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 5 OF THE SANFL

Friday April 25
THE WEST END BATTLE
Central District 12.12 (84)
North Adelaide 9.11 (65)
4,393 @ Adelaide Oval

Norwood 11.12 (78)
South Adelaide 11.12 (78)
2,873 @ Coopers Stadium, Norwood -- night match

Saturday April 26
Glenelg 15.14 (104)
Sturt 13.12 (90)
2,846 @ House Brothers Oval, Unley

Woodville-West Torrens 17.7 (109)
West Adelaide 9.13 (67)
1,662 @ Broadspectrum Oval, Richmond

Port Adelaide had the bye.


INJURIES
West -- Hill (broken leg)

REPORTS
Central -- Thomas (headbutting)


Next week in Round 6...

Saturday May 3
Woodville-West Torrens vs. Sturt; Thebarton Oval
North Adelaide vs. South Adelaide; Prospect Oval
Port Adelaide vs. West Adelaide; Alberton Oval

Sunday May 4
Glenelg vs. Central District; Challenge Recruitment Oval, Glenelg

Norwood have the bye.

EAGLES HERITAGE GUERNSEY
The Eagles will return to the old stomping ground of Thebarton in a replica of the 1980's West Torrens strip, predominantly blue with a gold sash. The worn jumpers will be auctioned off on eBay later.

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

R-5, Ladder