Australian Football

Round 3

Premiership season 2009 - Round 3 Review

Total Crowd 11,952 (Avg 2,988)

How times change, eh? Years ago in the most celebrated eras of football... the era of the Eberts, the Kernahans, the Plattens, the list goes on but all played during the time that Victoria was the state that would nab our talent and then go on to establish a national competition. Well fast forward to today and because of that party, things in Victoria's state league are not well. It was revealed this week that because of the dreams of the AFL, the effects could bring the VFL down and up to four clubs may abandon ship and head to our shores! Are we about to bear witness to the next evolution of the SANFL? Only time will tell.

But for now, lets see what happened this week in the Round 3 Wrap-Up...

First its off to the Prospect Oval to see the feathers fly between North Adelaide and Port Adelaide. Last year's matches between these two teams saw two close games decided by less than a goal with the victories going either way, but the third game was far more decisive with the 'Pies 10 goal win at Menzies Crescent. The Roosters started off best, taking a 15 point lead at quarter-time after scoring 3.5 to the Magpies' 1.2. Despite being more spirited in the second quarter, silly mistakes by the visitors -- including giving away a free kick in North's 50m arc -- allowed the Roosters to extend that to 23 points by the long break, after kicking 5.3 to Port's 4.1. When play resumed for the third quarter, the Magpies threw everything at North and drew the margin back to 16 points. Could have been closer had they been more accurate... 4.5 to 3.4. But that was as close as the Magpies got, as the Roosters bolted away in the closing stages after adding 5.2 to 2.2 in the final term to win by 34 points. Disappointment was clear in the face of Port coach Tim Ginever, who could be heard uttering "shame" to his players. Ben Schwarze was named best for North, while Kristian DePasquale was Port's standout.

Across town at the House Brothers Oval in Unley, the Double Blues fronted up against the Bloods. What is there to say about the last couple of years between these teams? Sturt have bagged the last 14 wins between these two teams, West came close in 2007 on their home patch but still fell short. West had a good start to the game, only behind by five points at quarter-time after Sturt scored 3.1 to 2.2. But that was short lived, despite the Bloods showing a little scoring skill with a 40m shot early into the second quarter, the Double Blues made that 21 points by half-time after adding a further 5.5 to 3.1. Inaccuracy was the only thing giving West a chance, but their own inaccuracy scuttled that chance as the Blues added 3.6 to the visitors' 1.4 to see the margin out to 35 points at three quarter-time. A final quarter blitz by Sturt where they kicked 6.4 to 2.2 handed the home side a 61 point win, leaving West coach Andrew Collins wondering what went wrong. Tristian Gum was voted best afield for the Blues, while the Bloods named Chris Schmidt as their best.

Its become an annual thing for the Panthers, with the annual Easter weekend Encounter Bay Oval match where this time they met up with the Redlegs. In the two previous encounters last year, the points were divided, but not evenly as Norwood won at Noarlunga and a draw happened at The Parade. The first quarter was evenly fought, the Redlegs taking a quarter-time lead of eight points after kicking 5.3 to 4.1. But that was where South's resistance ended, as the Redlegs reduced the Panthers to mere spectators starting with a 4.3 to 1.0 second term to set up a 29 point lead at the long break. Norwood continued to pound the Panthers into submission when play re-started in the third quarter, blasting home 7.2 to three behinds to stretch the gap out to 70 points. South's goal drought broke in the final term, but Norwood didn't relent and bagged a further 5.2 to 2.3 to take out an 87 point win. Jamie Vlatko kicked six goals, but it was Nick Lower that was named best afield for the 'Legs, Craig Parry took best on ground honours for the Panthers.

In the final match of Round 3, the ABC TV cameras headed down Port Road to the Woodville Oval as the Eagles took on the Tigers. Woodville Oval has been a problem for the Tigers for a while now, in 10 matches they've only managed a draw in 2007. Despite a one point lead at quarter-time, the inaccuracy of the Tigers -- 2.9 to the Eagles' 3.2 -- would set the tone for their day. The Eagles then proceeded to blast home an inaccurate 6.7 to 2.3, taking a 27 point lead at the long break as the visitors defence still allowed loose opponents to run amok. Glenelg drew the margin back somewhat, but the inaccuracy bug still had a grip on them as they kicked 3.4 to the Eagles' two goals in the third quarter, the home team up by 17 points at the final change. Glenelg would lose two of their most prolific players during this time and that would also be a telling factor in the Tigers downfall. The Eagles finished the job in the final quarter to continue the hoodoo of Oval Avenue, kicking 4.7 to three goals to win by 30 points. Nick Salter kicked six goals, but Jarrhan Jacky was named best afield for the Eagles, while Luke Panozzo was voted best for Glenelg. Both Eagles no-doubt will be in their respective AFL clubs' sights next week.

FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 3 OF THE SANFL

Saturday April 11
North Adelaide 16.14 (110)
Port Adelaide 11.10 (76)
3,409 @ Prospect Oval

Sturt 17.16 (118)
West Adelaide 8.9 (57)
3,116 @ House Brothers Oval, Unley

Norwood 21.10 (136)
South Adelaide 7.7 (49)
2,786 @ Encounter Bay Oval, Victor Harbor

Woodville-West Torrens 15.16 (106)
Glenelg 10.16 (76)
2,641 @ Woodville Oval

Central District had the bye.


INJURIES
North -- Whyman (hamstring), Sporn (quad).
Sturt -- Payne (knee).
Norwood -- Trotter (hamstring), Gallagher (cut chin), Doyle (calf).
South -- Rolfe (cut chin).
Glenelg -- Backwell (shoulder), Grima (shoulder).

REPORTS
Port -- Thurgood (striking).
South -- Handby (striking).
Glenelg -- Mills (striking).


Next weekend in Round 4...

Friday April 17
Norwood vs. North Adelaide; Coopers Stadium, Norwood -- night match

Saturday April 18
Central District vs. South Adelaide; Hamra Homes Oval, Elizabeth

Sunday April 19
Port Adelaide vs. Woodville-West Torrens; Alberton Oval
Glenelg vs. West Adelaide; Gliderol Stadium, Glenelg

Sturt have the bye.

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

R-3, Ladder