Australian Football

Round 6

Premiership season 2009 - Round 6 Review

Total Crowd 12,910 (Avg 3,228)

It was good to see the people coming out this weekend for some SANFL action. After the disappointing aggregate figure of just under 8,000 for the Anzac Day weekend, a more encouraging number of almost 13,000 SA footy-heads turned out for the four matches on offer during Showdown weekend. With one match on Saturday and three on Sunday, there was little excuse for people not to break out their supporter gear and get themselves into some real football.

So with that said, welcome to this week's edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up for Round 6!

First its off to Coopers Stadium, where the ABC covered the only Saturday afternoon match for the weekend between the Redlegs and the Bulldogs. Centrals have inflicted some brutal punishments on the Redlegs in the past couple of years, from the previous seven matches the Doggies have won six which included a 26-goal hiding at Elizabeth in 2007, while Norwood took a two point victory in 2006. The first quarter was goals-a-plenty, with the Dogs taking a quarter-time lead of 18 points after kicking 7.7 to 5.1. But Norwood, no doubt incensed after last week's loss, reduced the deficit to one point by half time after kicking a bag of their own, seven goals to 4.1. Overconfidence in goalkicking on some of the Dogs' players part during the match was bringing them undone, as the Redlegs took the lead in the third quarter and were leading by a goal at the final change. The final quarter was a nail-biter, after the Redlegs extended their lead to 12 points early on, the visitors lifted their game to re-take the lead and it came down to a last ditch shot on goal by Norwood to be tapped through by Bulldog Justin Hardy that would deny the Redlegs a huge upset. The Bulldogs won by a point, but this didn't appease coach Roy Laird who scolded his players after the game. Yves Sibenaler was voted best for Central, while Norwood voted vice-captain Brett Zorzi as their best afield.

The next day at the Alberton Oval, the Magpies came up against the Double Blues. Port haven't tasted victory against their old Grand Final enemy since 2006, with the Blues taking five of the last seven matches. No wins on the board, bottom of the ladder... could it possibly get worse for the Magpies? It looked very likely to be a yes as the Blues started proceedings by taking a two-goal lead at quarter-time after scoring 4.3 to 2.3. But the Magpies would draw level by the long break, after kicking 3.2 to Sturt's 1.2. Was this the day Port fans were hoping for? That feeling would soon evaporate, one could be forgiven for thinking the Blues were just toying with the Magpies in that second term, as they ran off to a 35 point lead after kicking 6.1 to Port's lousy two behinds. The final term was pretty much goal for goal, the Blues taking a seven goal win after they scored 6.2 to 5.1 to close the game. Matt Jaensch was voted best afield for Sturt, while the Magpies named Brad Murray as thier standout. Port coach Tim Ginever was livid, apparently giving his team a severe dressing down while praising some of the younger and newer players. The axe awaits the undisciplined.

Next up in the Wrap-Up is the encounter between the Roosters and the Eagles at the Prospect Oval. These two have probably the longest history between each other in the preceeding three years. 11 games spanning 2006 to 2008... three of them during the finals in '06 & '07, with the Roosters winning the last five including the match that put them in the 2007 Grand Final. The first quarter was evenly fought, with a solitary behind to the Eagles giving them the quarter-time lead, the scoreboard reading 4.1 to North's four goals. The Roosters took over in the second quarter, although there wasn't much in the scoring department here. But 2.3 to the Eagles' three behinds saw the home side up by 11 points at the half-time break. But when play resumed, Ken McGregor was switched into attack mode. After holding Clint Alleway for most of the first half, he became a major cog in the Eagle machine that zipped off to a 35 point lead after they kicked 9.3 to the Roosters' 1.3. In a move very similar to McGregor's move to the forward line, Damon White was shifted forward and the ploy almost worked, but 7.3 to 2.4 would see the red & whites fall short by eight points. Ken McGregor's six goal haul bagged him best on ground honours for the Eagles, while James Allan was named best for North.

In the final match for Round 6, the Panthers met up with the Tigers in the Battle of the Cats at Hickinbotham Oval in Noarlunga, where a crowd of almost 2,700 turned out. The eight matches previously played out would see equal sharing of premiership points, among those was South's unbelieveable 13 point victory at Glenelg last year. The Tigers were still stinging from the caning they suffered last weekend and it was evident on the scoreboard with their first quarter inaccuracy. Scores were level at quarter-time after they kicked 3.8 to South's 4.2. Glenelg finally found their feet in the second term as they kicked ahead to an 18 point lead at half-time, after kicking 5.3 to 2.3. The Tigers must have forgotten what time it was when they came back out for the third quarter as the Panthers landed home five goals without a miss to Glenelg's 1.3 to take a three point lead at three-quarter time. But the home side couldn't keep up that effort and fell to a final quarter dash-off by the Tigers, who kicked 5.3 to four behinds to take a 26 point win. Adam Fisher was named best for the Tigers, while the Panthers named pocket-rocket James Boyd as their best afield.

FINAL SCORES FROM ROUND 6 OF THE SANFL

Saturday May 2
Central District 16.13 (109)
Norwood 17.6 (108)
3,671 @ Coopers Stadium, Norwood

Sunday May 3
Sturt 17.8 (110)
Port Adelaide 10.8 (68)
3,206 @ Alberton Oval

Woodville-West Torrens 15.11 (101)
North Adelaide 14.9 (93)
3,343 @ Prospect Oval

Glenelg 14.17 (101)
South Adelaide 11.9 (75)
2,690 @ Hickinbotham Oval, Noarlunga

West Adelaide had the bye.

INJURIES
Sturt -- Crane (shoulder), Thurstans (hamstring), Coad (corked thigh)
W-WT -- Daniel (ankle)

REPORTS
Sturt -- Thurstans (striking)
Port -- Looby (striking), Barham (striking)


LEAGUE LADDER
-----------------------------------
Central -- 10pts (5-0-0), 59.7%
W-WT -- 9pts (4-1-1), 54.7%
Glenelg -- 8pts (4-1-0), 48.4%
Sturt -- 6pts (3-2-0), 55.5%
North -- 6pts (3-2-0), 52%
-----------------------------------
Norwood -- 4pts (2-4-0), 52.8%
West -- 3pts (1-3-1), 44.9%
South -- 2pts (1-4-0), 37.6%
Port -- 0pts (0-0-0), 41.4%


STATE TEAM UPDATE
Brett Zorzi (Norwood), Chad O'Sullivan (Central) and Craig Evans (Sturt) have been added to the training squad, while Andrew McIntyre (North) has been forced to withdraw.

Next weekend in Round 7...

Saturday May 9
Central District vs. West Adelaide; Hamra Homes Oval, Elizabeth
Woodville-West Torrens vs. Sturt; Woodville Oval
Glenelg vs. North Adelaide; Gliderol Stadium, Glenelg
South Adelaide vs. Port Adelaide; Hickinbotham Oval, Noarlunga

Norwood have the bye.

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

R-6, Ladder