Australian Football

Round 21

Premiership season 2012 - Round 21 Review

Total Crowd 8,163 (Avg 2,041)

Around this time of year, many SA footy-heads would probably be talking about finals football. But all doesn't seem to be well at some of our clubs and it has to do with retaining its fans. The turnstiles at some clubs have not been turning as much as previous seasons, amazingly its the underperformers that have registered any kind of increase. But at least two of the top five clubs in the league have taken a big dive in crowd numbers, whether its to do with supporter apathy or performance of the South Australian AFL teams is anyone's guess. One thing is certain, the 2012 season is going to have a disappointing overall attendance figure which up to this point has seen an average 300 missing people per week. You're either in, or you're out... make up your minds!!!

Welcome to the Round 21 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up

This week's action sees all the action played out on Saturday afternoon, first up we head over to City Mazda Stadium in Richmond where the Bloods faced the Redlegs in the ABC Match of the Round. The last six match-ups between these clubs have been all red & blue, the Redlegs victorious at both The Parade and at Richmond. The last encounter was one that got away from the Bloods, in a gut-wrenching finish a Redlegs mark and goal at the death snatching victory from the jaws of defeat by one point. Two weeks previous to that, the 'Legs were handed their first defeat, but up until this match it was their only one. Norwood's opening term was a shocker on the scoreboard, but they would still hold an 11-point lead at quarter-time after kicking 2.5 to West's single goal. That deficit wouldn't be altered come the half-time break, both sides kicked 3.2 in the second term to allow Norwood to retain their lead. Only a couple of weeks ago, the Bloods gave the Bulldogs a wake-up call when they went to Elizabeth. To enhance their premiership credentials, they had to do the same today. Norwood's wasted opportunities came back to bite them in the second half, the Bloods reeling the 'Legs back to within striking distance after they kicked 3.1 to 2.2 in the third quarter. At the final change, Norwood was down to a one-goal lead. But then the unthinkable happened, the visiting fans would have been left stunned as the Redlegs were held scoreless in the final quarter. Westies would go on to inflict a second loss on Norwood and their second top-three scalp in as many weeks, inaccuracy would prove to be a null issue as they added 4.5 to their tally to take a 23-point win. Aaron Fielke was voted best for the Bloods, while Norwood voted in Nathan Batsanis as their best afield.

In the next match we head to the inner-south of Unley, to the Commander Centre Oval where the Double Blues faced the Tigers. At this point, the Tigers had a tenuous grip on their fifth spot on the league table. With the Magpies breathing down their necks and a bye next week, season 2012 could be brought to a premature end with a single slip up. They have had nine wins from their last 11 against the Blues, including a 49-point win at the Bay back in Round 6. But they haven't played at Unley since 2010, where they lost by 39 points in mid-2010. The Double Blues got the better of the Tigers in the early stages, the first term saw them kick 4.2 to 2.1 to take a 13-point lead at quarter-time. But the Bays steadied in the second term to bring the gap back to a single point by the long break after kicking 5.2 to 3.2. When play resumed, it became an arm-wrestling match as both sides struggled to make a decent impact on the scoreboard and inaccuracy came into play. The Blues would go six points up by three quarter-time, after they added 1.6 to the Tigers' 1.1 in the third term. Sturt appeared to have seized control of the match part-way through the term after stretching their lead to 17 points. But the Tigers rallied, despite their inaccuracy they would steal the points after kicking 3.7 to Sturt's 2.2, taking a five-point victory. Their fifth spot on the ladder was secure for one more week, but again, they still have a bye and two more games against some stiff opposition! Kane Tenace was voted best for the Tigers, while Sturt named Aidan Riley as their best.

Next up in the wrap we head down to the Unleash Solar Oval in Woodville for the Battle of the Birds, the opposite sides of Port Road colliding as the Eagles faced the Magpies. All of a sudden the Eagles season has been seemingly resurrected after such a horrid start. Just like the Magpies, they have a half-decent shot at finals football and a chance to defend their title in September action. The Eagles accounted for the Magpies in their last aerial stoush, taking a 33-point win at Alberton in Round 13 after Port's season opening win at Thebarton Oval which started the reigning premiers' horror run. With both clubs on equal points on the ladder and a decent chance of snaring fifth spot in the coming weeks, this match could be a season ender in itself. The match began pretty even, the two sides taking four scoring shots each. But with a single miss to the Eagles, the Magpies held a five-point lead as the scoreboard read 4.0 to 3.1. A couple more wasted opportunities for the Eagles would allow the visitors to keep ahead on the board, but the gap was reduced to three points by the half-time break after the Eagles added 2.2 to Port's two goals. When play resumed, the Magpies looked as if they took control as they kept the Eagles to just 1.3 whilst adding 3.3 to their tally to take a 15-point lead at the final change. It seemed almost inevitable when that was the gap at the 19th minute mark of the last quarter. But then the Eagles went on a last ditch attack and with the last kick of the game, kicked the winning goal from out of the five scored by the home side to Port's two goals. The final deficit was three points, the Eagles now the hunters of that elimination final spot held by Glenelg. The Eagles named Luke Jarrad as their best on ground, while Port named Steven Salopek as their standout.

In the final match of the weekend, its off to the southern suburb of Noarlunga where the Panthers took on the Bulldogs at Hickinbotham Oval. Centrals had a rude awakening last weekend as they dropped their bundle at the Ponderosa, the Bloods embarrassing the Dogs in front of an average crowd. But no matter what the Dogs have had to put up with for the last few years, the longest trip in SANFL football has held very few problems for the men of Elizabeth. From the last 13 games, the Dogs have dropped just two and their last encounter was a 44-point win at the Dog-pound in Round 4. But this time the Panthers were in a fighting mood, opening proceedings with a 3.2 to 2.1 first quarter to lead by seven points at quarter-time. The Dogs would then score seven goals without a miss to South's 4.2 in the second term to take a nine-point lead at the long break. But had the Bulldogs' defence been fully functioning, the Panthers' attack would have been far less fruitful so they were lucky just to be ahead at this time. When play resumed, the Panthers remained persistent. They would cut the deficit back to seven points by the final change, in the third term South kicked 3.3 to the Dogs' 3.1. Unfortunately for the home faithful, the Bulldogs saved their best until last. With the Panther's nagging nullified, the Dogs went and pantsed the home side with an 11-to-4 goal final term blitz. In the end the Bulldogs took a 49-point win, Justin Hardy's seven goals putting him in serious contention for Ken Farmer Medal honours. Despite that though, it was Trent Goodrem bagging best afield honours for the Dogs, while South named Nick Murphy as their best.

INJURIES W-WT - Grocke (concussion), Giuffreda (hamstring)

REPORTS None known at time of post

NORTH ADELAIDE - 40th Anniversary of 1971 & 1972 Premierships

This Sunday's encounter with Port Adelaide at Prospect will be marked with a guard of honour made up of former Roosters from the back-to-back premiership years of 1971 & 1972 which also yielded a national title. The team will run out onto the ground wearing commemorative jumpers to mark the occasion. The club will apparently be auctioning these jumpers on eBay.

R-21, Ladder