Last weekend the SANFL representative side travelled to the West and came back with the Haydn Bunton Cup, putting an end to WA's recent dominance of State football. But now we resume normal operations with the return to club footy and we're a third of the way into the premiership season. Up until two weeks ago it looked as though the Redlegs were the pacesetters of 2019, but then the Crows landed. Now not only are Adelaide making themselves heard, but there's also the Tigers that have been making some noise of their own. South hit a stumbling block, but have remained inside the top five. But on the other side of the table, we see that the Roosters are still anchored to the bottom of the ladder and still in arrears on the premiership points table. The defending champions look to be in a world of trouble, premiership hangover still very much in effect. A response is sorely needed at Menzies Crescent.
Welcome to the Round 7 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.
The opening match for this week sends us across the Hilton Bridge and into Richmond for some Friday Night Mayhem, the Bloods hosting the Double Blues at City Mazda Stadium. The Blues won both encounters from last year, including their last venture to Richmond in Round 9 by 19 points and then in Round 18 by 26 points at Unley, which was their final victory for the year. Only the Blues came out on top from Round 6, extending the Roosters' pain with their 34-point victory at home while the Bloods couldn't keep up with the resurgent Panthers down south. Sturt has had a habit of playing entire quarters of inaccuracy on goal, the Bloods able to take advantage early as they scored 3.4 to 1.5 to lead by 11 points at quarter-time. It didn't last though, although the inaccuracy streak from Sturt did continue they would be up by a single straight kick at the long break after scoring 3.5 to the Bloods' single major in the second term. The Blues kept up their attack when play resumed, though they continued to spray shots wide they would add to their lead. A further 4.4 to the home side's 2.1 put their advantage out to 21 points by three quarter-time. It would finish similar to last year's contest at Milner Road, the Bloods pressed hard in the final term as the Blues' accuracy on goal was still poor but their defence held firm. The Bloods' two goals wasn't enough against the visitors' 1.5, Sturt winners by 19 points and edged themselves into the five. Zane Kirkwood amassed 35 disposals and was named Sturt's best on ground, while the Bloods named State team member Will Snelling as their best.
The rest of the weekend's football action continued on Saturday afternoon, the next match taking place at the Alberton Oval between the Magpies and the Crows. Last year's games between the two AFL reserves teams saw some intriguing results. The season opener at Alberton suggested that Port were an outfit ready to take over, smashing the hell out of Adelaide by 95 points. Port's fortunes dipped soon after, not that Adelaide's were any better but in Round 14 at Kadina, the Crows got some revenge with their 56 point victory which was their only one for the year. Both sides won their respective games in Round 6, the Crows surprising the previously undefeated Redlegs while Port's final term sunk the Bulldogs. Adelaide put on a first half clinic, starting with the opening quarter where they scored three goals before Port got one of their own. At quarter-time it was 5.3 to 2.2, Adelaide ahead by 19 points. By the half-time break the Crows would be ahead by six goals, having scored a further 6.2 to Port's 3.3. Perhaps under the impression that they could relax a little bit, the Magpies hit the ground running when play resumed and caught the Crows off-guard. The gap was back down to 20 points by three quarter-time after the 'Pies kicked 6.1 to Adelaide's 3.3. Inaccuracy crept into the Crows camp in the final stanza, but Port were unable to bridge the gap in the end as the visitors left with a 16-point win after a 4.5 to 5.3 last term. Josh Jenkins is surely poised for a senior return with his six goals and best afield honours for Adelaide, while Jackson Trengove is knocking on the Power's door with his 37 disposal-best player effort for Port.
The third match for the round takes us back up Port Road as far as Oval Avenue, the Eagles taking on the Redlegs at the Maughan Thiem Kia Oval in Woodville. The Redlegs took all the points on the table last year, their last visit to Woodville resulting in a 57-point win in Round 7, followed by a 34-point win at The Parade in Round 16. They would clash again in the 2nd Semi-Final, winning that encounter by 17 points which was the start of the Eagles' nightmare exit from the 2018 finals series. Both clubs were on the receiving end of losses two weeks ago, the Eagles copping a 50-point hiding from the Tigers while the 'Legs winning streak was ended by the Crows. A tense opening quarter would ensue, the Eagles opened the scores within the first 40 seconds and would lead by seven points at quarter-time after scoring 4.3 to 3.2. Norwood answered back in the second term but inaccuracy would keep them within a few kicks of the Eagles at half-time. The 'Legs scored 4.5 to 1.3, taking a 13-point lead into the break. Goals would be hard to come by in the third quarter, the Eagles had plenty of opportunities but sent several shots wide. They would bring the deficit back to just two points by the final change, having scored 2.7 to 1.2. The Eagles kept plugging away despite their shooting on goal being pretty average, their defence keeping the Redlegs well in check to run out 11 point winners on the back of a 3.8 to 2.1 final term. State team first timer Jordan Foote was the standout for the Eagles, while Mitch Grigg was voted best on ground for Norwood.
Game number four has us heading to the outer northern suburbs where we find the Bulldogs face the Tigers at the X-Convenience Oval in Elizabeth. Despite finishing in sixth position last season, the eighth-placed Bulldogs were the one itch that the Tigers couldn't seem to scratch. After falling to a 33-point loss at Tiger-land in Round 5, they would be denied again in Round 13 by just two points at the Ponderosa, a ground they have only won once at in 25 previous visits. The Dogs are still yet to record a victory since the Easter weekend, having gone down to the Magpies at Alberton, while the Tigers put an end to their Eagles hoodoo. The Tigers began the afternoon by keeping the Dogs to just four behinds whilst kicking 4.4 for themselves, taking a 24-point lead into the quarter-time huddle. Their second quarter would prove to be the game breaker, even though the Dogs found the big sticks their accuracy continued to let them down as the Tigers rammed through seven goals to 3.4. At the long break, Glenelg were out to a 44-point lead. The Dogs were all butter-fingers, dropping simple marks and coughing up plenty of amateur turnovers. A slow third term wasn't even going to allow the Dogs to make up any ground, managing to chip a single point off that half-time deficit come three quarter-time with their 2.2 to 2.1. Another hoodoo snapped, Glenelg ran out 49-point winners, finishing off with a 4.2 to 3.2 final quarter. Matt Snook was named best for the Tigers, the Dogs named Justin Hoskin as their best afield.
The last game for the weekend brings us back to the inner north now, for the SANFL's version of the "Civil War" between the Roosters and the Panthers at Prospect Oval. During the minor round last year, the Panthers had the wood on the Roosters with a 37-point win in Round 7 at Prospect, followed by a 41-point victory at Noarlunga in Round 15. But when it came to the finals, the South faithful could only watch in horror as the Roosters turfed the Panthers out of contention in the Elimination Final by 20 points. Last weekend, North's premiership hangover was made worse by the Blues while the Panthers got back in the winner's circle with their 32-point win against West. North had the early control on the game, but inaccuracy allowed South to loom close behind by just seven points at quarter-time after kicking 4.4 to 3.3. The Panthers overturned that deficit by half-time, but they had a torrid time in front of goal themselves with their return of 3.5 to 1.3. The Panthers went into the break with a seven-point lead. The visitors would take advantage of North's lowly third term to extend their lead to four straight kicks by the final change, scoring 3.1 to the Roosters' measly two behinds. North seemed to stir to life in the final term to make one last desperate run, but their shooting on goal would keep them well away from victory. They kicked 3.5 to 3.3, the Panthers taking a 22-point win. Nick Liddle was voted South's best on ground, the Roosters named Jarred Allmond as their best.
FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 7 OF THE SANFL...
Friday May 17
Sturt 9.18 (72)
West Adelaide 8.5 (53)
2,062 @ City Mazda Stadium, Richmond
Saturday May 18
Adelaide 18.13 (121)
Port Adelaide 16.9 (105)
1,538 @ Alberton Oval
Woodville-West Torrens 10.21 (81)
Norwood 10.10 (70)
1,949 @ Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville
Glenelg 17.7 (109)
Central District 8.12 (60)
1,560 @ X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth
South Adelaide 12.12 (84)
North Adelaide 8.14 (62)
1,871 @ Prospect Oval
INJURIES
Sturt -- Harms (elbow)
Port -- McKenzie (hamstring)
Norwood -- Bode (ankle)
REPORTS
Sturt -- Sumner (dangerous tackle)
LEAGUE LADDER
-------------------------------------------
Glenelg -- 11pts (5-1-1), 57.9%
Adelaide -- 11pts (5-1-1), 53%
South -- 10pts (4-1-2), 56%
Norwood -- 10pts (5-2-0), 51.4%
Sturt -- 8pts (4-3-0), 51.8%
-------------------------------------------
Port -- 8pts (4-3-0), 51.4%
W-WT -- 4pts (2-5-0), 45.1%
Central -- 4pts (2-5-0), 42.8%
West -- 2pts (1-6-0), 44.5%
North -- -2pts (1-6-0), 45.9%
-------------------------------------------
Next in Round 8... its a split round!
Sunday May 26 @ 1:10pm
Glenelg vs. Port Adelaide; ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg
Friday May 31 @ 7:20pm
Norwood vs. West Adelaide; Coopers Stadium, Norwood
Saturday June 1
North Adelaide vs. Adelaide; Prospect Oval @ 2:10pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. South Adelaide; Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville @ 2:40pm
Sunday June 2 @ 2:10pm
Sturt vs. Central District; Peter Motley Oval, Unley
So until the weekend after this one... see you at the Footy!
Welcome to the Round 7 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.
The opening match for this week sends us across the Hilton Bridge and into Richmond for some Friday Night Mayhem, the Bloods hosting the Double Blues at City Mazda Stadium. The Blues won both encounters from last year, including their last venture to Richmond in Round 9 by 19 points and then in Round 18 by 26 points at Unley, which was their final victory for the year. Only the Blues came out on top from Round 6, extending the Roosters' pain with their 34-point victory at home while the Bloods couldn't keep up with the resurgent Panthers down south. Sturt has had a habit of playing entire quarters of inaccuracy on goal, the Bloods able to take advantage early as they scored 3.4 to 1.5 to lead by 11 points at quarter-time. It didn't last though, although the inaccuracy streak from Sturt did continue they would be up by a single straight kick at the long break after scoring 3.5 to the Bloods' single major in the second term. The Blues kept up their attack when play resumed, though they continued to spray shots wide they would add to their lead. A further 4.4 to the home side's 2.1 put their advantage out to 21 points by three quarter-time. It would finish similar to last year's contest at Milner Road, the Bloods pressed hard in the final term as the Blues' accuracy on goal was still poor but their defence held firm. The Bloods' two goals wasn't enough against the visitors' 1.5, Sturt winners by 19 points and edged themselves into the five. Zane Kirkwood amassed 35 disposals and was named Sturt's best on ground, while the Bloods named State team member Will Snelling as their best.
The rest of the weekend's football action continued on Saturday afternoon, the next match taking place at the Alberton Oval between the Magpies and the Crows. Last year's games between the two AFL reserves teams saw some intriguing results. The season opener at Alberton suggested that Port were an outfit ready to take over, smashing the hell out of Adelaide by 95 points. Port's fortunes dipped soon after, not that Adelaide's were any better but in Round 14 at Kadina, the Crows got some revenge with their 56 point victory which was their only one for the year. Both sides won their respective games in Round 6, the Crows surprising the previously undefeated Redlegs while Port's final term sunk the Bulldogs. Adelaide put on a first half clinic, starting with the opening quarter where they scored three goals before Port got one of their own. At quarter-time it was 5.3 to 2.2, Adelaide ahead by 19 points. By the half-time break the Crows would be ahead by six goals, having scored a further 6.2 to Port's 3.3. Perhaps under the impression that they could relax a little bit, the Magpies hit the ground running when play resumed and caught the Crows off-guard. The gap was back down to 20 points by three quarter-time after the 'Pies kicked 6.1 to Adelaide's 3.3. Inaccuracy crept into the Crows camp in the final stanza, but Port were unable to bridge the gap in the end as the visitors left with a 16-point win after a 4.5 to 5.3 last term. Josh Jenkins is surely poised for a senior return with his six goals and best afield honours for Adelaide, while Jackson Trengove is knocking on the Power's door with his 37 disposal-best player effort for Port.
The third match for the round takes us back up Port Road as far as Oval Avenue, the Eagles taking on the Redlegs at the Maughan Thiem Kia Oval in Woodville. The Redlegs took all the points on the table last year, their last visit to Woodville resulting in a 57-point win in Round 7, followed by a 34-point win at The Parade in Round 16. They would clash again in the 2nd Semi-Final, winning that encounter by 17 points which was the start of the Eagles' nightmare exit from the 2018 finals series. Both clubs were on the receiving end of losses two weeks ago, the Eagles copping a 50-point hiding from the Tigers while the 'Legs winning streak was ended by the Crows. A tense opening quarter would ensue, the Eagles opened the scores within the first 40 seconds and would lead by seven points at quarter-time after scoring 4.3 to 3.2. Norwood answered back in the second term but inaccuracy would keep them within a few kicks of the Eagles at half-time. The 'Legs scored 4.5 to 1.3, taking a 13-point lead into the break. Goals would be hard to come by in the third quarter, the Eagles had plenty of opportunities but sent several shots wide. They would bring the deficit back to just two points by the final change, having scored 2.7 to 1.2. The Eagles kept plugging away despite their shooting on goal being pretty average, their defence keeping the Redlegs well in check to run out 11 point winners on the back of a 3.8 to 2.1 final term. State team first timer Jordan Foote was the standout for the Eagles, while Mitch Grigg was voted best on ground for Norwood.
Game number four has us heading to the outer northern suburbs where we find the Bulldogs face the Tigers at the X-Convenience Oval in Elizabeth. Despite finishing in sixth position last season, the eighth-placed Bulldogs were the one itch that the Tigers couldn't seem to scratch. After falling to a 33-point loss at Tiger-land in Round 5, they would be denied again in Round 13 by just two points at the Ponderosa, a ground they have only won once at in 25 previous visits. The Dogs are still yet to record a victory since the Easter weekend, having gone down to the Magpies at Alberton, while the Tigers put an end to their Eagles hoodoo. The Tigers began the afternoon by keeping the Dogs to just four behinds whilst kicking 4.4 for themselves, taking a 24-point lead into the quarter-time huddle. Their second quarter would prove to be the game breaker, even though the Dogs found the big sticks their accuracy continued to let them down as the Tigers rammed through seven goals to 3.4. At the long break, Glenelg were out to a 44-point lead. The Dogs were all butter-fingers, dropping simple marks and coughing up plenty of amateur turnovers. A slow third term wasn't even going to allow the Dogs to make up any ground, managing to chip a single point off that half-time deficit come three quarter-time with their 2.2 to 2.1. Another hoodoo snapped, Glenelg ran out 49-point winners, finishing off with a 4.2 to 3.2 final quarter. Matt Snook was named best for the Tigers, the Dogs named Justin Hoskin as their best afield.
The last game for the weekend brings us back to the inner north now, for the SANFL's version of the "Civil War" between the Roosters and the Panthers at Prospect Oval. During the minor round last year, the Panthers had the wood on the Roosters with a 37-point win in Round 7 at Prospect, followed by a 41-point victory at Noarlunga in Round 15. But when it came to the finals, the South faithful could only watch in horror as the Roosters turfed the Panthers out of contention in the Elimination Final by 20 points. Last weekend, North's premiership hangover was made worse by the Blues while the Panthers got back in the winner's circle with their 32-point win against West. North had the early control on the game, but inaccuracy allowed South to loom close behind by just seven points at quarter-time after kicking 4.4 to 3.3. The Panthers overturned that deficit by half-time, but they had a torrid time in front of goal themselves with their return of 3.5 to 1.3. The Panthers went into the break with a seven-point lead. The visitors would take advantage of North's lowly third term to extend their lead to four straight kicks by the final change, scoring 3.1 to the Roosters' measly two behinds. North seemed to stir to life in the final term to make one last desperate run, but their shooting on goal would keep them well away from victory. They kicked 3.5 to 3.3, the Panthers taking a 22-point win. Nick Liddle was voted South's best on ground, the Roosters named Jarred Allmond as their best.
FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 7 OF THE SANFL...
Friday May 17
Sturt 9.18 (72)
West Adelaide 8.5 (53)
2,062 @ City Mazda Stadium, Richmond
Saturday May 18
Adelaide 18.13 (121)
Port Adelaide 16.9 (105)
1,538 @ Alberton Oval
Woodville-West Torrens 10.21 (81)
Norwood 10.10 (70)
1,949 @ Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville
Glenelg 17.7 (109)
Central District 8.12 (60)
1,560 @ X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth
South Adelaide 12.12 (84)
North Adelaide 8.14 (62)
1,871 @ Prospect Oval
INJURIES
Sturt -- Harms (elbow)
Port -- McKenzie (hamstring)
Norwood -- Bode (ankle)
REPORTS
Sturt -- Sumner (dangerous tackle)
LEAGUE LADDER
-------------------------------------------
Glenelg -- 11pts (5-1-1), 57.9%
Adelaide -- 11pts (5-1-1), 53%
South -- 10pts (4-1-2), 56%
Norwood -- 10pts (5-2-0), 51.4%
Sturt -- 8pts (4-3-0), 51.8%
-------------------------------------------
Port -- 8pts (4-3-0), 51.4%
W-WT -- 4pts (2-5-0), 45.1%
Central -- 4pts (2-5-0), 42.8%
West -- 2pts (1-6-0), 44.5%
North -- -2pts (1-6-0), 45.9%
-------------------------------------------
Next in Round 8... its a split round!
Sunday May 26 @ 1:10pm
Glenelg vs. Port Adelaide; ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg
Friday May 31 @ 7:20pm
Norwood vs. West Adelaide; Coopers Stadium, Norwood
Saturday June 1
North Adelaide vs. Adelaide; Prospect Oval @ 2:10pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. South Adelaide; Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville @ 2:40pm
Sunday June 2 @ 2:10pm
Sturt vs. Central District; Peter Motley Oval, Unley
So until the weekend after this one... see you at the Footy!