Adelaide Footy League 2019 round three match reports including Tea Tree Gully’s big loss
There will be no panic or crisis meetings for reigning premier Tea Tree Gully after one of its darkest Adelaide Footy League days where it kicked just 1.7 in a 172-point thrashing on Saturday.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Gullies cop hiding in first game after flag
- Coach quits club in change rooms after thrashing
- Boys school’s old scholars club starts women’s team
Reigning division one premier Tea Tree Gully is remaining calm despite being demolished by 172 points in the Adelaide Footy League grand final rematch on Saturday.
Plus a top tier newcomer knocks off an early season flag fancy, a pair of sides rise to the top in division two and some Anzac Day thrillers in match reports from every division in round three.
DIVISION ONE
There will be no panic or crisis meetings for reigning premier Tea Tree Gully after one of its darkest days where it kicked just 1.7 in its division one Adelaide Footy League clash against Rostrevor Old Collegians at Campbelltown Memorial Oval.
The clash of last season’s grand finalists was expected to be keenly contested.
But ROC dominated from start to finish to win 28.17 (185) to 1.7 (13) last Saturday.
The Wolves kicked their only goal in the first quarter of the contest.
In comparison Rostrevor booted 25.11 after quarter-time.
Tea Tree Gully’s 1.7 was the lowest score in division one since Athelstone kicked a paltry 1.5 against Goodwood Saints last season.
It was not known if the 1.7 was the Wolves’ lowest score ever in division one.
Tea Tree Gully football director Marcello Buccini said there was no need for any overreaction.
“It is well known that we have at least 10 players gone from our premiership side of last season,’’ Buccini said.
“We have been playing a lot of youth but we have to learn from that game, put it away in the memory and look forward to the next game against (Adelaide) Uni.
“That game was very unlike a Tea Tree Gully side.
“It was one of those days where nothing worked but I have to say ROC was very, very good and may have had that incentive to play well against us after last year’s grand final.
“It’s full steam ahead this week, back to good training and another opportunity for many players to do better.’’
Jordan Miller, Chad Schoenmakers and Zac McKay played well for the Wolves.
ROC had dominant players everywhere.
Michael Coad (nine goals) and Heath Commane (seven goals) led the charge with Luke Manuel.
The club also celebrated stalwart Chris Pahl’s 200th senior game for ROC.
Playing coach Will O’Malley said it was a day where everything worked for his side.
“We just played four quarters of very, very good footy,” O’Malley said.
“The boys in the midfield, in attack, everywhere. I’m very proud of the whole team.’’
ROC is away to St Peter’s Old Collegians on Saturday.
A strong attacking game and an ability to close out Payneham Norwood Union’s stars proved a key to St Peter’s Old Collegians’ victory in their contest at Payneham Oval last Saturday.
The Saints led all day to win 16.11 (107) to 13.12 (90) after being in front 5.3 to 2.2, 10.5 to 8.6 and 13.9 to 8.11 at the changes.
Coming into round three SPOC had lost one match by seven points and won the other also by seven points.
Saints coach Geoff Riddle said he was impressed with both sides.
“We really rate Payneham, it was a hard-fought win and we did a bit of homework on some of their key players,” Riddle said.
“We got our hands on the ball early and attacked well. It was a good game to watch from both sides.”
Best for SPOC included Jock McLeay, James McLeay (three goals) and Jesse O’Brien.
Luke Mitchell kicked four goals.
Prince Alfred Old Collegians proved too solid for Port District at Park 9, winning 14.14 (98) to 9.14 (68).
The Old Reds enjoyed a 27-point buffer at half-time to set up victory with Thomas Brinsley, Oliver Clarke and Adam Waters among the best.
The Old Reds are away to Brighton on Saturday in what is believed to be the first meeting of the clubs in division one since 1961.
Last Thursday, the Bombers broke through for their first win of the season with an impressive 14.12 (96) to 8.12 (60) victory away against Henley.
Goodwood Saints could not contain Adelaide University in their Anzac Day game at University Oval.
The Saints fell 13.14 (92) to 8.7 (55) after trailing by 21 points at half time. Tom Gehling, Jacob Hughes and Tom Carter battled well for Goodwood.
DIVISION TWO
A pair of sides remain undefeated in division two but both will face their biggest tests of the season so far this Saturday.
Salisbury North and Unley Mercedes have shot out to 3-0 records following big wins over Scotch Old Collegians and Sacred Heart Old Collegians in round three.
The Hawks face a rare trip to Sacred Heart Middle School this Saturday to take on SHOC, which has won two of three, and maintain its unbeaten run.
Meanwhile, the Jets will go to Thebarton Oval to play 2018 preliminary finalists PHOS Camden.
Salisbury North coach Joe Hay said his side was up to the challenge.
“We have always found SHOC a very hard side to beat,” Hay said.
“It will be good for us to test ourselves against a good side but we will still need to focus on what we do first.”
On Anzac Day the club led the way with its off-field tributes and unveiling of its special Anzac guernseys, while on field the players blitzed Scotch 16.15 (111) to 6.2 (38).
The Hawks set up their win early to lead 4.6 to 1.0, 7.9 to 1.1 and 8.12 to 5.1 at the changes. Paul Dreimann, Joshua Richardson, Callum Hay, Jamie Solly and Jake Wagner (five goals) were among the stars.
Unley Mercedes was too good for SHOC last Saturday in a 14.7 (91) to 7.12 (54) victory at Kingswood Oval in club stalwart James Khabbaz’s 200th game.
Anthony Skara, recruited from Goodwood Saints in the off-season, led the charge for the Jets with two goals in a best on ground display. Forward Nick Petch continued his strong start to the campaign, booting four majors to take his tally to 11 on the year.
Gaza hosted PHOS in the second of two Anzac Day clashes in the division but it was the Phantoms who came away with the win.
The visitors produced a stunning last quarter to crush the Eagles at Klemzig Oval, winning 17.17 (119) to 4.8 (32).
Leading 6.8 to 4.5 at half-time and 8.15 to 4.7 at the last change, the Phantoms stormed home to kick 9.2 to 0.1. Matt Jacquier, Henry Papatolis and Adam Scholz were among the stars with Tom Langford kicking four goals.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Broadview 9.8 (62) d Athelstone 8.8 (56) at Broadview Oval
■ Seaton Ramblers 13.17 (95) d Modbury 12.7 (79) at Pedlar Reserve
DIVISION THREE
Flinders Park hosts Glenunga in a mouthwatering top-of-the-table clash in division three this Saturday.
The Reds, who moved to 2-1 after accounting for Gepps Cross 17.20 (122) to 4.8 (32) last Saturday, will hope to hand the Rams their first loss since winning promotion to the third tier.
Glenunga saw off a plucky Plympton side 13.15 (93) to 8.8 (56) in their meeting at Webb Oval.
Another title challenger is North Haven, which continued its solid start to its campaign continued when it beat Morphettville Park away, 19.15 (129) to 6.9 (45).
Tom Haythorpe was best for the Magpies which sit in third place with a home game against Portland to come this Saturday.
Golden Grove missed a shot after the siren to fall by a point to Westminster Old Scholars in a nailbiter at Glandore Oval.
Kookaburras player Shane Walker marked as the siren sounded with his side trailing by a point but missed the kick from 40m out.
Golden Grove led by four points at the final change but could only manage 1.4 to the hosts’ 2.3 in the fourth quarter.
Former Port Adelaide goalsneak Lindsay Thomas booted eight goals for Portland but the Thunder could not stop Old Ignatians from securing its second win of the season at Port Reserve.
Iggies won 14.14 (98) to 12.8 (80).
DIVISION FOUR
Division four was host to a pair of thrilling Anzac Day clashes including a heart-stopping two-point win by Mitcham under lights at Edwardstown Soldiers Memorial Oval.
The Hawks and Towns met in a 7pm fixture at the recently redeveloped ground in front of a big crowd and the spectacle did not disappoint.
Fair crowd out tonight at Edwardstown for the Towns v Mitcham Anzac Day match. Upgraded Soldiers Memorial Oval looking great under lights@ADLFOOTY pic.twitter.com/KQ8zcwhtvQ
— Patrick Keam (@patkeam) April 25, 2019
Mitcham trailed early but fought back to lead by five points at the final change before holding on to win 15.14 (104) to 14.18 (102).
Oliver and Hamish Pride were best for the Hawks.
Edwardstown’s George Cornish was strong up forward with four goals, while James Uren had a strong outing.
Mitcham is top of the ladder on 3-0 and Edwardstown sits fouth as one of seven teams locked on 1-2.
In the earlier Anzac Day match, Colonel Light Gardens prevailed 15.12 (102) to 13.14 (92) in a hard-fought encounter with CBC Old Collegians at Mortlock Park.
James Conlon took home the best on groud medal for the Lions and the Dolphins’ Brad Johansen was named best for his side.
SMOSH West Lakes remained unbeaten after dispatching Pooraka 14.12 (96) to 10.11 (71) at Lindblom Park on Saturday.
Recruit Rhys Woods was best for the Lions.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Walkerville 14.18 (102) d Kilburn 13.10 (88) at Blair Athol Reserve
■ Pembroke OS 8.17 (65) d Woodville South 9.10 (64) at Haslam Oval
DIVISION FIVE
An early test awaits Kenilworth and Hope Valley this Saturday in what could be the first blockbuster game of the division five competition.
Both sides go into the match at Hope Valley Oval unbeaten with average winning margins so far of 79 and 62 points respectively.
Kenilworth, which started last season poorly with two straight losses, and the Demons have emerged as premiership front-runners along with fellow 3-0 side Pulteney.
Last week the Kookaburras were far too strong for Smithfield, leading at every change to win at home 16.20 (116) to 9.8 (62) after a strong second half.
Henry Stewart, Neil Vea Vea, Blake Moore, Andrew Liverton (six goals) and Lachlan Richter were among the best for the Kookaburras.
Hope Valley handed Eastern Park a hefty 19.24 (138) to 10.9 (69) defeat at Dwight Reserve.
Devin Payne booted five goals for the Demons in a best on ground display.
Pulteney had 12 different goal kickers as it made light work of a poor Lockleys side at Lockleys Oval.
The Navy Blues ran out 18.15 (123) to 4.9 (33) winners.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Rosewater 19.21 (135) d Blackfriars OS 7.4 (46) at Eric Sutton Oval
■ Salisbury 12.11 (83) d Trinity OS 6.4 (40) at Salisbury Oval
DIVISION SIX
O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale’s tough start to life in the division six hit a significant low after it was thumped by 119 points away to West Croydon on Anzac Day.
The third loss in a row for the Lions since being promoted from division seven was its biggest yet as the Hawks triumphed 23.24 (162) to 5.13 (43).
Adam Rigney and Daniel Loveridge provided some resistance for OSB/Lonsdale, while Trevor Rigney kicked three goals. The defeat followed losses to Brahma Lodge and Fitzroy.
The Lions task will not get any easier when it hosts undefeated side Elizabeth this Saturday.
A second-half fightback helped the Eagles make it to 3-0 with a 15.7 (97) to 12.10 (82) victory over Fitzroy on Anzac Day.
Elizabeth trailed by 21 points at half-time but kicked 7.2 to 3.2 after the break to edge three points ahead at the last change.
The Eagles saw off Fitzroy with a 3.2 to 1.2 final quarter as Jhye McConnell and Jacob Shephard (five goals) starred.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Hectorville 12.16 (88) d Brahma Lodge 8.7 (55) at Brahma Lodge Oval
■ Para Hills 25.14 (164) d Ingle Farm 10.8 (68) at the Paddocks
DIVISION SEVEN
Battling division seven club Flinders University came within two goals of its first win since August 2017 but could not get the job done against Adelaide Lutheran at the South Parklands on Saturday.
The Crabs, whose last victory came against the now defunct North Pines, held an 11-point advantage at half-time before the Bulldogs bit back to triumph 9.10 (64) to 7.10 (52).
David Moyle and Joshua Nitschke led the charge for Flinders, while Glenn Siviour was Lutheran’s best. Joshua Henty-Smith and Shane Hickey kicked three goals each for the Bulldogs.
Mawson Lakes travelled up the mountain to face Houghton Districts on Anzac Day and came away with a 16.11 (107) to 13.13 (91) victory.
St Paul’s moved to 3-0 and heaped more misery on winless Greenacres in the procces with a 30.12 (192) to 5.7 (37) thrashing at Edward Smith Reserve.
Central United grabbed its second win of the season by easily accounting for Mitchell Park, 16.9 (105) to 6.13 (49) at Mitchell Park Oval.
Tom Hamilton booted 10 goals for the Bulldogs.
Watch now: Australian Junior Hardcourt Tennis Championships, Day 2
The quality continues today at one of Tennis Australia’s top junior tournaments with a top-ranked player and three other seeds all featuring LIVE. Check out the schedule. Catch the REPLAYS.
Meet the SA youngster taking diving by storm
A fast-rising SA diving star has become one of the state’s top young talents this year and has been nominated for an SA School Sports Award. See how to nominate here.