Adelaide Footy League 2020 match reports round three: Goodwood Saints go 0-3
One of the pre-season fancies is winless in division one as local footy’s top flight begins to take shape. Check out match reports from every Adelaide Footy League division here.
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With its ex-SANFL recruits missing through injury, Goodwood Saints’ Indigenous round celebrations have been spoiled by a rampant Port District side, while St Peter’s Old Collegians remain top following a 64-point thumping of Adelaide University.
Check out The Messenger’sround three match reports from every Adelaide Footy League division:
DIVISION ONE
Goodwood is hoping to regain brothers and ex-North Adelaide players George and Max Thring for this weekend’s clash against Adelaide University as the Saints search for their first win of 2020.
They remain winless after three rounds – the Saints’ latest loss was a 56-point defeat against Port District at home on Saturday.
The Thring brothers sustained soft tissue injuries in the match against St Peter’s Old Collegians the week prior but coach Luke Donaldson hoped they would be fit to return this Saturday.
Donaldson was disappointed with the 19.12 (126) to 10.10 (70) defeat to the Magpies and said their skills were better on the day.
He was, however, proud of the Saints for fighting back hard in the third quarter, after getting within a goal before the visitors kicked a few late majors and then ran away with the game in the final term.
“They came to play, they won it around the stoppage and then they spread really hard and their execution was outstanding,” Donaldson said.
“We kicked three goals to pen up the third (quarter) and got the game back on our terms.
“But we allowed a couple of late ones to stretch that margin and they came home strongly with the wind.
“It felt like for us it was hard to score whereas they seemed to go inside 50 and get easy goals.”
Port District coach Simon Maddern was proud of his side.
Maddern said there was a lot of soul searching after the heavy loss to St Peter’s Old Collegians in round one which helped turn the Magpies’ fortunes around with two consecutive victories since then.
“We used the ball really well from the start,” Maddern said.
“We were against the wind in the first quarter but our guys used the footy really well with short kicking and running against the breeze and it continued on from there.
“In that first 10 minutes of the third quarter, Goodwood came at us really hard but our guys stood up really strong and I was really proud of them.
“That was the most pleasing part of the game — how well our guys stood up during that time.”
The win helped the Magpies move to fourth place on the ladder, while the Saints are eighth.
Brighton is sitting second after a victory against Unley away on Saturday.
The Bombers kicked away in the final term to record a 12.13 (85) to 6.8 (44) win.
Brighton coach Joel Tucker said his players had worked hard to improve on their eighth-place finish in 2019 and was keen to make every game count in this year’s shortened season.
“The game was pretty tight until the last quarter,” Tucker said.
“It was just an arm wrestle.
“We probably didn’t play to our full maximum potential, we had so much of the footy but just didn’t capitalise on our opportunities which kept leaving the door open for them.
“But we are a fairly committed bunch and we are pretty focused on the job ahead with only nine rounds.”
OTHER RESULTS:
■ St Peter’s OC 20.8 (128) d Adelaide University 9.10 (64) at Caterer Oval
■ Prince Alfred OC 13.12 (90) d Rostrevor OC 9.9 (63) at Park 9
■ Payneham Norwood Union 19.14 (128) d Athelstone 5.5 (35) at Payneham Oval
DIVISION TWO
Seaton Ramblers gave Tea Tree Gully a reality check and revealed its own contender credentials with an upset win in division two.
A five-goal-to-one second term was the catalyst as the Rams prevailed 12.7 (79) to 11.7 (73) against the Wolves at Pedlar Reserve.
In a tense final term, the hosts’ 19-point lead was pegged back but they were able to hold off the quality TTG outfit.
The victory showed Seaton as a serious threat this season while the Wolves would be smarting after suffering their first loss in the second tier, following relegation from division one.
Rams coach Paul Marshall said it was a triumph worth celebrating after his side grabbed a second-straight win.
“They came really hard at us towards the end but we had enough of a buffer and managed to hang on,” Marshall said.
“We set it up early and they’re a quality team, so they were always going to come.
“The last five minutes seemed to go an eternity … it’s was just a brave performance and a bloody great result, especially given the opposition.”
Skipper Luke Rochester led the way for Seaton while Gullies ruckman Blake Penney did his best to turn the tide for the visitors.
The win was a big turnaround from the trial game between the two sides before round one, which Tea Tree Gully won comfortably.
Seaton and the Wolves are two of six clubs in division two with a 2-1 win-loss record.
Henley is the only undefeated side on top while Old Ignatians, Glenunga and Salisbury North are yet to register a victory.
Scotch Old Collegians handed the Hawks their latest loss, a 9.15 (69) to 4.5 (29) defeat at Salisbury North Oval.
Midfielders Angus Twopeny and Scott Spriggs were influential as Scotch held Salisbury North to just one point in the second half after the scores were level at the main break.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Broadview 16.16 (112) d Old Ignatians 14.4 (88) at Broadview Oval
■ Henley 8.14 (62) d PHOS Camden 5.10 (40) at Camden Oval
■ Sacred Heart OC 13.21 (99) d Glenunga 4.9 (33) at Sacred Heart Senior College
DIVISION THREE
North Haven claimed a thrilling seven-point triumph in its division three clash against CBC Old Collegians at home on Saturday.
The Magpies’ heart-stopping 11.13 (79) to 11.6 (72) win was set up by veteran Tom Lipson who booted a game-high six goals.
Lipson overcame four knee reconstructions and rejected retirement to lead North Haven to the 2017 division four flag and would be aiming to play in another this season.
The result has put the Magpies in second spot on the ladder behind Golden Grove but with a game in hand after having a bye last week.
Nicholas Azzollini, Kurtis Phillips (two goals) and Josh Smithson (three majors) starred for the winners.
Daniel Aplin and Jonty Rutai booted three goals apiece for the Dolphins.
Golden Grove enjoyed a 12.15 (87) to 6.16 (52) win over Flinders Park at home on Saturday to maintain its unbeaten record so far.
Inaccurate goal kicking plagued the Reds and the Kookaburras capitalised.
Mitchell Payne was the leading goal kicker for the hosts, finishing with five, while former Central District player Luke Barmby booted two.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Gaza 12.15 (87) d Westminster Old Scholars 13.7 (85) at Klemzig Oval
■ Modbury 15.13 (103) d Edwardstown 10.10 (70) at Modbury Sports Reserve
■ Plympton – bye
DIVISION FOUR
Last season’s division four minor premier SMOSH West Lakes has shaken off its slow season start with a 65-point battering of Kilburn at Blair Athol Reserve.
The Lions were upset by Hope Valley in the opening round but have responded with two straight victories to get their season rolling.
Kilburn led by 15 points at the first change before SMOSH turned the screw, holding the Chics goalless in the second quarter while putting on an inaccurate 5.10 of its own.
The Lions straightened up after half-time to finish 18.17 (125) to 8.12 (60) winners.
Alex Hughes starred for SMOSH and Cohen Mattner booted four majors.
Pembroke Old Scholars continued its unbeaten start to the season in a one-point thriller away to Walkerville.
Neither side was able to take full control of the match in a back-and-forth affair before a defensive lapse by the Cats in the dying minutes proved extremely costly.
Star Kings forward Alex Forster was lining up for a set shot from 40m out directly in front before pulling his kick at the last second to find Eljay Connors, somehow standing on his own at the top of the goalsquare, who slotted an easy major.
Pembroke held firm with time still on the clock to win 9.10 (64) to 9.9 (63).
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Woodville South 12.8 (80) d Morphettville Park 6.5 (41) at Ledger Oval
■ Pulteney 14.11 (95) d Gepps Cross 13.7 (85) at Morgan Oval
■ Mitcham 11.13 (79) d Hope Valley 10.7 (67) at Price Memorial Oval
DIVISION FIVE
Rosewater recorded a come-from-behind, upset win against second-placed West Croydon at home on Saturday, beating the Hawks by 17 points.
The Bulldogs prevailed 13.7 (85) to 10.8 (68) after facing a three-goal deficit at half-time and then being down by a point at the last change.
The match was delayed for more than 20 minutes in the fourth quarter after Rosewater ruckman Samuel Bugeja was taken away in an ambulance following a tackle.
Hugh Johnson-Schroeder was the catalyst behind the hosts’ triumph, booting seven goals, while Adam Carroll and former Port Adelaide SANFL-listed player James Deeley-Godfrey finished with two apiece.
Luke Woodcock ended the game with three goals to be the visitors’ leading goal kicker.
The Bulldogs moved up from 10th to eighth on the ladder.
Fifth-side Pooraka also managed to cause an upset, beating third-ranked Colonel Light Gardens 9.17 (71) to 7.11 (53).
Brad Batten (four majors) led the way for the Bulls, while Nick Patterson (three goals) was strong for Colonel Light Gardens.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Lockleys 22.17 (149) d Fitzroy 10.4 (64) at Fitzroy Sports Club
■ Salisbury 9.8 (62) d Kenilworth 6.12 (48) at Salisbury Oval
■ Smithfield 12.8 (80) d Eastern Park 8.12 (60) at Smithfield Oval
DIVISION SIX
Mawson Lakes was held goalless and handed a serious thumping by a ruthless Elizabeth side on Saturday.
The Eagles pulled no punches, consistently forcing their way through as they dismantled the Saints 19.23 (137) to 0.4 (4) at Argana Park.
Elizabeth had 10 individual goal kickers, including four from Brandon Olszewski and three each to Ben Taylor and Blake Mitchell.
In-form sides Hectorville and Blackfriars Old Scholars played out a memorable battle of the Hounds at Thebarton Oval, with the former prevailing by 22 points.
Hectorville, playing a home game at league headquarters due to the upgrade of Daly Oval, led for most of the day before Blackfriars came back to edge three points ahead at the final change.
But the hosts put on 5.5 to 1.4 in the fourth term to prevail 15.13 (103) to 12.9 (81).
Jake Mazzone continued his strong form with five majors for the winning Hounds.
Giuseppe Vellotti kicked three and was named Blackfriars’ best.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Ingle Farm 15.11 (101) d Houghton Districts 12.17 (89) at Rowe Park
■ St Paul’s OS 12.13 (85) d Marion 6.7 (43) at St Paul’s College
■ Para Hills 10.5 (65) d Trinity OS 13.14 (92)
DIVISION SEVEN
Adelaide Lutheran handed Flinders University its first loss of the season and took second spot on the division two ladder from the Crabs in a convincing victory.
The Bulldogs had too much firepower for the hosts in the 18.18 (126) to 11.9 (75) defeat at Flinders Uni Sporting ground.
Both sides now have 2-1 win-loss records and trail the unbeaten Brahma Lodge.
Daniel Burgess kicked four goals and Callum Masters was among the leaders for Lutheran, while Dylan Crouch battled hard for the Crabs.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale 18.19 (127) d Central United 10.7 (67) at Lonsdale Oval
■ Brahma Lodge 15.16 (106) d Mitchell Park 11.9 (75) at Mitchell Park Oval
WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE
Payneham Norwood Union has stamped its mark in its first season in the top tier with a huge victory over previously undefeated side SMOSH West Lakes.
The clash was billed as the grand final preview as both sides entered the game with an unbeaten record.
But it was the Falcons whose record remains in tact after the 6.13 (49) to 3.4 (22) win at West Lakes Shore Oval on Saturday night.
Crows AFLW forward Chloe Scheer is lining up with PNU as she navigates her way back from a knee reconstruction and she starred with two goals.
Falcons coach Ben Hunt said a full-team performance was behind the result.
“We are very happy,” Hunt said.
“I think the most pleasing thing for us is that things weren’t going all that well for us in the first quarter but at quarter-time I asked the girls to do a few things and they responded really well.
“They were able to execute it for the remainder of the game and that’s why they got the reward at the end.
“It’s pretty hard to individualise and I had a hard time doing the best players, our ruck won the ball, our midfield played well, our backline was good.
“We had a set plan and everyone bought in and contributed to that.”
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Golden Grove 3.7 (25) lost to Salisbury 10.4 (64)
■ Old Ignatians 2.4 (16) d Adelaide University 1.5 (11)
■ Morphettville Park 5.12 (42) d Angle Vale 0.2 (2)