Adelaide Footy League 2020 match reports: SPOC defeats Port District in round one clash
The Adelaide Footy League returned on Saturday and St Peter’s Old Collegians wasted no time in signalling its intentions for the season. Check out the round one reports from every division.
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Football is back and isn’t it great.
The Adelaide Footy League finally got underway on Saturday and it did not disappoint with upsets, close contests and big scorelines across the competition.
Check out The Messenger’s reports from all the round one action.
DIVISION ONE
St Peter’s Old Collegians made a statement to start the division one season by battering Port District at home on Saturday.
Muddy conditions at Caterer Oval did not dampen the Saints’ scoring power in the 20.8 (128) to 5.7 (37) thrashing, which was led by recruit John Vrodos and key forwards Luke Mitchell and James McLeay (five goals each).
SPOC coach Geoff Riddle said the challenge for his side was to produce similar performances consistently.
“It was one of those days were everything fell into place really,” Riddle said.
“It does give us some confidence that our method does hold up.
“Last year we played good footy in patches but just weren’t consistent, so now it’s about stringing a couple of games together.”
SPOC, which also belted District by 74 points at Caterer Oval last season, carved the visitors apart with slick ball movement feeding its array of tall forwards.
Vrodos had a day out for the Saints and Riddle said he was impressed with the way the recruit led from the front.
The midfielder, a St Peter’s old scholar, was living in Melbourne but relocated home to Adelaide due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was a late arrival at the club.
Payneham Norwood Union’s premiership defence got off to a shaky start after it went down to Rostrevor Old Collegians by 21 at home.
In a back-end-forth affair, ROC wrestled the match in it’s favour through the strong work of Luke Manuel and Daniel McCallum to triumph 13.11 (89) to 10.8 (68).
Unley Mercedes marked its return to top flight with a rousing 12.9 (81) to 10.6 (66) victory over Adelaide University at Kingswood Oval.
Jack Holliday starred in the ruck for the Jets while forward Tom Langford showed his worth on debut with five goals and several key marks. Ben Edwards kicked seven majors for the Blacks.
Athelstone did not have the same welcome back to division one as it was smashed 20.17 (137) to 10.5 (65) by Brighton at Max Amber Sportsfield.
Young forward Jarrod Miller bagged seven goals for the Bombers and former West Adelaide midfielder Nigel Osborn was influential.
At Park 9, all eyes were on Jack Trengove and Prince Alfred Old Collegians and both delivered in an impressive defeat of Goodwood Saints.
FULL MATCH REPORT: DREAM START FOR TRENGOVE, PRINCE ALFRED
DIVISION TWO
District powerhouses Tea Tree Gully and Henley both began life in the second tier on a positive note with round one victories.
The Wolves, demoted two years after its division one premiership, cruised past Old Ignatians in a decisive 64-point defeat at Karen Rolton Oval.
Former Norwood goalsneak Peter Persinos booted six majors for TTG in the 16.16 (112) to 6.12 (48) win while Chad Schoenmakers and Brodie Latham were impressive.
Henley had a closer encounter when it made the short trip to Pedlar Reserve to take on Seaton Ramblers.
The Sharks burst out of the blocks with a 7.2 to 2.1 first term but the hosts were up for the fight and clawed their way back, but it was not enough as the visitors took the points 16.8 (104) to 13.9 (87).
Ethan Miller, recruited from Woodville-West Torrens in the off-season, kicked seven goals for Henley.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Broadview 23.11 (149) d Glenunga 8.8 (56) at Broadview Oval
■ PHOS Camden 15.13 (103) d Scotch OC 12.9 (81) at Camden Oval
■ Sacred Heart OC 13.16 (94) d Salisbury North 6.8 (44) at Sacred Heart
DIVISION THREE
Poor goal kicking can come back to bite teams and that is exactly what happened to Flinders Park in its division three opening round match against Gaza at Klemzig Oval on Saturday.
The Reds dominated the first half but failed to hang on as the Eagles claimed a 11.9 (75) to 8.15 (63) victory.
Flinders Park had recorded 15 scoring shots by half-time to Gaza’s seven but had no real scoreboard pressure, taking a 5.10 (40) to 3.4 (22) lead into the main break.
Gaza came out firing in the third term and managed to get their noses in front but the visitors booted two quick goals before the final break to take a 12-point lead into three-quarter time.
The hosts, led by 2019 club and best and fairest winner Brett Heintze (four goals), showed plenty of hunger and used the ball better in the final quarter to claim the victory.
Chris Ladhams was also strong up forward for Gaza, finishing with two goals.
Gaza’s new coach Matt Krieg was proud of his side’s fightback.
“At half-time our plan was just to neutralise the third quarter,” Krieg said.
“We thought if we could be within ouch at three-quarter time then we would give ourselves an opportunity to get the outcome we were after.
“We dominated the third quarter but then gave up a couple of late goals which was really disappointing.
“It was really nice that they (the players) showed a bit of competitive spirit, fought it out and they got the result in the end.”
Ex-Port Adelaide and North Melbourne forward Daniel Motlop made his debut for the Reds and was given plenty of attention by Gaza’s defenders.
Motlop, had a few chances in front of goal but failed to register a major score.
Daniel Blythe (one goal) and Josh Fazzalari were solid for the Reds.
Flinders Park coach Luke Ivens said inaccuracy in front of goals lost his side the game.
“That (bad kicking) definitely cost us the game,” Ivens said.
“We got off to a really good start but just couldn’t convert our shots on goal.
“We were very disappointed with the result.
“I think we need to just keep our run going and attack because I think we went a bit defensive near the end and probably didn’t take the risks we needed to.”
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Edwardstown 23.19 (157) d CBC Old Collegians 6.10 (46) at Edwardstown Oval
■ North Haven 22.14 (146) d Westminster Old Scholars 3.4 (22) at Largs North Reserve
■ Golden Grove 14.22 (106) d Plympton 2.9 (21) at Plympton Oval
■ Modbury – bye
DIVISION FOUR
Reigning division five premiers Hope Valley showed it is not in the fourth tier to just make up the numbers as it upset SMOSH West Lakes in a commanding performance.
Jayke Hellmanns slotted eight goals and Matthew Min added five as the Demons put the Lions to the sword in the 18.9 (117) to 9.6 (60) defeat at Hope Valley Oval.
The result will be a wake up call for SMOSH, which would have fancied its chances again this season after finishing 2019 as minor premiers.
Ex-Woodville-West Torrens spearhead Lee Staple recorded seven majors and last year’s division four medallist Sam Fairclough battled hard for the Lions.
Pembroke Old Scholars held Mitcham goalless in the final term to breakthrough for an opening round win at Price Memorial Oval.
The Kings led by just five points at the final change but managed three majors and kept the Hawks to two behinds to run out 10.11 (71) to 7.7 (49) winners.
James Iannucci led the way for Pembroke and star recruit Alex Forster managed four majors, while Stewart Lawson was best for the hosts.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Kilburn 13.7 (85) d Gepps Cross 9.16 (70) at Blair Athol Reserve
■ Morphettville Park 12.7 (79) d Pulteney 9.10 (64) at Morgan Oval
■ Walkerville 9.19 (73) d 10.8 (68) at Walkerville Recreation Ground
DIVISION FIVE
Lockleys sent an early message to the rest of the division five competition, opening its season with a huge 94-point win against Eastern Park at home on Saturday.
The 23.14 (152) to 8.10 (58) victory was the perfect start for the Demons at their new, redeveloped $7.5 million home grounds.
Dylan Howie led the way for the hosts, booting six majors, while ex-Richmond and North Adelaide midfielder Matthew McDonough kicked five goals on his debut with the club.
Lockleys coach Stephen Zweck said his players turned up with a good attitude and put the game beyond doubt in the second quarter when they kicked 9.2, while holding Eastern Park to just two points.
“It was a good start for the first game at the new clubrooms,” Zweck said.
“We got a good solid win and won well in the B’s and the C’s.
“We’ve got a number of different guys that can cause trouble for the defence and we are a little bit stronger up there than we were last year.
“If we can get the ball down there, we’ve got some handy target that can make an opposition pay.”
Zweck said the club was desperate to break a 27-year premiership drought and would be working hard to continue the momentum for the remainder of the season.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Rosewater 8.10 (58) lost to Colonel Light Gardens 15.16 (106) at Rosewater
■ Fitzroy 6.9 (45) lost to West Croydon 13.9 (87) at Fitzroy
■ Salisbury 7.3 (45) lost to Pooraka 10.17 (77) at Salisbury Oval
■ Smithfield 14.10 (94) lost to Kenilworth 15.16 (106) at Smithfield Oval
DIVISION SIX
The crowd at the Houghton Districts and Elizabeth clash was on the edge of its seats after watching a nailbiting clash.
Houghton, who gained an unlikely promotion last month, went down to the Eagles by two points at Argana Park on Saturday.
The visitors fought back from being three goals down at three-quarter time, outscoring the hosts in the final term, 3.5 to just one point,
But the final siren eventually won out and the Raiders lost 7.13 (55) to 8.9 (57).
Daniel Bryant and Paul Cree played well for the Raiders, while Peter Pudney and Blake Mitchell were best afield for Elizabeth.
Marion got its season off to a strong start, beating Mawson Lakes away, 17.12 (114) to 7.2 (44).
Patrick O’Dea (four goals) and Tim Stewart (three majors) proved a formidable force up forward for the Rams.
Isaiah Blumson (three goals) and Robert O’Gorman (two majors) were the hosts’ multiple goal kickers.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Ingle Farm 5.6 (36) lost to Hectorville 17.13 (115) at Rowe Park
■ St Paul’s Old Scholars 13.7 (85) d Trinity Old Scholars 4.8 (32) at St Paul’s
■ Para Hills 2.5 (17) lost to Blackfriars Old Scholars 18.18 (126) at the Paddocks
DIVISION SEVEN
Flinders University picked up where it left off after the final match of 2019 when it beat O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale by seven points at Lonsdale Oval on Saturday.
The Crabs had a dismal season last year, only winning two games – but their second victory was in round 17 against Greenacres.
Against O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale, scores were locked at 71 apiece at three-quarter time but the Crabs managed to grind out a 13.14 (92) to 13.7 (85) victory.
Trevor Rigney almost won the game for the Lions off his own boot, kicking six goals, while Steven Webster was the Crabs’ top goal kicker with four.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Brahma Lodge 11.12 (78) d Adelaide Lutheran 7.9 (51) at Brahma Lodge Oval
■ Mitchell Park 20.17 (137) d Central United 6.4 (40) at Mitchell Park
WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE
They were once the teams to beat in the women’s top tier but Adelaide University, Morphettville Park and Salisbury all struggled in their opening round matches.
In a rematch of the 2019 grand final, SMOSH West Lakes was able to exact some revenge over reigning premier Adelaide University, beating the Blacks 8.1 (49) to 1.5 (11).
Morphettville Park, which won back-to-back flags in 2016 and 2015, lost to Payneham Norwood Union 2.3 (15) to 6.17 (53) at Kellett Reserve.
The Falcons were promoted to the top tier after winning last season’s division two flag.
Salisbury did claim a win, but in a very low scoring match against Angle Vale away on Saturday.
The Magpies prevailed 0.9 (9) to 0.4 (4).
Due to the COVID-19 shutdown, the SANFLW season has restarted at the same time as the Adelaide Footy league women’s 2020 campaign.
In previous years, the SANFLW would have been nearing the end of its season as the amateur league started.
Now, with the SANFLW playing at the same time, many of the three clubs’ top players are featuring in our state women’s league, leaving Uni, Morphettville Park and Salisbury without much depth.