Adelaide Footy League 2021 mid-season report cards: Every division one team rated
We’ve seen the good, the bad and plenty of surprises in the Adelaide Footy League this season – so how do the division one teams rate at the halfway mark?
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There’s been thrilling one-point wins, huge surprise upsets and plenty of talking points in division one of the Adelaide Footy League season – and we’re only at the halfway mark.
With nine rounds down and the long weekend bye upon us, we’ve taken a look at how each side in the top flight has fared so far this campaign.
Read the report cards for all 10 teams and have your say on who will win the premiership.
PRINCE ALFRED OC
Ladder: 1st (7-2, 63.51%)
Leading goal kicker: Thomas Bartlett (21)
Star so far: Jack Trengove
The good: A fit Jack Trengove has unsurprisingly made a world of difference to PAOC. The ex-AFL midfielder battled injury last year but has been dominant, being named in the Old Reds’ best players every single game this campaign.
The bad: They will still be stinging from giving up a 30-point fourth-quarter lead to Payneham Norwood Union in round eight. The Old Reds are one game clear on top of the ladder at the halfway point but if not for that loss – along with a seven point defeat to Goodwood – they could easily hold a 9-0 win-loss record.
The surprise: Tyson Brazel has shown glimpses he could be one of the competition’s dominant forwards. If coach Craig Pitt can get the recruit firing more consistently alongside star spearhead Jake Pitt, then PAOC could take its scoring power to another level.
PAYNEHAM NU
Ladder: 2nd (6-3, 54.37%)
Leading goal kicker: Anthony Wilson, Liam Davis (19)
Star so far: Anthony Giannini
The good: Payneham looked in some trouble a month ago at 3-2 but with a horror injury toll and a string of tough fixtures ahead. At that point, coach Jace Bode would have taken two wins out of matches against ROC, Uni, PAOC and Goodwood, so to be 6-3 at the turn is a big win as they continue to get troops back.
The bad: Of those injuries, star ruckman Sam Baulderstone’s absence would be the most disappointing. The 2020 SANFL team of the year ruckman has managed just four games so far.
The surprise: The form of Nick Jolly has been one of the Falcons’ driving forces. Coach Jace Bode said after his starring round three performance that Jolly had dropped “20-25kg” in the off-season. The versatile big man is a cult hero at Payneham Oval and a crucial weapon for the Falcons.
GOODWOOD SAINTS
Ladder: 3rd (6-3, 51.08%)
Leading goal kicker: Andre Parrella, Nick Burgess (13)
Star so far: Nick Homburg
The good: The recruitment of Nick Homburg from Blackwood has paid off in spades. The former West Adelaide midfielder has been dominant and had the ball on a string at times, gathering stacks of possessions.
The bad: Goodwood is in a strong position in third but the past three matches would no doubt be giving coach Luke Donaldson something to worry about. A shock defeat to bottom placed Unley Mercedes was followed by just surviving another scare against Tea Tree Gully and a 47-point defeat to PNU last round.
The surprise: After storming to the flag last year, the Saints haven’t responded to adversity as well as they would have liked. A more consistent output will be the focus in the back nine.
ROSTREVOR OC
Ladder: 4th (5-4, 54.08%)
Leading goal kicker: Nick Murphy (21)
Star so far: Luke Manuel
The good: The form of youngster Stefan Lanzoni would be giving those at Campbelltown Memorial Oval plenty to smile about. In his second year at the club out of Rostrevor College, the skilful Lanzoni has kicked 12 goals and been named in ROC’s best five times.
The bad: Injury has hit every club and the men in red and black are no exception. Sam Jonas is arguably the league’s best defender but has been restricted to just four games this season, while 2019 Keith Sims OAM Medallist Tim Baccanello has made only three appearances due to injury and Crows SANFL duties.
The surprise: A 22-point defeat at home to Tea Tree Gully was very unlike the ROC side which has been a dominant force in the past decade.
ST PETER’S OC
Ladder: 5th (5-4, 52.34%)
Leading goal kicker: Jock McLeay (32)
Star so far: Brad Coulson
The good: Jock McLeay has been a shining light up forward and shouldered a fair chunk of SPOC’s scoring. The Saints need to get him more support in the second half of the season.
The bad: A knee injury to gun midfielder Jesse O’Brien has hurt Geoff Riddle’s side, while Toby Schulz’s five-match suspension for striking Port District’s Louis Sharrad would have no doubt frustrated the coach.
The surprise: With some key movers missing, SPOC has needed to lean on its depth and blooded a string of youngsters. Riddle said he fielded 13 players under the age of 21 last round against ROC and pleasingly, despite the loss, they stood up impressively.
BRIGHTON BOMBERS
Ladder: 6th (4-5, 49.96%)
Leading goal kicker: Brett Irons (12)
Star so far: Tyrin Book
The good: Brighton is just one win out of the top five, despite a key man not hitting his straps. If the Bombers can get 2020 Keith Sims OAM Medallist Nigel Osborn back to his form of last year, they’ll likely go up a notch.
The bad: If three close losses had gone the other way, the ladder would paint a very different picture for the Bombers. Defeats to Goodwood (12 points), Uni (six) and PAOC (four) would hurt and coach Brett Backwell will be looking to make sure his side stands up in crunch time going forward.
The surprise: While Brighton didn’t recruit heavily in the off-season, it would be pleasing to see some new names stand up. The likes of youngsters Jarman Sigal, Tyrin Book and Clayton Symonds leading the way is promising for the future.
TEA TREE GULLY
Ladder: 7th (4-5, 47.36%)
Leading goal kicker: Peter Persinos (21)
Star so far: Dylan Schoenmakers
The good: Tea Tree Gully elected to go up and would be satisfied with its decision. The Wolves have been more than competitive upon promotion, snatching big wins on the road against the likes of PNU and ROC.
The bad: While their away form has been strong, the usual fortress at Pertaringa Oval has been anything but that with just one win at home. If coach Justin Maschotta can fix that up in the back half of the season, their threat of breaking into the top five will be even greater.
The surprise: Shocking the Falcons at Payneham Oval first up kick-started TTG’s season and the confidence boost has carried them well to a solid 4-5 record at the turn.
PORT DISTRICT
Ladder: 8th (4-5, 45.49%)
Leading goal kicker: Gavin Shephard (15)
Star so far: Louis Sharrad
The good: Gavin Shephard’s red-hot form after an interrupted 2020 campaign has been crucial for the Magpies. While 15 goals isn’t the biggest haul, Shephard’s play has been exceptional and taken some of the load off goalsneak James Batty.
The bad: Former Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Louis Sharrad has dominated as a late recruit but a three-week suspension for rough conduct in round eight hurts his side. Sharrad and fellow gun Trent Heffernan, who has missed six matches through injury, have only managed to play together once so far.
The surprise: A 3-0 run, beating the Jets, SPOC and ROC lit the ignition to District’s season when it appeared early days that it would struggle.
ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY
Ladder: 9th (3-6, 39.82%)
Leading goal kicker: Maris Olekalns, Will McGowan (8)
Star so far: Ryan Marini
The good: The Blacks have pumped games into youngsters in recent years and have another youthful line up this season. If they can keep winning games while still getting experience into their promising prospects, they could become a force in coming seasons.
The bad: Uni is a different side when captain Damian Cunningham is in the line-up. While Ryan Marini has been impressive in his absence, getting more games into Cunningham than the five he’s played so far will be crucial to their chances.
The surprise: Coach Ben Watkins was full of pride for his charges after an upset win away at Brighton in round eight and rightly so. This Blacks side isn’t studded with stars but has shown it can stand up when it matters.
UNLEY MERCEDES
Ladder: 10th (1-8, 40.79%)
Leading goal kicker: Shawn Foster (17)
Star so far: Andrew Khabbaz
The good: A 1-9 record doesn’t make good reading but there have been positives. Northern Territory recruit Shawn Foster has been entertaining and effective up forward, young defenders such as Alastair Salt and Jacob Earl have really stood up while stalwart Andrew Khabbaz has thrived in an inside midfield role.
The bad: The boys from Kingswood Oval are undoubtedly going to be battling to avoid relegation and two key defeats in the first nine round will sting the most. They could have taken a win away at Port District – only to go down by a point – and slipped up at home against Tea Tree Gully last time out.
The surprise: They don’t come much bigger than the Jets’ shock defeat of local rival Goodwood in round six. Unley Mercedes jumped the Saints and held off several fightbacks to win a highly-entertaining contest, 19.8 (122) to 16.15 (111). Now they need to make sure it wasn’t a once off.
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