Adelaide Footy League 2022 mid-season report cards: Every division one team rated
We’ve seen the thrills, the good, the bad and the surprises in the Adelaide Footy League this season – so how do the division one teams rate at the halfway mark?
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The 2022 Adelaide Footy League season is officially at its midway point.
Division one has seen thrilling one-kick wins, big surprise upsets, dramatic team turnarounds and is well poised to produce a thrilling run home.
With the long weekend bye upon us, we’ve looked at how each club in the top flight has performed so far this year.
Read the report cards and grades for all 10 teams and have your say on who will win the 2022 division one flag.
GOODWOOD SAINTS
Ladder: 1st (7-2, 130.59%)
Leading goal kicker: Nicholas Burgess (24)
Star so far: Nick Favretto
The good: Midfielder Nick Favretto is on a tear yet again for the Saints, the midfielder following a strong 2021 season with nine standout performances so far this year. In addition, recruits Angus Rana and Kyle Kirk have started well, adding versatility in the middle and up front.
The bad: There’s not much to dislike about Goodwood’s season so far but the side would be disappointed with its round one 20-point loss to Brighton during which it kicked an inaccurate 8.16, and its round three loss to Old Ignatians after being up 14 points at half-time. The Saints could very nearly be undefeated.
The surprise: It looked as if the Saints could be in for a rollercoaster season when it sat 1-2 after the first three rounds, but a six-game and counting winning streak including strong victories against Port District at home, and Glenunga and St Peter’s Old Collegians away, puts the side top after round nine.
Grade: A-
ST PETER’S OC
Ladder: 2nd (6-3, 128.86%)
Leading goal kicker: Jock McLeay (27)
Star so far: James Hargreaves
The good: Jock McLeay has needed strong support and he finally has it in former Sturt champion Jake Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe has 24 majors to partner McLeay’s 27. A versatile three-goal performance against Glenunga away from home which included a winning goal in the dying seconds showed the competition what Sutcliffe can be capable of.
The bad: SPOC has been strong overall but the club failed to back up its big win away from home over Port District when it lost to Brighton by 25-points last weekend, albeit in bad conditions. The side will need to remain consistent to finish with a double chance this year.
The surprise: James Hargreaves has long been a strong player for Saints, but the on-baller has taken his game to another level this season and along with Sutcliffe could be the key to a premiership run.
Grade: B+
PORT DISTRICT
Ladder: 3rd (6-3, 123.71%)
Leading goal kicker: Dale Pearce (14)
Star so far: Cooper Gaffney
The good: Cooper Gaffney has been nothing short of a star for Port this season, and key signings Sam and Tom Gray have also been highly influential in a big turnaround so far for the club.
The bad: While the team has been a force defensively and in the middle, it has lacked firepower up front with James Batty only playing a handful of games in the first half of the season. It has also had its fair share of struggles in front of goal, kicking a positive score just four times.
The surprise: A 36-point loss to St Peter’s OC at home in round eight was a hit to the Magpies’ top of the ladder hopes heading into the midseason bye, and the club’s only loss at home so far.
Grade: B+
GLENUNGA
Ladder: 4th (5-4, 103.45%)
Leading goal kicker: Michael McMahon (21)
Star so far: Alex Haren
The good: Rams captain Alex Haren has again been the standout for his side through the middle and is in the midst of another dominant campaign. Glenunga’s ability to execute a strong defensive system and plan, especially at home, has also been a positive, with multiple sides struggling to score against the side.
The bad: A four-week suspension to Nick Wundke for a careless bump against SPOC in round two would have frustrated coach Nathan Grima, will the Rams’ 73-31 loss to Prince Alfred Old Collegians in round six quelled some early season momentum.
The surprise: Not many expected the club to avoid relegation this season after it failed to make significant recruitment but in a tight division Glenunga looks as competitive as any side and a strong chance for finals.
Grade: A-
TEA TREE GULLY
Ladder: 5th (5-4, 92.66%)
Leading goal kicker: Tyler West (25)
Star so far: Ryan Spittle
The good: The return of premiership captain and new playing-coach Alex McKay has seemingly brought a fresh approach to Gullies, who have also been boosted by the return of star small forward Ryan Spittle.
The bad: A three-game winning streak had TTG on top of the ladder early but since round three the club has lost four out of its next six. The club would be looking to put a run together in the season’s back half f it wants to make finals and acquire a double chance.
The surprise: A two-point loss at home to a depleted and struggling Payneham Norwood Union side in round nine was not what the doctor ordered and will leave a sour taste for the team during the break.
Grade: B
OLD IGNATIANS
Ladder: 6th (4-5, 95.98%)
Leading goal kicker: Brad Jones (19)
Star so far: Will Abbott
The good: Star midfielder and captain Will Abbott has managed to stay fit so far and his team is reaping the rewards. New arrival Kristian Roocke has also been a boost for Iggies after losing Cam Ortlepp in the offseason.
The bad: It was a valiant effort, but a one-point loss to Glenunga away from home in round nine after leading with two minutes left would have been a disappointment for coach Damian Boots and his men, who were arguably the better performers on the day.
The surprise: Despite some inconsistencies, Iggies have been competitive in the top flight and look set to be in finals discussion for the remainder of the season.
Grade: B
ROSTREVOR OC
Ladder: 7th (4-5, 84.56%)
Leading goal kicker: Nic Murphy (20)
Star so far: Tim Baccanello
The good: Baccanello’s form around the ground has been a positive for ROC and important wins against Tea Tree Gully, PNU, Brighton and Prince Alfred OC have the club outside of the relegation zone at the moment.
The bad: Rostrevor looks an outside chance for finals at best, a far-cry from its recent years of success. Injuries haven’t helped the cause either, with a number of key players missing multiple games already.
The surprise: A 45-104 defeat to Glenunga at home in round three was a disappointment for ROC and may have been a sign of the inconsistencies to come for the club this year.
Grade: C
PRINCE ALFRED OC
Ladder: 8th (3-6, 95.98%)
Leading goal kicker: Hugo Kelly (12)
Star so far: Hayden Jolly
The good: Big man Hayden Jolly continues to perform at a high level for the Old Reds and he along with former Glenelg captain Chris Curran are two of the few positives for the club this year. Hugo Kelly also continues to establish himself as a key player.
The bad: After losing star players like Tyson Brazel (North Adelaide), Tom Bartlett (retired) and Jake Pitt (Leopold Geelong) it was always going to be a test for Craig Pitt’s side to push for another flag, but a three-win start is less than ideal. Jack Trengove has also been unable to have the consistent influence he had last year.
The surprise: From 2021 premiers to a relegation battle – the Old Reds find themselves level on points with ninth spot Brighton entering the midseason break and would undoubtedly be disappointed with what has been a challenging start. They’ve shown signs of improvement in recent weeks however, so they should stay safe and could even make a late run at finals if their big names stand up.
Grade: C-
BRIGHTON BOMBERS
Ladder: 9th (3-6, 88.14%)
Leading goal kicker: Tarik Illingworth (10)
Star so far: Jarman Sigal
The good: Youngster Jarman Sigal has taken his game to another level this season and cemented himself as a key part of Brighton’s midfield. New arrival Tarik Illingworth has also fit in well.
The bad: Brett Backwell described the side’s personnel issues as the most frustrating part of his entire career, and who can blame him with the Bombers only having two players who have played all nine games. The team has lacked consistency but keeping players fit for the remainder of the season will be key to finding some.
The surprise: A 25-point upset over St Peter’s OC in round nine was what the Bombers needed heading into the bye and they did it by keeping Saints goalless for three quarters.
Grade: C
PAYNEHAM NORWOOD UNION
Ladder: 10th (2-7, 70.83%)
Leading goal kicker: Harrison Viney (14)
Star so far: Brad McKenzie
The good: Former North Melbourne and Norwood star Brad McKenzie has settled in comfortably at the Falcons and has been the standout for their standout for the year.
The bad: PNU lost coach Jace Bode and a wealth of star players over the offseason including Sam Baulderstone, Nick Jolly, Dylan Auciello, Kristian Roocke, Max Hodges, Patrick Levicki and Anthony Wilson. While the club recruited Ben Sawford and Brad McKenzie, the list has not been added to enough and is now too thin on experience to compete.
The surprise: A two-point upset win away to Tea Tree Gully thanks to a four-goal Brad McKenzie masterclass has put the club in a position to compete for survival in the coming weeks.
Grade: D+
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