Adelaide Footy League finals match reports: Port District defeats Goodwood Saints to make grand final
A rejuvenated Adelaide Footy League club has made the division one grand final with a convincing defeat of flag rivals. Full finals match reports from every division.
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Another round of Adelaide Footy League finals is complete and the season’s biggest games are nearing closer.
While Greenacres completed its undefeated season to win the division seven premiership, division one played its semi-finals and divisions three to six saw grand final teams set in stone.
Here are The Messenger’s match reports for every division after an exciting weekend of action:
DIVISION ONE
Port District coach Josh Ramsey was thrilled with his side’s impressive 14.12 (96) to 4.7 (31) second semi-final win over Goodwood.
A dominant 29-0 opening term set up the big win, the hosts becoming the first to book a spot in this season’s division one grand final.
“Our preparation was spot on – we really wanted to get the ball moving forward and apply strong pressure to their defenders, which we managed to do and we saw the benefit,” Ramsey said.
“I’m really happy with where the boys are at the moment and we’ve definitely deserved a spot in the grand final.”
Star midfielder Jason Nyskohus was impressive in the contest, while captain Sean Davidson, Tom Gray and Zac Hawkins were all influential on the ball or up front as Port District continually won clearances and locked the ball in its front half.
The side led 7.7 (49) to 1.4 (10) at the main break and built on that lead in the second half, the Saints unable to quell their influence in the middle.
“Our work in the middle with contested ball was second to none and our ability to get the footy back in the 50 after Goodwood’s defenders cleared was promising,” Ramsey said.
“The fact we were able to maintain a big lead and even build on it was also good to see and we probably could have been up by even more if we kicked straighter.”
Port will now await the result of this weekend’s preliminary final between Goodwood and Prince Alfred Old Collegians.
“Nothing’s going to change on our end through the next couple weeks of preparation – we’ll see who we’re playing and then get to preparing for them,” Ramsey said.
“We’re confident we can beat whoever we face if we bring our A-game, we’ve given ourselves an opportunity now and we have four more quarters to go.”
Prince Alfred Old Collegians put together a five goal to two third term to overcome Glenunga at Webb Oval, defeating the Rams 9.14 (68) to 10.4 (64).
The Old Reds kicked an inaccurate 0.5 in the final term but managed to hold on after the dominant third quarter display.
Adam Perryman was impressive behind the ball for Princes while Sam Buckham, Finn Heard and Tom Bartlett all kicked two goals each in the win.
The Rams held a thin five-point lead during the main break, holding their visitors well defensively, but Nathan Grima’s men could not overcome an inspired away outfit in the third term, PAOC hunting the ball in the contest and dealing fast to the forwardline.
DIVISION TWO
Sacred Heart Old Collegians booked a grand final spot against Broadview with a 12.13 (85) to 5.3 (33) win over North Haven at Richmond Oval.
The first quarter was the most even of the game, the underdog Magpies starting well through stars Mark Rowe and Kyran Dixon to lead 2.1 (13) to 1.2 (8) at the first break.
It was all SHOC after the first break however, with star midfielder Cam Rankin exerting himself in the contest and Seb Kerrish providing tireless run and carry along the flanks.
Alex Cailotto was also dominant in the ruck and up front for Hearts, giving his teammates first use in the middle and also hitting the scoreboard for two majors.
Sacred Heart OC will now face Broadview in the division two grand final this Saturday, having just lost to them in the second semi-final.
DIVISION THREE
George Cornish produced a captain’s performance as his Edwardstown side upset Flinders Park in a 18.5 (113) to 6.17 (53) win.
The Reds, just coming off a second semi-final loss to Golden Grove, rued poor kicking for goal, never recovering from a poor opening term.
Towns produced the opposite in front of goal, taking full opportunity of the chances created by stars Aaron Anderson, Josh Schiller and Jess Watchman and building an insurmountable lead as a result.
Cornish was the standout up front for Edwardstown, bagging five goals in the big win.
Edwardstown will face undefeated Golden Grove in the grand final on Saturday at Elizabeth Oval.
DIVISION FOUR
The loss of star forward Daniel Nobes to suspension did not matter for Hope Valley as they too completed an upset, defeating Plympton 11.11 (77) to 9.4 (58) in the division four preliminary final.
Trailing by four points at quarter-time, the Bulldogs were held completely scoreless by Hope Valley in the second term, the Demons adding four majors of their own through Josh Schilling and Matthew Min up front – who had three goals apiece in the game.
The remainder was evenly fought, especially in the middle of the ground where each team won a healthy amount of clearances and opportunities inside 50, but Hope Valley held onto their lead to advance to the big dance.
Josh Schilling and Will Riddle were the standouts for the Demons for their consistent work in the contest and up front.
Hope Valley will take on Pembroke OS at Maughan Thiem Kia Stadium (Woodville Oval) on Saturday.
DIVISION FIVE
Lockleys – who was placed in the preliminary final at the last hour after fielding an ineligible player in the second semi – defeated Gepps Cross 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72) in a thriller to earn promotion and a grand final spot for a second time.
The Demons built on a three-point lead at quarter-time to lead by 15 points at halftime and 14 points at the final break, Bowen Hosking and Cooper Seekamp working tirelessly on the ball.
The Rams hung tough however, with Jamie and Graham Hampton hitting the contest hard and also hitting the scoreboard for three goals.
The underdogs fought back in the final term, gaining the ascendancy through the middle to give forwards Graham Hampton and Jarrad Clark-Rantasa multiple looks at goal.
Lockleys managed to do just enough though, kicking two goals of their own in the term to hang on and win by three points.
They will see Hectorville in the grand final this Saturday at St Mary’s Park in Kenilworth.
DIVISION SIX
West Croydon clung on to an 18-point halftime lead to defeat an inaccurate Marion side 12.10 (82) to 10.17 (77) and book a spot in the division six grand final.
The Rams kicked 2.11 (23) through the first two terms compared to West Croydon’s 6.5 (41) and while they slowly clawed their way back in the game, the Hawks’ sturdy defence proved too much to overcome.
Llewellyn Milera was the standout for West Croydon, dominating the contested ball and also kicking a major, while captain Luke Francis was also integral, bursting through the middle and feeding the footy to his forwards.
The Hawks will face an in-form Trinity Old Scholars side in the big dance on Saturday at Campbelltown Memorial Oval.
DIVISION SEVEN
Greenacres completed its season undefeated, winning the division seven premiership with a 14.6 (90) to 9.10 (64) victory over Adelaide Lutheran at Blair Athol Reserve.
It was a close-fought affair through the first three terms, with both midfields working tirelessly in the contest and key position players around the ground crashing into packs.
The Dragons – who led by seven points at the final break – put the foot down in the fourth term, booting five goals to two to extend their lead to 36 points and cap off their fantastic season with a flag.
Scott Burnett was named best on ground for Greenacres, dominating on the ball with physical play and also hitting the scoreboard for a major.
Forward Tom Tacono was also impressive with six goals, while Matt Gibson kicked three majors to reach 100 for the season including finals.
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