Adelaide Footy League match reports round five 2021: Payneham Norwood Union battered by injuries
Two Adelaide Footy League coaches describe the events of their match on Saturday as like nothing they’ve seen before. Read all the match reports here.
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A division-one contender has been battered by injury and the opposition in a significant round of the Adelaide Footy League action.
Elsewhere there were upsets, a gripping draw and big bags of goals across Saturday’s contests.
Here are The Messenger’s reports from all the round-five matches.
DIVISION ONE
Payneham Norwood Union is set for testing month in the top flight after suffering a horror injury toll in its 70-point loss to St Peter’s Old Collegians on Saturday.
On a day that should have been a strong battle between two of the division’s contenders, the Falcons suffered a string of injuries to key players from the first quarter.
Nick Jolly and Chase Bower clashed heads in the first five minutes and were both taken to hospital.
Liam Davis (ribs), Jonathan Giannini (hamstring), Anthony Wilson (ankle) also went down during the match.
Star duo Sam Baulderstone and Dylan Auciello were ruled out before the match while Callum Bartlett, Mack Haynes and Patrick Sanzo are also on the sidelines.
SPOC made the advantage count and was clinical as it went on to win 18.10 (118) to 6.12 (48) at Caterer Oval.
Falcons coach Jace Bode said his side finish with just 15 fit players on the field and three others playing through injury.
“I haven’t been a part of something as significant as that in my time,” Bode said.
“Credit to SPOC they played some good footy and in that last quarter they just went through us.
“For us now it’s just about being positive. Unlike last year, this season’s a marathon not a sprint.
“We’ve got some good young kids and some depth so hopefully we can compete against some of the best teams we’re coming up against in the next month.”
SPOC coach Geoff Riddle said he had “never seen so many injuries throughout a game” but was pleased his side moved to 4-1 and third on the ladder.
“It was probably the best we’ve executed our game plan for the year defensively,” Riddle said.
“Payneham were unlucky to cop some injuries early on.
“Overall, I was happy with our guys’ ability to play the game out and execute what we wanted to do.”
SPOC will take on Brighton next round while PNU faces a tough home match against Rostrevor Old Collegians.
And ROC will be smarting after it was upset by Tea Tree Gully in a 22-point loss at Campbelltown Memorial Oval.
The Wolves led by three points at the final change and were then able to hold the hosts goalless in the fourth term, winning 13.11 (89) to 9.13 (67).
Chad Schoenmakers, Tyson Breden and Joshua Flynn were crucial for TTG to snatch its second win of the season.
In the battle of top against bottom at Kingswood Oval, Unley Mercedes fought admirably but was outclassed by Prince Alfred Old Collegians.
The Jets hung in the contest in the first half before the Old Reds kicked away to prevail 15.16 (106) to 8.4 (52).
Brighton boosted its top five aspirations and plunged Port District further downwards in a much-needed six-point win at Largs Reserve.
The Bombers’ 8.4 (52) to 6.10 (46) victory moved them to 3-2 while the 1-4 Magpies’ hopes of a finals berth could begin to slip away.
Goodwood Saints got the job done in its clash with a wayward Adelaide University, running out 11.10 (76) to 4.16 (40) winners.
DIVISION TWO
Broadview has been left thinking what could have been after a wasteful fourth quarter led it to a draw with Henley.
A tight affair right to the very end, the Tigers and Sharks could not be split, scoring 11.11 (77) a piece at Broadview Oval.
Trailing by five points going into the final term, the hosts piled on the pressure but could not convert on the scoreboard kicking a woeful 1.8 to Henley’s 1.3.
Joshua Sheppard was one of the Tigers’ best and booted four goals on the day, but a missed set shot with less than two minutes remaining which would have left a sour taste in the mouth.
The result meant both sides lose further touch with top teams Glenunga and PHOS Camden, who both remained undefeated.
The Rams were put to the test at home against a valiant Salisbury North side with just two points the difference at three quarter time.
But Glenunga, on the back of a starring seven-goal performance from recruit Tom Langford, kicked away in the final term to win 13.12 (90) to 10.6 (66).
PHOS’ fifth-straight victory also didn’t come easy.
The Phantoms also trailed going into the fourth quarter and showed their grit to overcome Scotch Old Collegians 12.16 (88) to 12.11 (83) at Camden Oval.
Nick Ramsey and Mackenzie Nield (four goals) were standouts for PHOS while Sean King booted six majors for Scotch, which is still searching for its first win.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Old Ignatians 11.7 (73) d Sacred Heart OC 8.16 (64) at Sacred Heart Middle School
■ Athelstone 21.7 (133) d Seaton Ramblers 9.8 (62) at Pedlar Reserve
DIVISION THREE
Gaza made it two strong wins in a row in division three with a punishing victory over battling Westminster Old Scholars on Saturday.
It was one-way traffic at Klemzig Oval as the Eagles piled on 21.26 (152) to the Dragons’ 6.2 (38).
Gaza was wasteful in a 3.7 to 2.0 opening term, before slotting seven goals to one in the second quarter and taking a stranglehold on the game.
Damon Hill, Stephen Tahana and Scott Lewis were influential for the Eagles while Benjamin Beioley kicked six majors.
The triumph followed a 39-point win over CBC Old Collegians the week before.
Westminster meanwhile have just one win on the season and appear to be as high risk of falling into a relegation battle.
The Dragons take on winless Portland next round and will need to make sure of a win.
North Haven set up a tantalising clash with undefeated Flinders Park in round six by handing the previously unbeaten Edwardstown its first loss of the campaign on Saturday.
Division three leading goalkicker Jack Foster booted six as the high-scoring Magpies ran out very comfortable 56-point winners at Edwardstown Oval.
Ross Merrett, Ryan Adams and Thomas Sandercock (five goals) helped to lead the way for Havens.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Flinders Park 23.12 (151) d Plympton 10.6 (66) at Flinders Park
■ Golden Grove 15.15 (105) d Modbury 11.9 (75) at Harpers Field
■ CBC OC 17.22 (124) d Portland 6.6 (42) at Port Reserve
DIVISION FOUR
Walkerville’s bid to win back-to-back division four flags appears increasingly strong after making it five wins on the trot on Saturday.
The reigning premiers hit the road and secured another victory, this time over Gepps Cross in a 13.16 (94) to 8.6 (54) result at Duncan Fraser Reserve.
The Cats, who came from the elimination final to claim the 2020 premiership, now have an overall winning streak of 10 stretching back to round eight last year.
On Saturday, Daniel Woolford and Brady Zwar were the stars for Walkerville while Adam Proud’s good season continued with another six goals.
Proud is now second on the division’s goalkicking leaderboard with 29, but trails Pembroke Old Scholars gun Alex Forster (38).
Forster added another eight majors to his tally on Saturday as the Kings smashed Pulteney by 84 points.
Adam Zeni and Izaak Twelftree were also on song for Pembroke in the 16.16 (112) to 3.10 (28) victory at Morgan Oval.
For the Navy Blues, it was a 159-point turnaround in the wrong direction from their 75-point win over Kilburn the round before.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Morphettville Park 13.19 (97) d Kilburn 10.11 (71) at Kellett Reserve
■ Hope Valley 13.6 (84) d Woodville South 6.13 (49) at Ledger Reserve
■ SMOSH West Lakes 13.12 (90) d Mitcham 10.7 (67) at West Lakes Shore Oval
DIVISION FIVE
A highly-anticipated battle between two northern rivals did not disappoint as Eastern Park got the better of Salisbury in a tough contest at Dwight Reserve on Saturday.
The Magpies led by 17 points at the main break but the Demons fought their way back into the match to leave scores locked on 55 points each at three quarter time.
Thanks to strong work by the likes of Christopher Knapp, Alex Tuckwell and Brenton Carter, the hosts prevailed 11.10 (76) to 10.9 (69).
It was Salisbury’s first loss of the season, leaving it third on the ladder just ahead of the fourth-placed Demons.
Colonel Light Gardens forgot its kicking boots in a remarkably inaccurate scoreline in its loss to Lockleys.
The Lions booted a woeful 8.20 (69) to the Demons’ 15.17 (107) at Mortlock Park.
For Lockleys, it now has two-straight wins after beginning its premiership defence with three consecutive losses.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Kenilworth 18.10 (118) d Fitzroy 8.4 (52) at Fitzroy Sports Club
■ Pooraka 22.15 (147) d Hectorville 9.2 (56) at Lindblom Park
■ West Croydon – bye
DIVISION SIX
A resilient Rosewater showed its fighting spirit to record a stirring victory over division six rival Marion at Sturt Oval.
Scores were level at half-time before the Bulldogs edged out a 13-point buffer going into the final term.
But the Rams were not done yet and Rosewater had to withstand a late charge from the hosts to hold on for the win, 8.10 (58) to 8.7 (55).
Hugh Johnson-Schroeder kicked three goals for the Dogs while Anthony Giacobbe and Samuel Bugeja were influential.
Former Glenelg forward Terry Milera booted three for the Rams.
Trinity Old Scholars made it four straight wins to begin the season by securing the points in a tough fixture away to Blackfrairs Old Scholars.
The Lions were too strong in a nine-goal to four second half, which set up the 16.10 (106) to 11.12 (78) victory.
Third-placed Trinity, which has had its bye, is only behind second side St Paul’s Old Scholars on percentage.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Elizabeth 12.14 (86) d Ingle Farm 12.5 (77) at Argana Park
■ St Paul’s OS 15.16 (106) d Mawson Lakes 3.10 (28) at Mawson Lakes Oval
■ Para Hills – bye
DIVISION SEVEN
The Adelaide Footy League’s newest club Hackham came tantalisingly close to securing its first victory in the competition, only to fall short by eight points.
In a back-and-forth contest at Hackham Oval, the Hawks pushed Adelaide Lutheran all the way before going down 13.15 (93) to 13.7 (85).
Jacob Brown (four goals) and Rowan Miegel led the way for the Dogs.
Luke Allan did his best to keep the Hawks in the contest, kicking six goals.
It doesn’t get any easier for Hackham in the next three rounds with games against top five sides Houghton Districts, Greenacres and Central United on the cards.
The match of the round saw the latter two sides come together in a big contest at Mofflin Reserve.
And it was Greenacres which came out on top, prevailing 11.7 (73) to 8.15 (63) to hand United its first loss of the season.
The Units led by seven points going into the last but the Dragons came home with a wet sail in a 5.2 to 2.3 final term.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Houghton Districts 13.14 (92) d Flinders University 6.15 (51) at Flinders Uni Sporting Ground
■ Mitchell Park 23.17 (155) d OSB Lonsdale 11.8 (74) at Mitchell Park Oval
■ Brahma Lodge – bye
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