Adelaide Footy League One-Percenters: Pooraka makes remarkable 226-point turnaround
A division five leader’s 32-goal response, who you think will win the top flight flag plus more from around the Adelaide Footy League in One-Percenters.
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Welcome to One-Percenters – a wrap of the quirky talking points from the round in the Adelaide Footy League.
Each edition we will bring you eight or so titbits from the latest weekend – they might be eye-catching results, milestones, comebacks, big wins, broken droughts or inspiring stories.
If you have heard about something quirky in the Adelaide Footy League, email us your suggestions or photos to patrick.keam@news.com.au
From the quirky to the inspirational, the weird, wonderful and everything in between here are the things which caught our eye in round 10:
RUNNING OF THE BULLS
It was the reality check Pooraka needed, according to coach Shane Hickey.
Top of the division five ladder and flying with a 6-1 win-loss record, the Bulls went into their round nine clash against Colonel Light Gardens full of confidence, only to be handed a 60-point lesson.
Fast-forward a fortnight and Pooraka responded in the best way possible.
The Bulls piled on 32 goals as they took West Croydon to the cleaners in a 166-point belting.
Their 226-point turnaround and 32.15 (207) effort was the biggest score in division five so far this campaign by some margin.
Hickey said the June long-weekend bye came at the perfect time to give his side a chance to reset.
“We got touched up against Colonel Light by about 10 goals just before the bye and it was a bit of a reality check for us and identified some issues we needed to address,” Hickey said.
“And we did that for the fortnight in the leading into the West Croydon game and we slowly started to improve in those areas.
“We probably caught them (West Croydon) at a bad time to be honest, I think they were probably struggling a bit with injuries.”
The Bulls took full advantage of their dominance against the Hawks, slamming on 10, nine, eight and five goals in each of the quarters.
Luke Buckby had a day out, bagging eight, but it was the performances of brothers Matt and Ronald Rankine which really drove Pooraka.
The pair joined the club in the off-season and have been key parts of the Bulls’ charge up the ladder from a fifth-placed 2020 finish.
Matt comes with plenty of experience after a successful SANFL career with South and West Adelaide while Ronald was part of the club’s last senior premiership in 2010.
Hickey was also full of praise for Ashley Benz, who arrived after captaining Gepss Cross the past two seasons.
The coach was confident in his group but aware how tough division five will be come the final rounds.
All seven of Pooraka, Lockleys, Eastern Park, Kenilworth, Colonel Light Gardens, Salisbury and Hectorville have shown their best is right up there.
“It’s a really tight comp and you’re probably going to have two good sides which will be unlucky and miss the finals this year,” Hickey said.
“I think it could just come down to who can be the healthiest list come the pointy end of the season.”
And while the Bulls secured some key A grade recruits, they have also significantly added to their depth and have fielded a C grade side this season.
Off the field, Hickey said Pooraka had partnered with the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation to raise money and create a health and well being program at the club.
WHO IS THE FLAG FAVOURITE?
Over the long-weekend bye we not only ran the rule over every division one club in our mid-season reports but also asked – who is the top flight flag favourite?
The results from our poll are in and there is little surprise with who came out on top.
The majority of fans believe ladder leader Prince Alfred Old Collegians is the most likely to take out the premiership after the Old Reds attracted 26 per cent of the vote.
Coming in as second favourite was Payneham Norwood Union (21 per cent), followed by reigning premiers Goodwood Saints (13) and Rostrevor Old Collegians (11).
Punters were not confident promoted club Tea Tree Gully could go the distance, with the Wolves attracting the lowest votes with just one per cent.
HOME COOKING
It was a tough nine weeks on the road for Athelstone but the Raggies are finally back home.
Two wins out of the top five, the division two club will be looking to come home with a wet sail as it play all of its games in the back half of the season at home.
The Raggies returned for their first game back at Max Amber Sportsfield, which is undergoing a $10 million redevelopment, and beat Scotch Old Collegians by 13 points on Saturday.
After going 2-7 in the opening nine rounds while away, Athelstone would hope its second half brings more fortune as it looks to respond from relegation.
HAWKS MAKE IT TWO
Just a few weeks after its A grade broke a long winning drought and recorded its first win the in Adelaide Footy League, Hackham’s B grade has also broken its duck.
The Hawks reserves defeated Mitchell Park by 23 points to grab their first victory of the season on Saturday.
After a tight first three quarters, where the Lions led by one point at the last change, Hackham kicked 3.6 and kept the hosts scoreless in the final term to prevail 9.11 (65) to 6.6 (42).
Ethanual Palmer, Josh Lean, Mitchell French (two goals) and Ben Tume (three) were best for the Hawks.
In the A grade however it was all Mitchell Park, the Lions triumphing 17.16 (118) to Hackham’s 7.10 (52).
Adam Halime dominated with nine goals for Mitchell Park.
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