Adelaide University’s Charlie Parker unleashes huge barrel as the Blacks break Adelaide Footy League winning hoodoo against Goodwood Saints
ADELAIDE University has broken a 4389-day Adelaide Footy League drought with help from a huge barrel from full-back. Plus Salisbury’s female flag success and grand finals begin to take shape, all in this week’s One-Percenters wrap.
- Club dumped from league as captain gets 27 weeks, life ban
- Ruckman moves forward and boots 100 goals
- Clubs fall one win from perfect home-and-away season
- Watch: the 80m torpedo goal that needs to be seen to be believed
WELCOME to One-Percenters – a wrap of some of the quirky talking points from across the Adelaide Footy League.
Each edition we will bring several titbits – they might be eye-catching results, milestones, comebacks, big wins, broken droughts or inspiring stories.
If you have heard about something quirky, email us your suggestions or photos to matthew.turner1@news.com.au.
Here are some of the things that caught our eye at the weekend as teams enter the home stretch of season 2018:
CHARLIE GOES BANG
Adelaide University might have missed out on division one finals, but had good reason to celebrate on Saturday after ending a significant drought with its 48-point win against Goodwood.
It was an incredible 4389 days between victory drinks for the Blacks, who last tasted victory against the Saints during the minor round in 2006.
Goodwood got its revenge that year with a 47-point victory in the 2006 grand final at Alberton.
That match was the last top-flight finals appearance for Uni, which had a five-year stint in division two.
Charlie Parker, a former Goodwood junior, was one of the stars for the Blacks in the 14.10 (94) to 6.10 (46) victory on Saturday.
As well as kicking two beautiful long-range goals on the run, he also unleashed this barrel from full back in the last term.
It came after Brighton midfielder Jay Boyle became an overnight sensation earlier this month from booting an 80m torpedo goal.
The Blacks were in full voice in the University Oval rooms after the win.
For Goodwood, the result meant it spurned a chance at a home qualifying final this Saturday.
The Saints will instead travel to Tea Tree Gully as the top tier’s major round kicks off.
Payneham Norwood Union hosts Port District in the elimination final, while minor premier Rostrevor Old Collegians has the first week off.
MAGICAL MAGPIES
Salisbury completed a fairytale premiership run in women’s division one on Sunday as it stormed home with four goals in the fourth quarter to upset Adelaide University.
The Magpies vanquished its grand final demons from last season’s 118-point defeat to the Blacks in the decider and achieved retribution in one fell swoop.
Trailing by 11 points at the last break, goals to Sophie Hoyle, Nicole Baker and two to Katelyn Rosenzweig in the fourth quarter ensured Salisbury triumphed 5.10 (40) to 3.4 (22) at Thebarton Oval.
The Magpies had a tough road to claim their first division-one flag.
They finished third at the end of the minor round and beat Christies Beach away by 38 points in the semi-final then had a 12-point upset over minor premier Morphettville Park in the preliminary final to reach the decider.
On Sunday, Salisbury did not look like winning when it trailed at the beginning of the final term.
A 40m set shot for Rosenzweig was made much easier when she was gifted a 25m penalty as a Uni player ran through the mark, taking her to the top of the goal square.
That major got Salisbury off and running.
Hoyle kicked truly minutes later then the Magpies suddenly hit the front.
One of the highlights of the day came via Baker as a shot fell short, she picked up the crumbs and goaled with a classy snap.
Rosenzweig then made sure of the premiership when she marked and kicked truly with seven minutes remaining.
DOGS IN THE BIG DANCE
Direct passage to the Adelaide Footy League’s division six grand final has come in unusual circumstances for Rosewater, but coach Wayne Mahney says his side is raring to go.
The Bulldogs will be looking to break a 15-year A-grade premiership drought on Saturday as they face off against Trinity Old Scholars at Thebarton Oval.
Rosewater has not played in three weeks as a result of Salisbury West being kicked out of the league and finals series following Tigers captain Adam Jones’s life ban.
Jones received suspensions totalling 27 weeks for four incidents from Salisbury West’s qualifying final win against Trinity Old Scholars.
“There’s no excuses on our behalf – believe me we’re ready to go,” Mahney says.
“It’s been a good run into the grand final for us – not quite how you would expect, but you can only control what you can control.”
Rosewater’s last game was on August 11 when it sustained a 30-point loss to Trinity.
That was the Bulldogs’ only defeat during the minor round.
Trinity enters this Saturday’s grand final on the back of a 27-point preliminary final win over Fitzroy.
Rosewater played an internal trial last week then took the weekend off before resuming regular training this week.
“We’ve worked really hard preparing and we’ve got a full list to choose from,” Mahney says.
“The boys had a really good hit-out (internal trial).
“We were going 100 per cent and I think that will prepare us well.”
Rosewater’s last A-grade premiership was in 2003, when it defeated North Haven by 33 points in the division five grand final.
DOLPHINS’ PURPLE PATCH
Rosewater and Trinity are not the only sides into grand finals as combatants of division three, four, five and seven premiership deciders were confirmed on the weekend.
CBC Old Collegians booked its spot in division five’s big dance in the most emphatic fashion, categorically thumping Pulteney by 140 points on Saturday.
The Dolphins led by 38, 65 and 128-point margins at each of the breaks on the way to the decisive 28.14 (182) to 6.6 (42) second semi-final victory.
Lochlan Harrison got on the end of a lot of his teammates’ good work to boot eight goals, while Rhys Woods and Jared Greenbank starred.
Seaton Ramblers also had a big win to reach the division four decider, smashing North Haven 17.11 (113) to 5.12 (54) at Pedlar Reserve.
The Ramblers will face the winner of this weekend’s preliminary final between Haven and Scotch Old Collegians.
It was an upset in the fourth tier, as Gepps Cross went out to Webb Oval and beat Glenunga 13.12 (90) to 12.16 (88).
The Rams will now need to beat a red-hot Edwardstown this Saturday to make it to the grand final.
O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale’s dream debut season in the league continued as won through with a 12.8 (80) to 10.8 (68) second semi-final triumph against Marion.
St Paul’s will look to spoil an ex-Southern Football League match-up in the grand final when it plays the Rams this Saturday.
Divisions three, four, five and seven will all play their grand finals on Saturday, September 8.
DEMONS OUT IN STRAIGHT SETS FOR SECOND YEAR
We are not too sure what is happening at Lockleys but it seems the Demons crumble under finals pressure.
Lockleys has endured a straight-sets finals exit at the past two attempts.
The Demons also earned a double chance in the major round this year after finishing third on the ladder.
But they lost to Pulteney by a goal in the qualifying final after kicking 4.20 before losing to Woodville South by a heartbreaking two points in the semi-final at home on Saturday.
Brenton Lowrey and Ryan Langcake battled strongly for Lockleys against the Cats.
The Demons suffered a similar fate last season again after ending the minor round in third spot.
They were thrashed by 52 points in the qualifying final against CBC Old Collegians and then went down to Pooraka by 17 points in the semi-final the following weekend.
IN-FORM FORWARD GOALLESS
Ex-Norwood and Fremantle player Alex Forster was arguably the form goalkicker of division one before Saturday.
Forster, who joined Payneham Norwood Union mid-season, had booted 32 goals in the six games prior to the Falcons playing Tea Tree Gully, including a bag of nine against Athelstone.
But Forster did not manage to kick a major versus the Wolves.
It mattered little for PNU, which prevailed 8.18 (66) to 7.12 (54) at Payneham Oval.
The Falcons will be hoping Forster bounces back in this Saturday’s home elimination final against Port District.
He will enter the clash with 41 goals from his 13 matches this season.
TIGER TIME
Broadview may have been inspired by Richmond’s sparkling September run last season as the it kicked off the division two finals with an inspiring win to rouse the Tiger faithful.
The writing appearing on the wall for the Tigers’ season as they trailed 6.5 to 1.5 at half-time in the elimination final against Unley Mercedes, a side which had beaten them twice in the regular season.
But a stunning comeback led by Scott Mazzone, Kane Nurton and Patrick Fittock (four goals had Broadview down by just six points at three quarter time.
The Tigers then booted another five to the Jets’ two in the final term to take an 11.8 (74) to 9.12 (66) win at home.
The players then sang a rousing rendition of the club song on the oval surrounded by supporters.
Broadview will take on PHOS Camden this Saturday in another do-or-die final, this time at St Mary’s Park.