Flinders University win B grade while Morphettville Park struggle in Adelaide Footy League
Flinders University has snapped another two-year winless run but there is one Adelaide Footy League side which is doing it really tough. They’ve gone five games without registering a single point.
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Welcome to One-Percenters – a wrap of some 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
CRABS SCUTTLING TO VICTORY
When it rains, it pours.
There were waves of relief two weeks ago when Flinders University broke its long drought without a win in division seven.
On Saturday the Crab’s B grade snapped and even longer losing run when they defeated Greenacres for their first win since August 5, 2017.
That is the same date the A grade also had its last triumph, before beating Central United in round 11.
Crabs president Dean Schofield was pleased the players were finally rewarded for their effort with the 5.20 (50) to 2.2 (14) win.
But Schofield said goal kicking would be high on the agenda at training for the B grade this week after having 25 scoring shots only to boot five majors.
“It’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of toil and we are very proud of the reserves,” Schofield said.
“We’ve had both of them break droughts, now, so hopefully we can aim to get another couple by the end of the year.
“It (the win) could’ve been a lot bigger.
“I think there’s a little bit of goal kicking training happening this week.
“After the hard work they’ve done, I think they now realise what happens when they put the pressure on and string four quarters together.
“They can just take a lot of confidence out of this and improve their accuracy, of course.”
Flinders University’s A grade side wasn’t so lucky, going down to Greenacres 15.15 (105) to 11.4 (70).
Both the Crabs teams sit bottom of their respective ladders, having each triumphed in one match this season.
SCORELESS, AGAIN
There are teams doing it tough and then there is Morphettville Park’s B grade.
The Roos have gone five games in the Adelaide Footy League’s division five reserves without registering a score.
In that time they’ve also conceded a huge 152.98 (1010) in losses to Flinders Park, Golden Grove, Old Ignatians, North Haven and Plympton.
It has been 21 quarters and more than 440 minutes since their last score, a third quarter goal against Glenunga in round eight.
Unsurprisingly, Morphettville Park sits bottom of the ladder with a 0-13 record.
Here’s hoping the Roos can turn things around this week against Portland and finish the season on a better note with five rounds remaining.
POLAR OPPOSITE LIONS
It is just one year apart but round 13 2018 compared to 2019 shows a big fall from grace for O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale.
This week in 2018 the Lions were flying at 13-0 on top of the division seven ladder.
Fast-forward a year and they sit rock bottom of division six with a 0-13 record.
The Lions, who joined the Adelaide Footy League last year from the Southern Football League, played in a grand final last season and gained automatic promotion to the sixth-tier this campaign.
But they are likely to be relegated back down at season’s end.
In their inaugural season in the amateurs, the Lions finished top a 17-1 win/loss record but were eventually beaten by Marion in the grand final, 15.7 (97) to 10.6 (66).
OSB Lonsdale has found the going tough in division six and is winless with five games remaining.
The Lions have an average losing margin of 68.8 points – brought down by two one-point losses (to Brahma Lodge in round one and then against Marion last month).
Their latest defeat was a 51-point loss to Elizabeth at Argana Park last Saturday.
Last season, the league’s most southern men’s team boasted an average winning margin of 58.3 points.
The Lions will be hoping to secure their first victory when they play Hectorville at Daly Oval this Saturday.
MILESTONE MEN
It was a round packed full of milestones across the league.
Gepps Cross veteran and record games holder Leigh Harding hit 450 matches for the Rams on Saturday, but keep an eye out for a special piece on Harding later this week.
At SMOSH West Lakes, Calum Masson ran out in a Lions guernsey for the 350th time.
Masson booted a goal as his side beat Kilburn at Blair Athol Reserve 9.6 (60) to 8.8 (56).
For a nice write up, video and list of his achievements at “The Den”, see the Facebook post below from the club.
Salisbury North celebrated the 300th game of long-time club man Steven Evans.
Coming to the club as a seven-year-old, Evans also racked up 250 junior games at the Hawks and is a winner of both the A and B grade best and fairest.
Unfortunately is was not a day to remember on the field for Evans and Salisbury North as they were soundly beaten at home by Sacred Heart Old Collegians.
STRIKE ME PINK
Those rocking up to Plympton oval to watch the Bulldogs take on Morphettville Park in division three on Saturday might have done a double take at the home side’s strip.
Plympton ditched the red on its guernseys in favour of pink for breast cancer charities.
The Bulldogs raised $3000 on the day and also got wins in all three grades.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
WE’RE ON A BREAK
After a league-wide bye last month for the association clash against Queensland, divisions one, one reserves and C1 will have another break this weekend.
The Saturday off for the top tier, previously at the beginning of the season, enables the league to stagger grand finals in September to hold the division one decider a week later.
Some footballers may welcome another week to rest (and avoid another cold July match).
However others will be cursing a halt in the fixture such as Prince Alfred Old Collegians, which is currently on a seven-game unbeaten run.