Footy fans tip old collegians sides to win the majority of 2019 Adelaide Footy League flags
Get set for the old collegians clubs to dominate this September. We’ve polled the fans and have the answers for who you think is most likely to win each Adelaide Footy League flag in 2019.
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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
PREMIERSHIP PREDICTIONS
Get set for the old collegians clubs to dominate this September.
That is the message from the Adelaide Footy League’s fans in response to The Messenger’s poll last week about who will win the premiership in each division.
Of the competition’s seven tiers, five of them are tipped to be won by old collegians teams.
A sixth has two old scholars sides sitting in second and third on the list.
It is little surprise ladder leader Prince Alfred Old Collegians topped the voting in the division one poll after the Old Reds have surged to an 11-2 record.
They took a massive 57 per cent of the vote in the top tier, the biggest number of any division, as fans tipped them to take the flag ahead of Rostrevor Old Collegians and Payneham Norwood Union (both 13 per cent).
St Peter’s Old Collegians attracted eight per cent of the picks while fellow finals hopefuls Adelaide University, Goodwood, Brighton and Port District had minimal selections.
In division two, fans believe a pair of clubs with college associations are in line for the flag.
Sacred Heart Old Collegians came out on top with 39 per cent of the vote ahead of Unley Mercedes on 29 per cent.
Seaton Ramblers (12 per cent) and Athelstone (nine per cent) are fancied by some tipsters.
The biggest shock was fourth-placed Salisbury North not receiving a single vote.
Division three is just one of two tiers without an old scholars side picked as favourite.
Instead, a significant 40 per cent of those surveyed chose Glenunga to be most likely to win the premiership.
But, supporting the trend, Old Ignatians (19 per cent) and Westminster Old Scholars (12 per cent) are fancied by some footy fans.
SMOSH West Lakes – associated with St Michael’s College – is top of the division four ladder but it is another old collegians side which topped the poll.
Christian Brothers College OC took 20 per cent to pip the Lions, who attracted 19 per cent of the vote.
However the fourth tier is a very even competition and Edwardstown is not far off the pace with 15 per cent.
A further 15 per cent of those surveyed are picking a roughy in eighth-placed Pembroke Old Scholars to sneak into the finals and go all the way.
The theme continues in division five with third-placed Pulteney (27 per cent) tipped by fans to beat out ladder leader Kenilworth (23) and second side Hope Valley (17) for the premiership.
West Croydon bucks the old collegians trend in division six – and rightly so.
The Hawks attracted 31 per cent of the vote to reflect their dominant 11-2 season.
Hectorville (17), Marion (16), Fitzroy (12) and Ingle Farm (10) all caught the attention of some punters.
Finally in division seven St Paul’s Old Scholars complete the college dominance with the vote with 33 per cent of fans backing the undefeated Saints to win it all.
Adelaide Lutheran came in second with 19 per cent and Houghton Districts took 11 per cent.
GROUNDHOG DAY
Getting thumped away from home is never fun – but can you imagine having to go back to the same ground to play the same opposition the very next week?
That is what division seven’s Central United face this Saturday.
Not only were the Bulldogs smashed 24.10 (154) to 9.5 (59) by Greenacres at Edward Smith Reserve last round, a quirk in the fixture means they play again at the venue this week.
The eight-team division seven competition has been split in two for its final three rounds.
Top four sides SPOS, Houghton Districts, Mawson Lakes and Adelaide Lutheran will play each other and Greenacres, Central United, Mitchell Park and Flinders University will do the same.
Because Greenacres and Central United finished fifth and sixth on the ladder before the split, they play each other first up.
The winner will likely take the last finals position.
Another big loss would be an unfortunate groundhog day for the Bulldogs.
LONG SLEEVES AND ALL
Gaza’s struggles in division two this season are no secret and A grade coach Andrew Jarman dug his long-sleeved yellow and blue guernsey out of the wardrobe to help on the field.
The former Crows, North Adelaide and Norwood has fronted up for the Eagles’ B grade the past two weeks and with good effect.
Jarman, 53, was named in the best players in both matches.
Unfortunately the radio personality’s help was not enough to get the 2-12 side a win as Gaza went down to Unley Mercedes by 95 points at home on Saturday and by 37 points against Athelstone the week before.
ROOS HIT THE SCOREBOARD
Last week we highlighted the plight of Morphettville Park’s struggling B grade, which had failed to register a score in five matches.
We’re pleased to report the division three reserves Roos broke their duck away against Portland on Saturday.
Morphettville Park was still beaten heavily – 18.23 (131) to 0.2 (2) – so it’s not much, but it’s something.
Onwards and upwards Roos.
WIN THE TOSS, WIN THE MATCH
Big, strong breezes dictated many results across the league last Saturday and winning the toss suddenly became very important.
Division three standout Glenunga took advantage of having a gale at its back in the opening term against Golden Grove to pile on 8.5 to 0.1 at Harpers Field.
The Kookaburras had the wind in the last and made a big charge with a nine-goal quarter, but still fell 21 points short of the Rams.
It was a similar story at Camden Oval as Salisbury North took full advantage of winning the toss and going with the breeze to boot 9.4 to 0.1 against PHOS Camden in division two.
Again the opposition used the elements themselves to charge home in the last but it was a mountain too high. The Hawks were winners by 20 points.
PARTY TIME AT THE PORT
If you were wearing black and white and did not kick a goal at Port Reserve on Saturday morning, then you were in the minority.
Adelaide University shared the love and had a staggering 17 different goal kickers as it belted Portland, 30.25 (205) to 0.3 (3), in the early C3 fixture.
Only five Blacks players failed to register a major.
Unsurprisingly given the spread of scorers, no one kicked a big bag.
Jock Blight, Sam Kerber and Gabriel Melchizedek booted three goals each, six Uni players got two and a further eight slotted singles.
Those quick at maths would realise that only makes 29 of the Blacks’ 30 goals and they would be right, one major was left unaccounted for on the scoresheet.
patrick.keam@news.com.au