Lockleys ruckman Charlie Rogers takes hanger caught on video in Adelaide Footy League division five
There were shades of Shaun Smith, Jeff Farmer and Jeremy Howe when an amateur footballer took an absolute screamer in a Demons guernsey on Saturday. Plus more in the One-Percenters Adelaide Footy League column.
- Is this the division one grand final preview?
- Miss after the siren helps avoid third-straight relegation
- Who will win SA footy’s race to reach 100 goals?
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
DEMON SCREAMER
There were shades of Shaun Smith, Jeff Farmer and Jeremy Howe when Lockleys ruckman Charlie Rogers took a screamer in a Demons guernsey on Saturday.
Rogers’ hanger – seen in the video above – was not filmed with the quality of the marks of those Melbourne AFL greats but is one of the better grabs we have seen at amateur level in some time, despite the long-range footage.
The Demon launched at the footy in Lockleys’ division five clash against Kenilworth at St Mary’s and took it one-handed, well and truly on top of the his Kookaburra stepladder.
Lockleys coach Stephen Zweck said the grab was up there with the best he had seen in 40 years in footy.
“I’ve seen a lot of good ones but not many better than that,” Zweck said.
“That was big – the footage really doesn’t quite do it justice.
“He was up there for so long and stuck out the one hand to grab it. Then the crowd went nuts as you can hear on the video.”
Zweck said Rogers, who comes from a basketball background and has only played 16 games of senior football, attempts at least one big hanger every match.
“He’s still learning but we knew he had a massive leap on him since we picked him up last year,” he said.
“He’s like a big giraffe out there at times. He jumps and doesn’t know how high he is.”
Lockleys lost the match 18.11 (119) to 13.9 (87) against the top-placed Kenilworth.
But the Demons are in the thick of the finals hunt ahead of a big final round fixture at home against Salisbury this Saturday.
The Demons, Eastern Park and the Magpies are all locked on 20 points from positions four to six, with Lockleys holding the best percentage.
Saturday will be further significant because it is potentially the last match at Lockleys Oval before the old clubrooms are demolished and a new building is constructed.
The Demons will wear a one-off guernsey featuring the names of all its A grade premiership players for the game.
THE GOAL UMPIRE STRIKES BACK
Goal umpires cop plenty of stick every Saturday but one of the officials between the posts (accidentally) struck back on the weekend.
Adelaide University defender Jack Strange copped a flag in the face when the umpire went to wave for a behind at Campbelltown Memorial Oval.
It didn’t look like Strange – a Port Adelaide SANFL development-listed player – received much sympathy from the umpire who appeared to crack a wry smile.
Unfortunately for Uni it went down 9.9 (63) to 3.5 (35) at the hands of Rostrevor Old Collegians.
UPS AND DOWNS
There are now eight sides doomed for relegation and a handful of others battling to avoid them heading into the final week for most divisions.
A fortnight ago four clubs – Gaza, Gepps Cross, Morphettville Park and O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale – were mathematically confirmed for demotion.
They have been joined by four more teams.
Modbury will drop two divisions in two years with it destined to finish ninth in the fourth tier.
The Hawks have a 4-13 win-loss record coming into the last minor round on the back of a winless 2018 campaign in division one.
Colonel Light Gardens have struggled to a 2-15 record in the fourth tier and officially had their fate sealed to fall to division five next year.
The Lions’ disappointing campaign reached a new low on Saturday as failed to kick a goal and lost 16.12 (108) to 0.10 (10) to top side SMOSH West Lakes.
They will be joined by Pooraka.
The Bulls were relegated after Pembroke Old Scholars achieved survival by pulling off a draw away to Edwardstown, the match finishing with a shot after the siren.
Blackfriars Old Scholars have been outgunned for much of the campaign in division five and will also drop down.
Either Trinity Old Scholars or Rosewater will join them depending on results in the final round.
Marion and Brahma Lodge are at risk of being added to OSB Lonsdale as demoted division six sides.
In division one, Adelaide University is not out of the woods yet and is battling reigning premiers Tea Tree Gully to avoid the drop to division two.
The Blacks are one win ahead of the Wolves, plus a healthy percentage gap, and bottom-placed Henley are a further two points back.
Uni plays the Sharks in the final round, a match will likely condemn Henley to relegation and could save the Blacks from the drop.
It is despite a mid-season coaching change at the club.
Uni coach Craig Smith was given leave from the club for personal reasons earlier this season with assistant Ben Watkins taking the role for the remainder of the campaign.
Blacks football director Adrian Howard said it was a mutual decision between Smith and the club.
“For personal reasons Craig couldn’t commit to footy,” Howard said.
“We’re considering what we will do in 2020 but haven’t made a decision about who will be coaching.”
Uni is away to St Peter’s Old Collegians in the penultimate minor round.
Flinders University and Mitchell Park are guaranteed to finish bottom and second-last respectively in division seven for the second-straight season.
There is no relegation from the lowest A grade tier, so these clubs were not included with those above.
Division Two – Gaza, Modbury
Division Three – Gepps Cross, Morphettville Park
Division Four – Colonel Light Gardens, Pooraka
Division Five – Blackfriars Old Scholars
Division Six – O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale
TWO ‘LEGS IN THE THIRDS
Payneham Norwood Union had not one but two SANFL premiership winners running around in its C grade on Saturday.
Falcons A grade coach Garry McIntosh joined 2014 Redlegs flag midfielder Kristian Roocke in the thirds as they were battered 21.10 (136) to 4.4 (28) by Henley at Payneham Oval.
It was McIntosh’s sixth outing for the Falcons C1 side this season, the dual Magarey Medallist also played 10 games in 2018.
Roocke, who was Norwood’s leading goal kicker in 2017 before calling time on his SANFL career, was named best on ground for Payneham.
It was his second game this year as he returns from a long-term knee injury suffered in last season’s division one semi-final against Goodwood Saints.
MILESTONE MEN
Mawson Lakes veteran Kim Pearce stole the show on the weekend when he notched up his 800th game for the Saints in C6.
But there were a some other big milestones not to be ignored.
A mammoth effort from Smithfield stalwart Paul “Donga” Van Dongen as he ran out for match number 500 at the Panthers.
Salisbury regular Ryan Paget hit the big 300 for the Magpies in division five, another terrific effort.
Do you have a milestone at your club worthy of recognition? Email patrick.keam@news.com.au
CBCOS?
CBC Old Collegians are flying in their first season back up in division four in second on the ladder.
The Dolphins deserve some attention for their fine campaign but it seems those at the league office are not too focused on the purple power from the parklands.
patrick.keam@news.com.au