Morphettville Park claims 2021 Adelaide Footy League women’s division one premiership
It’s one of SA’s most top women’s footy programs and a big part of Morphettville Park’s recent double premiership wins come down to one key thing.
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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 18:
WOMEN’S PREMIERS CROWNED
It’s one of SA’s most successful women’s football programs and a big part of Morphettville Park’s recent double premiership success comes down to one key thing, according to coach Brad Ferrall.
The Roos strong culture – ingrained at the club as it has built itself as one of the state’s female footy pioneers – has brought on-field accolades and helped push players to higher honours.
Morphettville Park claimed both the division one and reserves flags in dual grand final triumphs at St Mary’s Park on Saturday.
In the A grade, the Roos turned around a slow start against the wind to power home in a big second half and triumph 8.3 (51) to 2.6 (18) over Payneham Norwood Union.
Ferrall said the club had done a good job over a long period of time to build a successful atmosphere.
“We’re lucky everyone’s so supportive at the club and the culture is so strong,” said Ferrall, in his second year in the role.
“You just need to see the way the B grade supported us and vice versa on the weekend that it’s pretty clear we’re one club.
“Saturday was a great reward for not only the players but for everyone around the club who puts in so much hard work.”
Rising stars Ella Little, who won the best on ground medal, and Amelia Rusden led the way for the Roos among an even team performance in the grand final.
Ferrall said he did not think he would have the privilege of coaching the pair again as they were “certainly on the way to bigger things”.
And the club is well known as a brilliant breeding ground for talent, helping the likes of AFLW Ebony Marinoff, Courtney Cramey, Kellie Gibson and several more in the journey’s to the top level.
“As much as it’s about winning premierships, you’re also there to giving the playing group the best opportunity they can if they do want to move up to SANFLW and hopefully AFLW, that’s what we love to see,” Ferrall said.
“I think every year we’ve had at least one player drafted that started at Morphettville Park and it’s a pretty cool achievement.
“The fact we have people that may move up to SANFLW or AFLW but they don’t forget where they came from either, which is really important.
“We’re pretty lucky to have such good people an footy brains coming back to the club.”
In the reserves decider, the Roos took care of SMOSH West Lakes 6.4 (40) to 0.3 (3).
And in other results on Saturday Goodwood Saints took out the division four grand final against Henley, Gepps Cross claimed the fifth tier flag over Old Ignatians and Lockleys was victorious against Brighton in division six.
100-GOAL MARVELS
Another couple of goal kickers joined the 100 club as the men’s minor rounds came to a close on Saturday.
Golden Grove’s Joel Horskins entered round 18 on 96 majors and he raised the bat in serious style, kicking the first four goals of the match to reach the ton.
Horskins went on to boot a remarkable 11 for the day and take his season tally to 107.
A brilliant effort.
Also reaching the century – in less straight forward fashion – was Pulteney’s Jesse Whinnen.
The Navy Blues veteran notched two majors in the final match of the C4 season against Walkerville to reach 101.
His ton has come from a combination of 71 goals in the C grade, 28 in the reserves and two in the A grade.
Whinnen has previously fallen short of the magic mark, kicking 94 in 2020 and 93 in 2015.
MARKS AND GOALS OF THE WEEK
DONE AND DUSTED
While there was plenty to celebrate on Saturday for those who won premierships or booked finals spots, for some it was the bitter taste of relegation.
Six clubs entered the final round already condemned to the drop and were joined by a further six teams.
These are the unlucky sides set to be demoted to the lower division next season: Adelaide University, Unley Mercedes, Scotch Old Collegians, Seaton Ramblers, Plympton, Portland, Gepps Cross, Kilburn, West Croydon, Fitzroy, Ingle Farm and Mawson Lakes.
There is a caveat however, with the league and its clubs considering a proposal to cut each division to eight teams in 2022.
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