One-Percenters: Another Houghton game decided after siren, Brett Ebert and Troy Menzel debut, plus other quirky titbits from the weekend in Adelaide Footy League
A team has a game decided by a kick after the siren for a second straight week and an ex-Crow and former Power forward debut – they are among this week’s wrap of the Adelaide Footy League, One-Percenters.
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- One-Percenters: Marion wins first game in almost three years
- Krakouer signs up with Prince Alfred Old Collegians
- Ex-Power forward Brett Ebert becomes a Shark
- Rostrevor Old Collegians cruises to division one flag
WELCOME to One-Percenters – a wrap of some of the quirky talking points from across the weekend in the Adelaide Footy League.
Each edition we will bring you eight or so titbits from the latest weekend across the Adelaide Footy League – 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 in round two:
SIREN SOUNDS ON RAIDERS – AGAIN
Two kicks after the siren to win the game in two weeks.
That is what Houghton has experienced so far to start its division seven campaign.
The Raiders won by a point in the opening round thanks to a Ben Clark kick after the siren against St Paul’s Old Scholars but they were not so fortunate on Saturday.
With time winding down in its game against O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale, Houghton won a clearance before marking inside 50 just seconds before the siren sounded.
But this time the kick fell agonisingly short, resulting in a two-point loss.
EX-SFL SIDES ON THE MARCH
Former Southern Football League clubs O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale and Marion must be loving life in the Adelaide Footy League’s seventh tier after chalking up their second consecutive wins to start the season on Saturday.
As mentioned above, the Lions beat Houghton by two points, while Marion recorded a 41-point victory on the road against Golden Grove in round two.
The results are a stark contrast from the clubs’ fortunes in the SFL in recent years, where they were often cellar-dwellers.
DON'T FORGET BRETT
Former Power player Brett Ebert got off to a bright start in his club debut for Henley.
The 2003 Magarey Medallist kicked two goals and was named third-best on debut in the Sharks’ 17-point home victory over Modbury on Saturday.
Ebert, 34, played 166 AFL games for the Power.
Henley has returned to the top tier after winning last season’s division two grand final.
FORMER CROW OFF TO A FLYER
Ex-Crow Troy Menzel looks to have immediately settled into amateur football, booting three goals in round one for Tea Tree Gully on Saturday.
The former Carlton and Adelaide forward played his part in the Gullies’ 31-point division one win over Port District.
The Crows delisted Menzel, 23, at the end of last season and he opted to join Tea Tree Gully, in a bid to rediscover his love of the game.
ONLY ONE GOAL FOR HAPLESS HAVEN
Bragging rights in the pubs down at the Port are well and truly with Portland after keeping North Haven to just one goal in a dominant win.
It took until the dying moments of the match for the Magpies to register a major in the division three local derby at Port Reserve.
Haven finished with 1.7 (13) to Portland’s 18.17 (125).
Brenton Wanganeen saved his side some embarrassment by kicking its only goal with a minute remaining in the game.
MORE THAN A LION’S SHARE
Fitzroy spearhead Nick Prokopec has kicked another bag of goals.
A week after booting 16 in division six’s opening round, Prokopec slotted another 10 goals against Trinity Old Scholars on Saturday.
The Lions prevailed 16.3 (99) to 6.9 (45) over Trinity.
With 26 majors, Prokopec is already 12 clear of his nearest rival, Para Hills’ Ryan Smiech, at the top of the goalkicking chart.
Smiech has booted six and eight to begin the year.
BACK FROM DEREGISTRATION
The Adelaide Footy League has reinstated Salisbury North player Callum Hay – four-and-a-half years after he was deregistered for exceeding the competition’s 12-game suspension threshold.
Hay received two bans, totalling 15 matches, after being found guilty of making contact with an umpire and rough conduct during the Hawks’ grand final replay loss to Rostrevor Old Collegians in September 2013.
With his three-year deregistration moratorium having lapsed, Hay applied last year to play at Salisbury North but the amateur league rejected his request.
This week, Adelaide Footy League chief executive John Kernahan said Hay’s conduct in the Barossa, Light and Gawler and Adelaide Plains competitions over the past four years had been beyond reproach, earning him the right to get a second chance.
“The league were really impressed in the manner he represented himself,” Kernahan said.
“The appeal mechanism allows for those eligible to apply for reinstatement and Callum certainly covered his bases to ensure he was given due consideration.
“We’re confident he will embrace that opportunity as a privilege as against a right to play in the Adelaide Footy League
“The opportunity is now alive for Callum to be a productive member of our league.”
BLACKS THE TEAM TO BEAT
Five other clubs will be trying to stop Adelaide University from claiming back-to-back premierships when the Adelaide Footy League’s women’s competition kicks off this weekend.
The Blacks went through last year unbeaten, winning all 10 minor round games and their second semi-final before smashing Salisbury by 118 points in the flag decider.
The Magpies face Uni at Salisbury Oval in round one this Saturday and are keen to atone for how their 2017 ended.
“We are going in with the same attitude as last year – it’s all about belief and enjoying your footy,” Salisbury coach Richard Gray says.
“Putting in with that is education and getting them to understand the game a little bit more.
“We had a fantastic season and I just want them to try and develop from that.”
Christies Beach is new to the top tier after claiming last season’s division two premiership.
Saints president Paul Daly says his club is looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s our third season in the women’s league, so we’ve had a pretty rapid rise in that time,” Daly says.
“Our primary focus is to be as competitive as possible.
“We know it will be a step up and the focus is on continuing to develop the squad and hopefully win our fair share of games.”
Port Adelaide starts this season under a new coach, former Goodwood Saints under-18s mentor Stephan Priesley.
Priesley, who takes over from Emma Sampson, is keen to help Port improve on its 2-8 record from last year.
“Most of the pre-season has been based around skill development,” Priesley says.
“If you can’t hit a target, you’re not going to win games of footy.”
Fitzroy will also be looking for big things after changing its name from West Adelaide over summer.
The Lions start their season with a clash against Morphettville Park at home on Saturday.
Port Adelaide battles Christies Beach at Alberton Oval on Sunday, April 22 at 3pm.
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