One-Percenters: Gaza’s Damon Hill kicks goal after the siren to draw Adelaide Footy League match
Gaza’s match was on the line and Damon Hill was on just one leg but it didn’t stop him nailing a goal from 50m in a crazy draw on Saturday. Check it out in the One-Percenters Adelaide Footy League wrap.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Welcome to One-Percenters – a wrap of some of the quirky talking points from across the Adelaide Footy League.
Each edition we will bring several titbits – they might be eye-catching results, milestones, comebacks, big wins, broken droughts or inspiring stories.
Do you have a story, rumour, photo or video to share?
Email us at matthew.turner1@news.com.au
Here are some of the things that caught our eye in round one:
ROUND ONE MATCH REPORTS: REIGNING PREMIER COPS THRASHING
SEASON PREVIEWS: DIVISION ONE | DIVISION TWO | DIVISIONS THREE TO SEVEN
DRAWN AT THE DEATH
The game was on the line and Gaza’s Damon Hill was on just one leg, but it was all he needed to kick a goal after the siren to steal a draw against Scotch Old Collegians.
With less than a minute left on the clock the Eagles were trailing by six points in the division two clash at Klemzig Oval on Saturday.
A kick from a free to Scotch in their defensive goal square was cut off just inside the 50m arc by Hill, who struggled to stay on his feet due to cramp in his right leg.
But it is lucky Hill, a member of the Adelaide Crows SANFL development list, is a left-footer.
He set sail from 50 and sent it through the big sticks before hobbling away to celebrate with teammates.
Scotch will be kicking themselves after allowing the late goal and also having more scoring shots in the 13.7 (85) to 12.13 (85) stalemate.
The Eagles led by five goals at half-time, the visitors then roared back in the third term before a back-and-forth final quarter.
Gaza coach Andrew Jarman said he even started walking back to the change rooms because he thought the game was over.
“The last quarter was really bizarre, we both kicked four goals a piece,” Jarman said.
“There was about 30 seconds to go and I’m thinking ‘the boys have let this one slip’ and I started walking towards to the club house.
“Next second I saw Damon Hill take a mark, collapsed with both legs cramping up.
“I think he was just outside the 50m line and then he’s put it through with one leg.
“I think our boys thought they were a point up, that’s why they got a little crazy.
“I hate draws, they shouldn’t be in football. It should be next goal wins.
“So you go in flat, but you’re right it was a crazy day.”
Ryan Burns was best for Gaza and Angus Twopeny was strong for Scotch along with Peter Rolfe (three goals), who led the third-quarter charge.
Both sides will face tough tests this Saturday with Gaza away to Sacred Heart Old Collegians and Scotch hosting Unley Mercedes in a local derby.
Jarman says the Eagles were not the side many others had them pegged for.
“The atmosphere, morale and confidence around the club as good as I’ve seen it the last two years,” he said.
“Everyone has written us off, saying we’re a bottom two, three side but I think people are going to be quietly surprised about what we can produce.”
PANTHERS DOCKED POINTS
Smithfield has been stripped of its round one division five win over Lockleys after it was found by the Adelaide Footy League to have played unregistered players.
The league on last week wiped the Panthers’ score from the 19.13 (127) to 11.9 (75) victory at Smithfield Oval.
Smithfield was found to have had four players take to the field who were either unregistered or not cleared to play from another club.
The league suspended any financial penalty after the Panthers willingly admitted a mistake but stripped them of the game.
“The league’s regulations are very clear on the consequences of playing unregistered players which is loss of score and premiership points,” league football operations manager Tony Sullivan said.
“The Smithfield Football Club acknowledged their mistake.”
Smithfield president Dwayne Nisbet declined to comment.
It leaves the Panthers on the bottom of the ladder and moves Lockleys to first after one round.
Smithfield hosts Eastern Park this Saturday.
RAW THUNDER EMOTION
You cannot help but smile at these photos of Portland’s Aron Asfaha from Saturday.
The speedster fell to his knees in celebration after he booted the sealing goal as the Thunder recorded a stirring 13.8 (86) to 11.13 (79) victory over Flinders Park at Port Reserve.
It was the second goal of the day for Asfaha, who joined from Glenunga in the off-season, as he was named fourth best.
Fellow new Thunder player Lindsay Thomas booted five goals on debut.
SUPERBOOTS SHINE
It did not take long for some of the league’s forwards to find their way onto the scoresheet with big bags of goals.
Adelaide Lutheran goalsneak David Hodges got his season started with a lazy 13 in C5 against Mawson Lakes.
The former Unley Mercedes goal kicker booted 82 majors in 2018 across the Bulldogs’ B and C grades.
It was a family affair at Athelstone as Chase McPeake snared 10 for the Raggies in their big C2 win over Seaton Ramblers. Todd McPeake was not far behind with seven of his own.
Daimon Barrow also reached double digits as he booted 10 for Mawson Lakes in division seven. Christopher Bilney was the fifth player to reach 10 or more, with two handfuls in C5 for Salisbury.
There are a few familiar faces behind him in the C5 goal tally in Hope Valley’s Darren Mitchell (nine) and Pulteney’s Jesse Whinnen (seven). Mitchell and Whinnen both reached the coveted 100-goal mark last season with 117 and 120 majors respectively.
OLD BOYS BACK IN TOWN
He is in charge of running country footy in SA but former Sturt and Glenelg spearhead Matthew Duldig is back playing in the city this season.
Duldig has joined division three side Morphettville Park from Millicent and wasted no time getting some goals on the board in round one.
He booted five but the Roos were unable to get over Golden Grove in a 12.20 (92) to 8.4 (52) defeat.
While we’re on the topic of veteran ex-SANFL talent popping up in the Adelaide Footy League, there was an appearance from former Bays captain Ty Allen, also in division three.
The hard-nosed midfielder was most recently coaching Myponga-Sellicks in the Great Southern Football League.
But on Saturday he turned out for Westminster Old Scholars in its 14.10 (94) to 8.14 (62) loss at Glandore Oval. Allen booted a single goal for the Dragons.
THREE FROM THREE
It is the best way for any Adelaide Footy League club to begin the season – three wins in the opening round across the A, B and C grade.
Or four, for those clubs with numbers to fill a D grade or beyond.
Here are the clubs which went undefeated across all senior sides on the weekend.
We’ll keep an eye on who can keep this streak going the longest.
Goodwood Saints, Payneham Norwood Union*, Unley Mercedes, Athelstone, Golden Grove*, Glenunga**, Walkerville, Hope Valley, Pulteney, Elizabeth, Houghton Districts, Adelaide Lutheran.
* Includes D grade
** C grade had a bye
ROOS’ ROUGH DAY OUT
Seasons don’t start much tougher than Morphettville Park’s division three reserves loss to Golden Grove on Saturday.
The Roos were belted around Kellett Reserve in a 32.21 (213) to 0.0 (0) thrashing.
Here’s hoping Morphy Park can pull it back together in the B grade when it hosts Old Ignatians this Saturday.
patrick.keam@news.com.au
Watch replays: Australian Junior Hardcourt Tennis Championships, Day 2
Three top seeds locked up quarter final appearances at one of Tennis Australia’s top junior tournaments, while a Queenslander’s hot start drew to a close. Check out the schedule. Catch the REPLAYS.
‘Change is required’: Restructure looms for major SA footy region
Plans of a restructure are being floated for one of SA’s biggest country footy and netball regions, with the SANFL set to meet with local league and club representatives. See what the future could hold.