One-Percenters: headcount controversy, ex-Crow Michael Doughty makes debut and more in Adelaide Footy League wrap
A HEADCOUNT divides two sides in the top tier, find out why a former Crows star made his debut in the B grade and more in this week’s Adelaide Footy League wrap.
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WELCOME to One-Percenters — a wrap of some of the quirky talking points from across the Adelaide Footy League.
Each edition we will bring you eight or so titbits — 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 at the weekend:
HEADCOUNT CONTROVERSY
A headcount in the Tea Tree Gully and Henley division one clash at Pertaringa Oval on Saturday resulted in a 50m penalty, rather than led to the wiping of scores.
The Sharks called for a count midway through the final term of their clash and the Gullies were found to have had an extra man on the field.
Tea Tree Gully’s Adam Maschotta was coming from the ground in the hands of trainers after tearing the medial ligament in his knee and play and time were stopped by a field umpire.
Another Gullies player came onto the ground to replace him before Maschotta had properly left the field of play.
Henley was awarded a free kick and 50m penalty, which resulted in a goal.
Gullies coach J ustin Maschotta said his side had no intention of gaining an advantage because Adam Maschotta could not affect the play and the game was stopped while he left the field.
“I was a little bit shocked by it (the call for a headcount),” Justin Maschotta said.
“There’s no way I would do it but it’s up to Henley and how they want to deal with it.”
Sharks coach Jarrad Parker felt the umpires’ decision to penalise the Gullies on the day was deserved.
“The player that had replaced him was around the contest when it was restarted and we felt this was advantageous to the opposition when it shouldn’t have been,” Parker said.
“After a subsequent stoppage, we alerted the umpire to this fact, because even by then the injured player still wasn’t off the field.
“We think the penalty applied by the umpires on the day was fair and we made a submission to the league that we didn’t want the matter to be taken any further.
“That’s not a manner in which we want to win games of football.”
The Adelaide Footy League has discretion on whether or not points should be stripped in a match if a team is found to have too many players on the field.
Last month a record country football winning streak was ended when scores were wiped following a headcount.
League chief executive John Kernahan said the Gullies would not be stripped of points and clubs would only have their scores wiped for the offence in extreme circumstances.
MOTLOP BOOTS SEVEN
He kicked seven goals in a game once during his 11 years in the AFL and on Saturday former Port Adelaide and North Melbourne forward Daniel Motlop did it again.
Motlop, 36, was on fire for Kenilworth, which rolled Lockleys 19.8 (122) to 11.8 (74) at St Marys Park.
His AFL career-high of seven majors came against Essendon in 2008, playing for the Power.
Kenilworth was 1-2 before Motlop played his first game for the Kookaburras against Hope Valley in round four.
Since then the club has won six straight to now be equal second on the ladder, alongside the Demons.
Motlop has featured three times for a tally of 12 goals.
DOUGHTY IN THE TWOS
Former Adelaide Crow Michael Doughty made his debut for division two club Unley Mercedes on Saturday – in the Jets’ B grade.
Doughty has joined Unley Mercedes this season from his junior team, Reynella, as football director and helped out the Jets’ reserves against Broadview because his club has a lengthy injury list.
Wearing his usual number 11 guernsey, the player manager started on the wing but quickly drifted to half-back where he pick up plenty of the footy and started several of the Jets’ forward forays at Broadview Oval.
Top-ranked Unley Mercedes recorded a tight 7.8 (50) to 6.6 (42) victory over the Tigers, who were third coming into the round.
But it is unclear whether the appearance is a once-off or if Doughty will be a regular as the Jets charge towards the finals in all three grades.
It was a good day out overall for Unley Mercedes as it also claimed a 32-point win in the A grade and a 65-point victory in the Cs against the Tigers.
HEAVEN IS 11
Two spearheads found themselves in 11th heaven on the weekend.
Former Norwood and North forward Tom Langford kicked the bag for Pulteney in division five, while Heath Commane did so for Rostrevor Old Collegians in the top tier.
Commane’s haul helped ROC n its 28.17 (185) to 5.7 (37) demolition of Modbury at Thebarton Oval.
Langford was instrumental to Pulteney’s 21.10 (136) to 8.12 (60) drubbing of Hectorville.
He now has 55 goals from eight games this season, while Commane has 36 from seven.
Only O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale’s Trevor Rigney in division seven (62 goals) has a bigger tally than Langford this year.
SMOTHER SAVES DAY
A gripping one-point win at Camden Oval on Saturday came thanks to a matchwinning smother as PHOS Camden won a nailbiter over Gaza.
The second-ranked Phantoms looked in danger of losing to the ninth-placed Eagles until Will Papatolis produced a desperate smother when Gaza was trying to force the ball forward to regain the lead near full time.
PHOS held on to prevail 10.9 (69) to 10.8 (68).
FIRST GAME, FIRST GOAL
Payneham Norwood Union jumped into division one’s top five for the first time this season as a former Redleg made his debut.
Kristian Roocke, who retired from SANFL level at the end of last season due to injury, lined up for the Falcons against Adelaide University.
The former Norwood midfielder kicked the opening goal of the match as the Falcons went onto win 7.11 (53) to 5.8 (38) at Payneham Oval.
Roocke will be better for the run and is likely short of match fitness given his lack of pre-season, but will be a valuable asset for the Falcons as they attempt to climb back up the ladder and avenge last season’s grand final loss.
The PNU junior played 88 games for the Redlegs, led the club’s goalkicking in 2017 with 26 goals and was part of the 2014 premiership team.
RAMPAGING UP THE DIVISIONS
New boys Glenunga appear a hot chance to gain promotion from division four after taking its nearest rival to the cleaners on Saturday.
The Rams smashed second-placed Colonel Light Gardens 27.16 (178) to 5.5 (35) in a show of dominance, which certified their position in top spot on the ladder and flag favouritism.
Harry Prosser was Glenunga’s best in the win, booting eight goals.
The Rams only defeat this season was a 10-point loss to Edwardstown in round one.
They hold an 8-1 record at the halfway point and will be looking to achieve the rare feat of back-to-back promotions.
Glenunga dominated division five in 2017, losing just three matches before beating Pooraka by 71 points in the grand final.
In 2017, the club brought on board a who’s who of Australian football.
It is coached by former Richmond (AFL) and Port Adelaide (SANFL) player Brian Leys and its football director is Richard Kelly (Norwood).
Other names involved included Brownlow Medallist Mark Ricciuto, Dale Lewis (ex-Sydney), Duncan Kellaway (Richmond), James Thiessen (Richmond and Adelaide) and Ben Nelson (Carlton and Adelaide).
MICHAEL WALTERS ON FIRE
A Michael Walters bag of goals is not normally a headline given the regular brilliant performances the Fremantle star puts out over in Perth.
But Michael Walters booting four for Golden Grove on Saturday sparks some interest.
The Kookaburras’ Walters, a namesake of the Docker who also wears the number 10, was a standout for his side against Brighton in division two.
Unfortunately, Golden Grove fell to the Bombers, 24.14 (158) to 11.9 (75).
But if their Walters can continue to channel the performances of his WA counterpart, his side may be able to grab its first win of the season after a 0-9 start.
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