One-Percenters: Labor leader Peter Malinauskas makes his season debut for ‘The Scum’, division one rivals draw and other quirky titbits from the Adelaide Footy League
STATE Labor leader Peter Malinauskas is lacing up his footy boots for “The Scum”. That’s not partisan mockery, it’s his team’s nickname! Meanwhile, an ex-Crows rookie is back among the goals — here’s this week’s amateur footy 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 in round three:
NEW LEADER HAS A KICK
SA’s new opposition leader is a member of “the Scum”.
Peter Malinauskas, who this month replaced Jay Weatherill as Labor’s top man, lined up for Adelaide University’s C6 team — known affectionately as “the Scum” — on Saturday.
Malinauskas could not get Uni across the line, as Prince Alfred Old Collegians prevailed 18.8 (116) to 6.5 (41) at Park 10.
It was Malinauskas’s first game of the season.
Goalkickers and best players were not provided by Uni on the league website so it was unclear how he fared on the day.
Malinauskas has been a handy goalkicker in previous seasons.
He kicked 18 from 12 games last year and a career-best haul of 33 from 12 appearances in 2016.
GULLIES, SAINTS DRAW
A would-be goal touched on the line and a free kick in the dying moments ensured Goodwood and Tea Tree Gully’s division one match finished in a draw.
The Saints were 21 points down at three-quarter time at Goodwood Oval then fought back and had the chance to win the game late when Jordan Pinto had a shot on the run from 40m.
The kick was straight but Tea Tree Gully defender Jack Astbury managed to get a fingertip on the ball to ensure it went through for a behind.
Then, just when it looked as though the Gullies might snatch the win, Jack Bollmeyer gave away a free kick inside attacking 50 for front-on contact while attempting to spoil going back with the flight of the ball.
The final siren sounded blew less than a minute later.
Both sides have a win and a draw to begin the season.
DRAGONS’ DEN OF DESPAIR
Greenacres’ tough start in division six has continued with a third consecutive thumping to start the season.
The Dragons went down 44.15 (279) to 3.2 (20) to West Croydon at Fawk Reserve.
The result follows 179 and 189-point thrashings in the opening two rounds.
Troy Osland, Jack Mau and Stephen Scambiatterra kicked Greenacres’ goals on Saturday.
Greenacres are bottom of the sixth tier with a 0-3 record — the same win/loss ratio as Brahma Lodge and Adelaide Lutheran.
GRAND FINAL REMATCH REPEAT
Rostrevor Old Collegians got the chocolates in last year’s division one decider and the reigning premier heaped more misery on Payneham Norwood Union in the grand final rematch on Saturday.
The 16.18 (114) to 8.7 (55) victory at Payneham Oval included a dominant second term by ROC, when it kicked 5.10 and kept the Falcons to a single point.
Heath Commane kicked five goals for the visitors.
Rostrevor appears as though it will again be a force in the top tier, building on its 56-point opening round victory over Adelaide University.
Garry McIntosh’s Falcons are bottom of the ladder after the weekend’s loss and a 47-point defeat to Goodwood in round one.
Rostrevor beat PNU by 37 points in last year’s grand final.
WAYWARD GOALKICKING HURTS
Mitcham’s twos had a bit of trouble in front of the big sticks in their division four reserves clash against Kilburn at Blair Athol Reserve.
They booted 5.18 (48) and their inability to put scoreboard pressure on the hosts ultimately cost the Hawks a win, as the Chics kicked 8.5 (53).
Sam Prior (two), Giuseppe Nirta, Patrick Conti and Alex Wakeham slotted Mitcham’s majors.
MILERA BOOTS FOUR
A former Adelaide Crows rookie is the latest ex-AFL player to kick a bag.
Tim Milera, who spent the 2011 season with the Crows before mutually agreeing to part ways, kicked a game-high four goals for Seaton Ramblers in division three on Saturday.
The haul helped the Ramblers prevail 17.20 (122) to 10.9 (69) over Scotch Old Collegians at Pedlar Reserve.
Milera, also a former Port Magpie, joined Seaton from Eyre United during the off-season.
He now has 10 majors to his name from three matches.
HOUGHTON HAS A CLOSE ONE — AGAIN
We would be surprised if anyone at Houghton has any nails left after the club’s start to its division seven campaign.
All three of the Raiders’ games so far have been decided by less than a kick.
The most recent nailbiter was a 11.11 (77) to 10.14 (74) loss to Central United at home.
In round one, Houghton recorded a one-point victory against St Paul’s Old Scholars following a Ben Clark kick after the siren.
The Raiders then lost to O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale after a kick just before the final siren fell short.
A SHOC ANNIVERSARY
Much has changed since a group of Sacred Heart old scholars was able to establish a football club in 1968.
This season marks the 50th anniversary of the formation of Sacred Heart Old Collegians — a once nomad club that has become a force in Adelaide suburban football.
SHOC will celebrate the milestone by wearing a one-off heritage guernsey — featuring the design of its original 1968 strip for its clash — against Gaza on Saturday.
President Scott Collins says the club’s depth and hardworking volunteers have helped it remain in the league’s upper echelons for many years.
“For a truly amateur club, because we effectively don’t pay any of our players as opposed to a lot of the higher division clubs, we’ve been able to compete with those powerhouse district clubs,” Collins says.
“So it's a real credit to everyone at the club that we’ve been able to remain in division one or two for a long time.
“I think over that time and in the early days, we’ve been through some ups and downs but in recent years we’ve only been down as low as A3.”
Born out of the highly successful, football-focused Somerton Park college, the club’s first attempts at forming came from the old scholars association in the early 1960s.
But after years of being unable to obtain a suitable ground, SHOC finally found its first home at Pennington Reserve.
SHOC has three A-grade premierships in 1974, 1993 and 2001 from 12 grand finals, along with a host of reserves flags.
The club will also hold a 50th anniversary dinner at Morphettville Racecourse after Saturday’s match.
Ahead of the celebration, Collins paid homage to one of its greatest servants Neil O’Dea and also arguably its greatest player Michael Collett.
“Neil O’Dea, ‘Noddy’ as he is known, he does everything down at the club and he’s organised the function pretty much, organised memorabilia and done a lot to get this anniversary year off the ground,” he says.
“It’s also worth mentioning Mick Collett, who won five best and fairests for the club, three more than anyone else, played over 200 games and won a div two association medal as well.”
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