One-Percenters: Ryan Wade kicks 100 goals for Marion plus more Adelaide Footy League news
A RUCKMAN’S move forward nets him 100 goals, old collegians go undefeated, women’s grand final winners plus more in One-Percenters Adelaide Footy League wrap.
- Player reported four times in one match
- Clubs fall one win from perfect home-and-away season
- Tons toppling in local footy as two players notch up 100 goals
- Watch: the 80m torpedo goal that needs to be seen to be believed
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.
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 as teams enter the home stretch of season 2018:
100 GOALS FOR BIG MAN
Ryan Wade was dubious about being moved from the ruck to the forward line when he rejoined his junior club Marion at the beginning of the season.
But after booting his 100th goal in division seven on Saturday, the 32-year-old says it has probably been the right move.
“It’s a bit of a surprise (kicking 100) in a way because it’s my first year playing forward,” says Wade, who spent the past seven seasons at Hills Football League club Meadows.
“I’ve rucked most of my senior career, about 180-190 games.
“My goal was to come down and play in the middle but the coach (Ben Porter) said pretty early they already had enough ruckman and needed someone up forward.
“But I said ‘once you’ll see me play, you’ll want me in the middle’.”
Wade was sent to the goal square in pre-season trial games and then kicked 2.7 in round one.
“I was a bit worried it wasn’t going to work out,” he says.
“But I kicked 3.1 against Golden Grove the next week and then had a bit of a day out against Flinders (University) after that where I got 13.
“I’ve never kicked more than six in a game before this season.”
Wade joins O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale’s Trevor Rigney, Pulteney’s Tom Langford and Jesse Whinnen and Hope Valley’s Darren Mitchell in reaching 100 goals in the league this season.
Wade reached the ton in the Rams’ 13.6 (84) to 10.8 (68) qualifying final victory over St Paul’s Old Scholars, finishing with six for the match.
He came into the clash on 96 goals and had three by half-time when Marion was trailing.
“It was a bit of a relief actually,” he says.
“I felt a fair bit of pressure coming to the end of the season to make it to 100.
“Once I started getting up in the 80s then the 90s, it just got to that point where it was like ‘I gotta kick it’.
“It was an important goal in terms of the game, because we were behind and they had just kicked one. So I was just more celebrating the individual goal.
“But the boys all got around me, which was great. It was a great feeling.”
Playing forward has allowed Wade to take better care of his body, without the crash and bash of rucking – something he says may prolong his career.
The Rams will take on southern rivals O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale this Saturday in the second semi-final.
The winner will progress to the decider in a fortnight.
SAINTS IN HEAVEN
It has been far and away the top team in division two and St Peter’s Old Collegians confirmed its unbeatable status on Saturday when it finished the home-and-away season 18-0.
SPOC is the only A-grade side across the league to have gone all the way through the minor rounds without a loss.
Saints were too good for Broadview at Caterer Oval, winning 11.9 (75) to 6.6 (42).
Henry Trenorden, Jordan Lockwood and Jock McLeay (three goals) were best for SPOC.
The A-grade win capped a day of victories for Saints over the Tigers, as the Bs and Cs also triumphed.
Rosewater and O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale both entered their final round games the previous week without a loss but went down.
WINNING WOMEN
It was a celebration of women’s footy at Thebarton Oval on Sunday as four of the league’s women’s divisions grand finals were played.
Southern side Happy Valley was too good for Gaza in division three, running out 3.4 (22) to 1.9 (15) winners.
Caitlin Gould, Alannah Rochow and Amber O’Donnell were best for the Vikings.
In division four, Broadview put on a defensive clinic to take the crown in a 4.11 (35) to 0.1 (1) victory over West Croydon.
Tiger Amber Ward (two goals) led the way.
Old Ignatians celebrated its first season in the women’s competition with a big win over Kenilworth in the fifth-tier decider.
Iggies triumphed 5.1 (31) to 0.2 (2) as best-on-ground medallist Kate Harris starred.
Hills side Ironbank Cherry Gardens was victorious in the division six grand final against Aldinga.
This Sunday, Adelaide University will take on Salisbury in the division one grand final and Mount Lofty will face off against Angle Vale for the second-tier crown.
DEMONS IN KICKING HELL
Lockleys will be in for goalkicking practise at training this week and probably kicking themselves at the same time after a costly performance in Saturday’s division five qualifying final.
The Demons booted a woeful 4.20 (44) to go down by a goal to Pulteney’s 7.8 (50).
It did not begin badly though, as Lockleys kicked 2.3 to lead the Navy Blues by two points at the first break.
Things then turned south.
The Demons kicked 0.5 in the second quarter, 0.8 in the third and 2.5 in the fourth
Windy, rainy conditions at Morgan Oval would not have helped.
Lockleys will need to find its feet in front of goal quickly before it plays Woodville South in a do-or-die home semi-final this Saturday.
SAINTS SOARING, ROC FALLING
Division one powerhouse Goodwood has been slowly building all season and signalled its intent for a serious shake at the premiership on Saturday.
The Saints knocked off top side Rostrevor Old Collegians at home in a tight affair, 7.6 (48) to 6.6 (42).
Goodwood is 9-2, while ROC has lost two of its past three matches.
To make matters worse, the reigning premiers have also been hit with injuries to two of their biggest stars.
Midfielder Craig Holm , a division one best and fairest, sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury playing for SA in June and now captain Will O’Malley has gone down.
O’Malley suffered a calf injury in the loss to Goodwood, leaving him in doubt to return again this year.
Rostrevor takes on Prince Alfred Old Collegians this Saturday, a side that beat it earlier in the season.
A loss at Park Nine, coupled with second-placed Tea Tree Gully defeating Payneham Norwood Union, would mean ROC would lose the minor premiership to the Wolves.
RAGGIES GO STRAIGHT DOWN
Athelstone’s return to the top tier was short-lived after a defeat on Saturday confirmed the club’s relegation from division one.
The Raggies were belted 17.12 (114) to 4.5 (29) away by PNU last Saturday and drop-zone rivals Adelaide University defeated Henley 11.7 (73) to 6.9 (45).
It capped a seven-game losing streak and left Athelstone unable to move from ninth on the ladder, regardless of the results in this Saturday’s final round.
The Raggies came up to division one after making last season’s second-tier grand final, which they lost to Henley.
Here are the Adelaide Footy League clubs confirmed for relegation:
Division one: Modbury (0-17), Athelstone (5-12)
Division two: Old Ignatians (3-15), Golden Grove (3-15)
Division three: Pembroke (1-17), Walkerville (4-14)
Division four: Salisbury (4-14), Eastern Park (9-9*)
Division five: Ingle Farm (1-17), Hectorville (2-15)
Division six: Greenacres (0-18), Adelaide Lutheran (3-15)
Note: Relegation and promotion is subject to change before the beginning of the 2019 season.
*Had points deducted during the season
THE LEAGUE’S MOST HEROIC DIVISION
The true spirit of the game shone through at Thebarton Oval on Saturday night in the C7 grand final.
Eastern Park defeated Goodwood Saints in the decider of the division, which caters for individuals with mental disabilities, physical limitations and integration issues.
Read Patrick McDonald’s full report for The Advertiser here.