One-Percenters: The Adelaide Footy League’s relegation battles
Relegation has returned to the Adelaide Footy League this season – so who is facing the drop and who is under threat? That plus more from around the league in One-Percenters.
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Welcome to One-Percenters – a wrap of the quirky talking points from the round in the Adelaide Footy League.
Each edition we will bring you eight or so titbits from the latest weekend – they might be eye-catching results, milestones, comebacks, big wins, broken droughts or inspiring stories.
If you have heard about something quirky in the Adelaide Footy League, email us your suggestions or photos to patrick.keam@news.com.au
From the quirky to the inspirational, the weird, wonderful and everything in between here are the things which caught our eye in round eight:
RELEGATION BATTLES
It is the dreaded word coaches, football directors and presidents all around never want to hear.
Relegation has returned to the Adelaide Footy League in 2021 after being frozen alongside promotion in the Covid-19 affected 2020 campaign.
And, almost halfway through the season, the relegation picture in each division is beginning to take shape with some teams facing a battle to avoid the drop in the back nine rounds.
Adelaide University coach Ben Watkins knew how valuable the Blacks’ emotional victory over Brighton on Saturday was to his side’s season.
But relief from the two points gained will quickly turn to what next.
“I understand that we’re young and are in the bottom two – but we still want to play finals,” Watkins said.
The Blacks are ninth but just two wins back from fifth place.
In fact, the top flight relegation picture has been blown apart in recent weeks thanks to Port District’s three-game winning streak and Unley Mercedes’ huge upset over Goodwood.
The Magpies (seventh) are still in the drop zone mix however.
As for the bottom-placed Jets, they will need to pick up a few more wins from the sides around them to stay in the hunt starting with Tea Tree Gully this Saturday.
The Wolves are eighth with a 3-5 record but have shown their ability to take scalps.
Brighton (sixth) and even 2020 grand finalists Rostrevor Old Collegians (fifth) could find themselves drawn into the battle if they are not careful. Both hold 4-4 records.
In division two, it appears to be a race in four with Seaton Ramblers, Salisbury North and Athelstone two wins off sixth place.
Cellar dweller Scotch is a game further back but snatched its first win of the season last time out.
The Ramblers could be the mover of the pack after two big victories in their past three.
In the third tier the picture is a lot clearer.
Battling Portland is yet to win a game and appears hard pressed to break the drought while CBC Old Collegians has struggled, it’s only win so far has been against the Thunder.
Westminster Old Scholars and Plympton are two games clear of the Dolphins and will hope to at least keep that buffer.
In division four, Kilburn has an uphill battle at 0-8 trailing Woodville South (2-6), Gepps Cross and SMOSH West Lakes (both 3-5).
If the Chics continue to struggle it will be a fierce contest to avoid the dreaded ninth position.
Fitzory is also winless in division five and West Croydon have managed just one victory.
Those two will need to get moving quickly if they have any hope of staying up, with Hectorville (3-4-1) the team looking over its shoulder.
Down in division six, Para Hills has set a cat among the pigeons by winning its last two after a five-game losing run to begin the campaign.
The Big Reds are now seventh ahead of Ingle Farm (2-6) and Mawson Lakes (1-7).
Above Para Hills though are three clubs – Blackfriars Old Scholars, Marion and Rosewater – which hold 3-4 records and could easily fall into the mix.
That division will be one of the most intriguing.
Luckily for the seventh tier there is no relegation, however Hackham and O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale are the bottom two clubs.
MARKS AND GOALS OF THE WEEK
This season the Adelaide Footy League has partnered up with The Advertiser and Messenger to crown the best mark and best goal of 2021.
Each week you can find the top three of each from the round here in the One-Percenters column.
Vote in the poll for your favourite.
At the end of the year the top marks and goals will go in the running to be named the best of the season with an overall vote decided by you.
RAMS WIN IT AT THE DEATH
Spirits were sky-high at Sturt Oval on Saturday night – and with good reason.
Marion snatched its third win of the season in a one-point thriller against Blackfriars Old Scholars.
William Cavallo would not have had to buy a drink that night after a best on ground performance which culminated with the wining goal in the final minute.
With the Rams five points down, Cavallo received a handball on the 50m arc and somehow found plenty of space to take a bounce, run in a coolly slot it through.
Jordan Powell and Benjamin Miller were also influential for the hosts.
The Rams were in need of a victory after becoming the first division six side to lose to Para Hills this season the week before.
The win took them to equal fourth, only behind Blackfriars on percentage.
CASH INJECTION
Another club smiling on Saturday was Broadview.
Although the Tigers went down to Seaton Ramblers on the field, off it they received a $1 million State Government grant which will go towards redeveloping the club and changerooms at Broadview Oval.
The upgrade is part of a long-term plan to transform the precinct into a sporting hub over many years.
TWO DOWN, ONE TO GO
After last week singing the praises of the three remaining unbeaten teams in the Adelaide Footy League’s A grade divisions, we may have put the mockers on two of them.
Elizabeth in division six is now the only undefeated club left in the top tiers after Glenunga and Golden Grove both went down on Saturday.
The Rams finally came undone when they gave up a three-goal lead at quarter time and went down to PHOS Camden by seven points.
It marked the end of a seven-game triumphant run by the Rams, made all the more impressive by the fact they went without a win the whole of last season.
In division three, Golden Grove could not hold off a fast-finishing Flinders Park as the Reds claimed victory in the grand final rematch.
Elizabeth meanwhile had little trouble in its clash against Rosewater, prevailing comfortably 16.16 (112) to 4.6 (30).
Leading the charge for the Eagles this year have been Jarad Clinton – division six’s leading goal kicker with 31 majors – Jarrod Upton, Aaron Stephenson, Joel Foster and the ever-consistent Jhye McConnell.
They face Marion next up.
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