One-Percenters: Veteran kicks 16 goals in one day, Norwood duo may join PNU plus other quirky Adelaide Footy League titbits

Mitchell Park veteran Nat McDonnell kicked 10 goals in the club’s B grade and then another six in the As on Saturday – here’s this week’s amateur footy wrap.

Mitchell Park veteran Nat McDonnell, pictured last year after his 300th game, kicked the bulk of the Lions’ goals in both the A and B grades on Saturday. Picture: Darren Adams.

• Rigney boots club record 21 goals
• Brett Ebert joins Henley Sharks
• Team wins first game since 2015

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 [e-mail].

Here are some of the things that caught our eye at the weekend:

MCDONNELL ON THE MONEY

Mitchell Park’s Nat McDonnell kicked more than half his side’s goals in not one, but two games on Saturday.

McDonnell fronted up for the Lions’ division seven reserves and booted 10 majors in the 12.14 (86) to 12.8 (80) loss against Golden Grove at Harpers Field.

The veteran then backed it up by playing in Mitchell Park’s division seven clash against the Kookaburras and kicked six in the 19.17 (131) to 9.13 (67) defeat.

Mitchell Park veteran Nat McDonnell

Lions coach Ross Brokensha said he did not mind if McDonnell had this week off training if it helped him replicate his efforts.

“I’d imagine he will be pretty sore for about three or four days,” Brokensha said.

“I can’t imagine him training this week.

“We’ve got Flinders University this week, so if he can do that again, I’ll be pretty happy with that.”

McDonnell was one of 17 Lions A-grade players who played in the Bs against Golden Grove.

Mitchell Park has been struggling for numbers this season while also having a combination of injuries and players unavailable on Saturday.

McDonnell, who joined the Lions’ juniors with his twin Luke in the early 1990s, played his 300th game for the club in July last year.

FALCONS LOOMING OMINOUSLY

After a slow start, Payneham Norwood Union now has two wins on the trot and may be adding a pair of ex-SANFL players to its ranks.

The division one club started the season 0-3 but bounced back last week with a win over Henley and has several injured players set to return from the sidelines.

But the biggest inclusions could come in the form of Norwood premiership players Kristian Roocke and Alex Forster.

Former Norwood midfielder Kristian Roocke.

Ex-Redlegs utility Alex Forster.

Roocke, who retired from the Redlegs at the end of 2017 due to injury, has been eyeing a return to football in the second half of the season while resting his troublesome hips.

The PNU junior submitted a clearance request last week, which was still pending at presstime.

Forster, also a one-game player with Fremantle, pulled the pin at The Parade a fortnight ago due to injury and has since been spotted at Falcons training.

PNU lost to Goodwood, Rostrevor Old Collegians and Athelstone to start the season but then recorded a strong 50-point win over Henley in round four and had a stirring 15.9 (99) to 14.8 (92) victory away at Port District on Saturday.

The Falcons will be eyeing another triumph when they host bottom side Modbury this Saturday.

WESTERN CLASHES GO DOWN TO THE WIRE

One-point thrillers were the theme of the day out west as two nailbiting matches went down to the wire less than 4km from each other.

In division one, Henley overcame a nine-point three-quarter time deficit to prevail 10.7 (67) to 10.6 (66) at home over Goodwood in Jeremy Johncock’s 100th club game.

The Sharks’ Jack Enright soccered a major from the goalsquare with five minutes remaining and the hosts held on.

Just up Henley Beach Rd at Lockleys Oval, Lockleys edged Pulteney 17.7 (109) to 16.12 (108) in an epic division five clash.

The Navy Blues led by eight points at halftime before the Demons produced an eight-goal-to-four third term.

Pulteney stormed home with help from spearhead Tom Langford (six goals) but fell short.

CUMMING WATCHES BROTHER’S DEBUT

PHOS Camden centre half-forward Harrison Cumming did not play in the division two club’s match against Broadview on Saturday because he was in Sydney for family reasons.

Harrison Cumming (left). Picture: Matt Loxton.

Harrison’s brother Isaac made his AFL debut that day for GWS against West Coast at Spotless Stadium.

Isaac registered 14 disposals, three marks and two tackles playing across half-back, but the Giants went down to the Eagles by 25 points.

Giants debutant Isaac Cumming fights for the ball against West Coast’s Willie Rioli. Picture: AAP/Daniel Munoz.

PHOS prevailed 11.13 (79) to 8.10 (58) over Broadview.

Harrison is second in the Phantoms’ goalkicking with 11 from five games.

GAME CALLED OFF EARLY

The division two match between Unley Mercedes and Gaza was called off due to an injury.

An Eagles player broke his ankle early at the end of the third term at Kingswood Oval and was unable to be moved from the ground for almost an hour.

By the time he had been taken away in an ambulance, players from both sides had warmed back up and taken their positions, but the umpires ended the match as it had exceeded the 60-minute time limit for a delay.

Unley Mercedes was awarded the victory after leading 10.8 (68) to 5.12 (42) at the time.

TIGHT TUSSLES IN DIVISION FOUR

Three division four games were decided by fewer than 10 points on Saturday.

At Blair Athol Reserve, SMOSH West Lakes led Kilburn by 25 points at three-quarter time then was held scoreless in the final term but narrowly prevailed 11.5 (71) to 10.7 (67).

Salisbury also could not quite get the job done at home, losing 11.7 (73) to 10.10 (70) against Pooraka.

Mitcham was able to hold a slight margin over Edwardstown almost all day at Price Memorial Oval and ran out 14.16 (100) to 14.8 (92) winners.

RIGNEY STILL LEADING

O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale veteran Trevor Rigney was always going to struggle to get anywhere near matching his club record haul of 21 goals when the Lions played Mawson Lakes away on Saturday.

A week after kicking the huge bag against Flinders University, Rigney booted three goals in his side’s 11.15 (81) to 9.6 (60) triumph over the Saints.

Nevertheless, Rigney is still the Adelaide Footy League’s leading goalkicker in 2018.

He has slotted 48 goals for the season, five more than Pulteney C5 player Jesse Whinnen.

Pulteney clubmate Tom Langford (38 in division five), Lockleys’ Stavros Gatis (37, division five reserves) and ex-Gold Coast Sun turned Woodville South star Timmy Sumner (34, division five) round out the top five.