Plucky Emus charge to Southern Football League finals, top Flagstaff Hill stays in cruise mode

Former powerhouse Morphett Vale has secured its first SFL finals appearance since 2017 with the top four already set. But can the Emus match the big guns? See the wash up from round eight here.

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One minor round remains in the shortened Southern Football League season but the top four is already set.

Flagstaff Hill, Noarlunga, Christies Beach and Morphett Vale, following its win against Happy Valley, will contest the finals.

Read The Messenger’s round eight match wraps here:

MORPHETT VALE 10.10 (70) HAPPY VALLEY 5.6 (36)

Morphett Vale coach Braden Bayly said his players’ hard work before the COVID-19 restrictions were imposed had was behind his side’s rejuvenation.

The Emus booked a place in the upcoming finals series after beating Happy Valley at home on Saturday.

Until about seven years ago the Emus were regarded as the team to beat but had fallen off the pace in recent seasons.

Bayly was thrilled his team would finals return to finals action.

“Before the season began we committed to getting back to finals,” Bayly said.

“We had trained so well before COVID and to the players’ credit kept that kept up when the season resumed.

Braden Bayly (nearest ball) was one of Morphett Vale’s greats as a player. Now he is shining as a coach, guiding the Emus to their first major round since 2017. Picture: Matt Loxton

“Our basic fitness has been great. The players just want to win and our last quarters have been very good.

“But the good sides bring the pressure, whether we can sustain that we will see. We have a few to come back. We are going to have a lot of guys knocking on the door for selection – it’s going to be a nice problem.’’

Best for the Emus included Aiden Baker (two goals), Daniel Earl and Michael Smith. The Vikings, which are sitting seventh, saw strong games from Rhys Barrett, Nicholas Frisby-Smith and Cody Cox.

REYNELLA 23.11 (149) COVE 10.10 (70)

It was the Bailey Marshman show when the Reynella rising star banged through 11 goals in his side’s 79-point win against Cove away on Saturday.

The Wineflies played with a lot of freedom against the bottom-ranked Cobras jumping to a 35-point lead at half-time.

The young Reynella team, out of the hunt for the finals when news filtered through that Morphett Vale had won, hit the scoreboard even harder in the last quarter to kick 7.3 to 3.3. Jarrod Beard and Matthew Fox played well for the visitors, while Chris Hunter chipped in with three goals.

Cove was well led by Michael Galley, while Daniel Seirch and Kyle Stoldt were solid.

FLAGSTAFF HILL 13.18 (96) CHRISTIES BEACH 3.6 (24)

Opposition clubs, especially those set for the finals, would have been very concerned to see this scoreline.

What was expected to be a typical tough contest between top versus second proved to be an absolute thrashing by first-placed Flagstaff Hill.

The Falcons kept the Saints to just one point for the first three quarters before prevailing 13.18 (96) to 3.6 (24).

Max Renfrey, Brad Kirk and Luke Beenham led the way for the Falcons, who had 11 different goal kickers.

Flagstaff Hill, despite being engulfed in a racism storm, is looking like winning its fifth-straight SFL flag.

Best for the battle-weary Saints included Matthew Spencely, Ben Gaskin and Jarryd McCormack.

NOARLUNGA 13.16 (94) PORT NOARLUNGA 7.8 (50)

Port Noarlunga squandered a 16-point, quarter-time lead in its clash with Noarlunga and eventually went down by 44 points.

The Shoes lifted after the first term, holding the Cockledivers scoreless in the second quarter, while slamming on 6.7.

Noarlunga; s victory helped keep its chances of securing a double chance in the upcoming finals alive but ended Port Noarlunga’s slim hopes of earning a berth in the major round.

Sam Miller’s solid season continued for Noarlunga, while Lachlan Sutton and Sam Goldfinch also played well.

Nicholas Steele battled hard for Port Noarlunga and he was given support from Jesse Vaughan and Connor Sampson.

Ex-Glenelg livewire Ian Milera was handy in attack for the Cocklediversm booting three goals.

Noarlunga’s Lachlan Sutton starred in his side’s win over Port Noarlunga on Saturday. Picture: Stephen Laffer

THIS WEEK

Saturday, September 5

■ Reynella v Port Noarlunga at Aldinga Oval

■ Christies Beach v Morphett Vale at Bice Oval

■ Happy Valley v Cove at Happy Valley

■ Noarlunga v Flagstaff Hill at Noarlunga