Prince Alfred OC and Payneham Norwood Union leading the way in the Adelaide Footy League
There is a titanic clash on the cards in the Adelaide Footy League’s top tier plus the challengers are rising in divisions two and three. Match reports from across the league.
- Miss after the siren helps avoid third-straight relegation
- 62-year-old footballer set for 800th game
- Bombers set to blow up the finals race
Three clubs have bolted ahead in division one of the Adelaide Footy League and two of them are set to meet in one of the biggest fixtures so far this season.
Plus the challengers are staking their claims in the second and third tiers while elsewhere the last chance to make the finals is up for grabs.
Check out The Messenger’s match reports from every division of the amateurs.
DIVISION ONE
A potential grand final preview is on the cards between division one’s two in-form sides at Park 9 this Saturday.
Prince Alfred Old Collegians will host second-placed Payneham Norwood Union in a top of the table clash two rounds out from finals.
The Old Reds are on a 10-game winning run while the Falcons have been victors in six of their past seven outings, setting the scene for a high-quality contest between two serious contenders.
Last Saturday PAOC continued on its merry way by travelling to Pertaringa Oval and teaching Tea Tree Gully a lesson, winning 17.15 (117) to 6.5 (41).
Campbell Wildman booted four goals and was named best on ground while Ryan Tromans and Lewis Crawford also impressed as their side was far too strong for the reigning premiers.
The Wolves are still mathematically able to avoid relegation but will likely need to defeat both Brighton and St Peter’s Old Collegians in the remaining rounds to stand a chance.
Payneham Norwood Union flexed its muscle against Henley, belting the Sharks 14.12 (96) to 3.2 (20) on Saturday.
Alex Forster continued his outstanding season with five goals and fellow former Norwood player Anthony Giannini starred.
Rostrevor Old Collegians will be watching the Falcons and Old Reds’ clash intently as it sits ready to pounce in third spot.
A PNU loss and a ROC win over Henley this weekend would move the latter into second.
Rostrevor coach Will O’Malley was taking a low-key approach to his side’s quest for a home qualifying final.
ROC always controlled its match against Adelaide University at Campbelltown Memorial Oval last Saturday to take the points 9.9 (63) to 5.5 (35).
But scoring and the conditions proved hard going for both teams with ROC’s opening quarter of 3.1 the highest score by either side in any quarter.
O’Malley said he was happy with the result but not how it was obtained.
“It certainly wasn’t our best game and we did have a lot of opportunities,’’ O’Malley said.
“I didn’t think we were great the way we went about it. Of course we wanted to play our best footy but we didn’t. We have to keep winning and will end up where we deserve.’’
Meanwhile, the good news for Port District fans is that their team is back in the division one top five with two minor rounds to play.
The sobering reality is that there still is a big challenge to stay there, with an away game against seventh team Goodwood Saints (also alive for the finals) and a home match to finish against third side Rostrevor Old Collegians.
Last week’s gritty victory at home against Brighton, 9.11 (65) to 6.15 (51), was just what the side needed to give it a mini-break on the chasing pack.
Port led the Bombers at each change, 2.2 to 0.4, 5.4 to 3.9 and 8.7 to 3.11.
Trent Heffernan starred for the Magpies with Mathew Weistra and Jason Nyskohus among the major playmakers.
Port coach Simon Maddern said his team had played the near-perfect game.
“Our boys came out strongly and played a physical, yet controlled brand of football,” Maddern said.
“We managed to get control of the game in the third quarter with the breeze but we were a bit jittery in the last (quarter) but held on well. We are really looking forward to playing Goodwood Saints at Goodwood this week in another must-win game.”
DIVISION TWO
Sacred Heart Old Collegians and Athelstone could face each other two weeks in a row at the same venue depending on how the results fall in this Saturday’s last minor round.
But top spot is still yet to be sewn up.
Second-placed SHOC and the third-ranked Raggies will clash at Sacred Heart to decide which side will host the qualifying final.
Athelstone will need a significant margin of victory however as it is a win back plus percentage.
A SHOC win and a loss to top side Unley Mercedes against Broadview would give the latter the minor premiership.
But the Jets will be heavy favourites in the clash at home against a Tigers side out of finals contention.
Athelstone showed it is a serious player for the flag with a strong 12.20 (92) to 5.2 (32) victory at home against Salisbury North last Saturday.
The third-ranked Raggies were well led by Dominic Sangermano, Sam Tarca and Angus Owen (two goals).
Callum Hay, Josh Richardson and Jayden Mulroney were strong for Salisbury North.
Unley Mercedes faced a potential banana skin travelling to Pedlar Reserve on Saturday to play a Seaton Ramblers side desperate to squeeze into the top five.
Luke Heaslip (three goals), Josh Stevens and Jack Holliday (four goals) dominated for the ladder leading Jets as they triumphed 14.15 (99) to 7.2 (44).
Todd Gates, Dale Haynes and Luke Walsh were the Rams’ better players.
Seaton faces a tough trip to play Salisbury North to finish the season this Saturday.
It will need to defeat the fourth-placed Hawks and hope Scotch Old Collegians can upset PHOS Camden to remove the Phantoms from fifth place.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ PHOS Camden 11.8 (74) d Modbury (6.13 (49) at Modbury Sports Reserve
■ Sacred Heart OC 12.13 (85) d Scotch OC 4.11 (35) at Sacred Heart Middle School
DIVISION THREE
Golden Grove’s late season push towards a spot in the top three reached its highest point yet with an important 12-point victory over second-placed Old Ignatians on Saturday.
The Kookaburras moved into third position and are in prime position to get the double chance for finals.
They have won eight of their last nine in a blistering back half of the campaign.
Golden Grove came out on top of the tight battle at Harpers Field, 7.12 (54) to 5.12 (42), against an Iggies outfit which has been up and down of late.
Samuel Rentsch and Luke Barmby starred for the Kookaburras, while Cameron McPherson was influential for the visitors.
Old Ignatians remained second, despite the loss, but spurned any chance of catching Glenunga in top spot.
Iggies, Golden Grove, Flinders Park and North Haven are all battling for the double chance heading into the last round this Saturday.
The Kookaburras and Magpies face off at Largs North Reserve, while Old Ignatians and the Reds have easier encounters against bottom five sides Plympton and Morphettville Park respectively.
Flinders Park put itself in the frame for premiership discussions once again with a stunning blitz against North Haven at home last Saturday.
The hosts dominated the first half with 19 shots to four, eventually cruising to a 15.17 (107) to 3.5 (23) win.
Cameron Miller kicked five goals to be best for the Reds.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Portland 16.14 (110) d Gepps Cross 11.10 (76) at Duncan Fraser Reserve
■ Plympton 15.10 (100) d Westminster OS 6.15 (51) at Plympton Oval
■ Glenunga 13.13 (91) d Morphettville Park 9.6 (60) at Webb Oval
DIVISION FOUR
There is a serious squeeze on the division four ladder as four sides attempt to fit into two finals spots ahead of next Saturday’s last minor round.
Woodville South, Walkerville and Kilburn are all locked on 18 points and separated by only percentage while Mitcham is seventh on the ladder and within striking distance one win back.
The Chics and Hawks face off at Blair Athol Reserve this Saturday while Woodville South host top side SMOSH West Lakes and Walkerville has a tough encounter at home to second-ranked CBC Old Collegians.
Mitcham lost out in a crucial clash to Walkerville at home last Saturday, going down 13.13 (91) to 10.9 (69).
Kilburn beat ninth side Pooraka 14.9 (93) to 9.6 (60) at Lindblom Park and sealed the Bulls relegation fate in the process.
Edwardstown’s hopes of a home qualifying final in division four were shot down as it drew with Pembroke Old Scholars at home on Saturday.
Towns trailed by 15 points at the last change and charged home only to finish level, 8.12 (60) to 9.6 (60), when George Cornish missed a shot after the siren.
The result meant Pembroke avoided a third relegation in as many seasons.
Edwardstown will finish third regardless of the result in its final minor round game against Colonel Light Gardens this Saturday.
Meanwhile SMOSH and CBC cannot move from top and second spot respectively.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ CBC OC 11.10 (76) d Woodville South 2.4 (16) at Thebarton Oval
■ SMOSH West Lakes 16.12 (108) d Colonel Light Gardens 0.10 (10) at West Lakes Shore Oval
DIVISION FIVE
Pulteney may have just secured a home qualifying final in thrilling fashion with a come-from-behind win over Hope Valley on Saturday in division five.
The Navy Blues trailed by 19 points at the last change and charged back, kicking a goal midway through the final term to level the scores.
It was a war of attrition from there and Pulteney kicked three points to end up 9.11 (65) to 9.9 (63) winners.
Hope Valley’s Jayke Hellmanns (three goals) had a shot on the run to win the match in the dying minutes but pulled it right to sail through for a point.
Pulteney moved ahead of the Demons on percentage into second place on the ladder with the victory.
The Navy Blues play second-bottom Trinity Old Scholars at home this Saturday while Hope Valley is away to already relegated Blackfriars Old Scholars.
Salisbury belted Rosewater 19.12 (126) to 4.2 (26) as it battles with Lockleys and Eastern Park for the last two finals positions.
All three sides are locked on 10 wins and seven losses with the two Demons sides occupying fourth and fifth going into the last minor round.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Kenilworth 18.11 (119) d Lockleys 13.9 (87) at St Mary’s Park
■ Smithfield 20.22 (142) d Blackfriars OS 12.11 (83) at Smithfield Oval
■ Eastern Park 18.10 (118) d Trinity OS 8.6 (54) at Trinity College
DIVISION SIX
Fitzory will host Ingle Farm this Saturday with the loser likely to miss the division six finals.
The sixth-placed Lions trail the fourth-ranked Bulldogs by one win but have superior percentage ahead of the important clash at Fitzroy Sports Club.
Fifth side Para Hills a point in between the two sides, will go into its clash with second bottom Brahma Lodge as favourites.
Last Saturday Ingle Farm recorded a crucial victory when it edged past Marion 11.6 (72) to 9.11 (65).
West Croydon all but wrapped up the minor premiership by comfortably beating third side Elizabeth 15.13 (103) to 6.12 (48) at Fawk Reserve.
The Hawks have a bye this week and are one win ahead of second-placed Hectorville, but should remain top with much better percentage.
The Hounds take on Elizabeth this Saturday and the two sides will likely face each other again in the first week of finals.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Hectorville 14.10 (94) d Fitzroy 5.13 (43) at Daly Oval
■ Para Hills 15.12 (102) d O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale 9.8 (62) at Lonsdale Oval
■ Bye – Brahma Lodge
DIVISION SEVEN
Cellar dwellars Flinders University and Mitchell Park finished their seasons on highs by scoring victories on the road in the final round of division seven on Saturday.
The two clubs were already doomed several weeks ago to finish last and second bottom in the league’s lowest tier for the second-straight season.
Flinders Uni went to Edward Smith Reserve and beat fifth side Greenacres, 9.9 (63) to 5.9 (39), with the Dragons’ possibly having one eye on finals and unable to improve their ladder position.
Jesse Pardo starred and Damian Chesson kicked six goals to give the Crabs their second victory of the season.
It is an improved return on 2018’s winless campaign.
Mitchell Park capitalised on a very inaccurate Central United to triumph 8.13 (61) to 3.15 (33) at Mofflin Reserve.
The Lions finished the season with five wins and 12 losses, also an upgrade on last year’s 2-16 record.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Houghton Districts 10.10 (70) d Mawson Lakes 6.10 (46) at Houghton Memorial Oval
■ St Paul’s OS 12.8 (80) d Adelaide Lutheran 3.2 (20) at St Paul’s College