Prince Alfred Old Collegians defeats Payneham Norwood Union in division one semi-final
Three teams remain in the hunt to be crowned the Adelaide Footy League’s best team but who will win the title? Plus grand finalists are set for the rest of the competition ahead of a bumper Saturday of action.
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The first Adelaide Footy League division one grand finalist has been decided and the battle to join them will be a big one.
Plus the fixtures for the big dance are set for divisions two to six and a seventh-tier club wins it’s first ever flag in The Messenger’s match reports from across the competition.
DIVISION ONE
It is down to three.
Prince Alfred Old Collegians is the first team through to the division one decider with Payneham Norwood Union and Rostrevor Old Collegians the teams to fight for the right to face them.
The Old Reds took the direct path to the flag decider when they edged out the minor premier Falcons at Payneham Oval on Saturday, 7.15 (57) to 6.14 (50).
A hot contest resulted in an unattractive scoreline early as the hosts led 1.3 to 0.7 and 1.8 to 2.11 at the first two breaks.
Payneham hit back to lead 5.12 to 4.13 at the last change before the visitors responded.
Three weeks ago PAOC lost to Goodwood Saints by a point to give up top place, but has bounced back with two narrow finals’ wins.
Old Reds coach Brett Backwell said his side was well placed to make the most of its fluctuating season when it lines up in the decider.
He said last Saturday’s game was tight from start to finish and was a game of half chances and persisting.
“I’ve said it before but the comp is so very tight,” Backwell said.
“The top three sides all finished on the same wins and not much percentage between them.
“At one stage in our game there were about 10 smothers in about 30 or 40 seconds.
“I didn’t think either side made the most of their opportunities but we are grateful to get through.
“We will rest up and then pick our side accordingly as to who we come up against.”
Justin Graetz, Craig Pitt and Mitchell Wicks were among the best for PAOC, while Drew Clayfield kicked two goals.
Anthony Giannini and Nick Jolly battled hard for the Falcons.
PNU will now play in a preliminary final this Saturday against ROC, which should take confidence into the match after beating the Falcons earlier in the season, according to coach Will O’Malley.
ROC lived to fight another day by running over the top of St Peter’s Old Collegians in the last quarter of their first semi-final at Campbelltown Memorial Oval, 16.16 (112) to 14.8 (92) last Saturday.
Leading 7.8 to 7.4 at half-time and 10.13 to 11.6 at three-quarter time, ROC hit the scoreboard in the final stanza to win well.
O’Malley said hard work again paid off.
“It wasn’t our best game for the season but I thought we played well under pressure,” O’Malley said.
“Luke (Manuel) was fantastic and played his best game for the season.
“All day we seemed to be on top and did run away in that last quarter.
“I am confident we can go well against Payneham.”
Manuel (four goals), Michael Coad (six goals) and Tullio De Matteis led the charge for ROC.
Best for SPOC included Jock McLeay with five goals, while James Duncan, Thomas Fotheringham and James McLeay (three goals) provided strong support.
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DIVISION TWO
Athelstone will seek retribution for a one-point semi-final loss when it renews hostilities with Unley Mercedes in the division two grand final at Thebarton Oval this Saturday.
The Raggies won through to the decider after accounting for Sacred Heart Old Collegians in the preliminary final at Max Amber Sportsfield.
The host triumphed 8.7 (55) to 5.9 (39) after leading 4.2 to 2.4 at the long break and 8.7 to 3.5 at the last change.
Athelstone went down to the Jets by the slimmest of margins a fortnight ago at Kingswood Oval after leading for most of the match.
The Raggies will also take confidence in the fact they beat Unley Mercedes by 51 points in their round 15 clash at home, a ground closer in size to Thebarton Oval than the Jets’ home deck.
Dominic Sangermano, Angus Owen and Daniel Cluse (two goals) played well for Athelstone in Saturday’s victory.
Matthew Delmenico, Connor Hartshorne and Thomas Carroll were strong for SHOC, which will be left pondering what could have been.
DIVISION THREE
Old Ignatians will hope it can revive its edge over Glenunga when the two sides meet in the third tier grand final this Saturday.
Iggies were the only side to defeat the Rams twice in the minor rounds.
They then fell by six points away at Glenunga in the semi-final, before responding with a gritty victory over Flinders Park in the preliminary final at home on Saturday.
Old Ignatians led at each break to salute 7.12 (54) to 5.9 (39).
Patrick Connelly, Lawrence Comazzetto and Will Ferrari (three goals) led the way for Iggies.
For Flinders Park, its flag hopes are over, despite the best efforts of Lachlan Smith, Simon Yiannicou, Lachlan Fairall and Anthony Laudato.
Reds’ football director John Cousins said it was a disappointing end but there were positives from the year.
“We just didn’t take enough chances in the second quarter and parts of the third,” Cousins said.
“One game off the final is a pass mark but we have been in similar positions in recent years and we were aiming to get back to division two.
“We’ve been developing our younger players to be able to step up which is good and out Bs are into their fourth grand final in a row and aiming for three out of the past four premierships which is good.”
DIVISION FOUR
Edwardstown will hope to cap off its 100th-year celebrations with a premiership when its takes on CBC Old Collegians in the division fours grand final this Saturday.
Towns booked their place in the decider with a 10.12 (72) to 4.16 (40) win to upset SMOSH West Lakes in the preliminary final.
They will need a big game to reverse their qualifying final result against the Dolphins, where they lost by 86 points.
But Towns coach Justin Calderbank said anything was possible next week.
“It is a grand final and grand finals can throw up some funny things. You never know,’’ Calderbank said.
“This result is for the club and all the hard workers there and now the team is to go up next year while next week hopefully will be for the players.
“It’s been a big year for the club, celebrating 100 years, hopefully we can do it.
Sean Munn, George Cornish and Rhys Bourn were influential for Edwardstown while Joshua Holliday kicked four goals.
Minor premier SMOSH crashed out of the finals in straight sets.
Stefan Thomas, Keaton Thomas and Matthew Harper battled hard for the Lions on Saturday.
DIVISION FIVE
There was elation for Pulteney and heartbreak for Kenilworth as the Navy Blues came from behind to win in the division five preliminary final at St Mary’s Park on Saturday.
The highly-fancied Kookaburras, who were minor premiers but lost the second semi-final to Hope Valley, will be left to rue a promising season that ended in huge disappointment.
Kenilworth led by 10 points at the final change before Pulteney kicked 5.3 to 1.2 in the fourth quarter to snatch a 10.9 (69) to 7.12 (54) triumph.
Joshua Sipek was the star for the victorious Navy Blues while Sheldon Currie kicked three goals and Daniel Polec added two.
Jordan Wilson-King, Theodosi Cotsaris and Henry Stewart were among the leaders for the Kookaburras.
Pulteney, which earned promotion to division four next season with the win, will now face Hope Valley in the big dance.
The Demons prevailed by just four points in the last meeting between the two sides in the qualifying final, while the Navy Blues edged a two point victory away at Hope Valley in round 17.
DIVISION SIX
Fitzroy is coming hard but will face a formidable opponent when it takes on local rival West Croydon in the division six big dance.
The Lions have come from an elimination final to reach the decider, their latest triumph a 8.8 (56) to 5.5 (35) win away against Hectorville in the preliminary final.
Paul Wootton starred and Dean Miller kicked three goals for Fitzroy as it trailed by four points at half-time before a strong second half.
Simon Thwaites, Jake Mazzone and Charles Roy battled well for Hectorville.
Fitzroy was one of just two sides that was able to beat minor premier West Croydon in the home-and-away season.
DIVISION SEVEN
The winning side was always going to sing When the Saints Go Marching In after Saturday’s division seven Adelaide Footy League grand final.
But it seemed almost destined to be undefeated St Paul’s Old Scholars which would belt out that tune on the turf of Thebarton Oval – and it did just that after beating rival Mawson Lakes by 80 points.
A nine-goal final quarter capped the 16.15 (111) to 4.7 (31) victory and completed a perfect 19-0 season over plucky underdogs Mawson Lakes.