Sacred Heart caused a huge upset by beating previously undefeated St Peter’s in college footy round 7
A potential AFL draftee starred for St Peter’s but it wasn’t enough as Sacred Heart caused a huge upset. SEE how it all unfolded plus who played well in the weekend’s other college footy games here.
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Sacred Heart entered its clash against St Peter’s away as the underdogs.
Coming up against the undefeated Saints on their home deck was a tough ask but Hearts proved too strong and caused an upset.
See how that game plus all the others from college footy’s round seven here:
ST PETER’S 7.9 (51) SACRED HEART 13.12 (90)
Sacred Heart will take full confidence into its intercol match against Rostrevor this weekend after a strong performance on Saturday.
Hearts took on previously undefeated St Peter’s away and proved too strong, triumphing 13.12 (90) to 7.9 (51).
The match was tight for much of the day with the lead changing hands plenty of times.
The visitors got away to a three-goal lead in the third term before St Peter’s rising star Malachy Carruthers gave the hosts a huge boost with a stunning goal from the boundary line.
Saints managed to get their noses in front but Hearts kept the hosts goalless in the final term to take home the win.
Riley Holder, Jarrad Parish, Kobe Ryan, Luca Whitelum (three goals) and Jakob Ryan
(four majors) were best for Hearts.
Sacred Heart coach Jon Symonds said his players showed maturity by swinging back the momentum in the final term after Saints went a few points up in the third.
“They came right back in that third quarter,” Symonds said.
“What I’m most pleased about is the growth in our team.
“We had a very similar third quarter to the one we had against PAC but we were actually able to wrestle some of the momentum back.
“We weren’t able to do that three weeks ago, so I thought it showed really good growth.
“We kicked four goals to none in that last quarter and I think that’s a testament to our fitness.
“To kick 13 and hold an opposition like Saints to seven goals is a really disciplined effort.”
Symonds said the victory would hold his side in good stead for the intercol clash against Rostrevor away this Saturday.
“Being able to go in on the back of a win will give us a lot of momentum,” Symonds said.
“We are really looking forward to it.”
Saints skipper James Higgins Carruthers, Matthew Roberts and Sam Dukalskis were best for the hosts.
Felix Packer was Saints’ leading goal kicker with two, while Roberts, Nic Michaels, Lachie DeCesare, Carruthers and Will Warrick booted one each.
St Peter’s coach Sam Elliott said his side “ran out of gas”.
“They were too good.
“They certainly out-ran us and outworked us.
“It was disappointing to lose and we don’t like losing, I don’t think anyone does.
“We are a really young list and they’ll improve.”
Elliott was confident his players would bounce back ahead of the intercol against Prince Alfred this weekend.
“It’s another opportunity to get more experience and play footy,” Elliott said.
“Matching their (PAC’s) physicality is going to be key.
“If our effort is nice and strong, we’ll be right in it.”
IMMANUEL 3.2 (20) PRINCE ALFRED 23.16 (154)
Prince Alfred coach Matt Slade said his side has had to overcome a few challenges despite being undefeated and sitting top of the Messenger Shield first XVIII college football ladder.
Slade said his side had copped injuries to key players including to captain Luke Pedlar and rising star Isaiah Dudley, but the depth of the squad was standing up.
Slade said his players were looking forward to the intercol clash with St Peter’s this weekend.
A win would secure top spot and a place in the Statewide Knockout Open Schools Football Cup grand final.
“I think they are feeling pretty good but we’ve had a few injuries along the way,” Slade said.
“It’s not like we’ve gone through without nay challenges.
“We’ve had our captain be out for a few weeks, our co-vice captain Jamison Murphy hasn’t played much and he’s out for the rest of the season.
“Murphy last played for us in that practise match against Henley and hasn’t played since, he hurt his medial ligament in his knee playing for North Adelaide.
“Isaiah Dudley is still yet to play a game (and) we’ve had one of our other players (James Borlase) play league footy for the past few weeks.
“Lucas Schultz has just returned after only playing in round one.
“It has been challenging but the form has been pretty good considering the side changes quite a bit and they lost a lot of their leadership.
“But they are picking on what’s important for a team to be successful.”
PAC enters the intercol after a 134-point win over Immanuel on Saturday.
Kallis Freer, Will Charlton, Patrick Singleton, Lewis Cowham and Hugo Kelly were best for the winners.
Harry McInnes (seven goals) and Lucas Schultz (five majors) were strong inside 50.
Slade said Pedlar was likely to return this weekend and was looking forward to the challenge of playing St Peter’s.
“They’ve got a quality team,” Slade said.
“I would expect them to respond pretty heavily after the loss to Sacred Heart.
“Everyone gets themselves up for an intercol game.”
ROSTREVOR 22.14 (146) PEMBROKE 3.2 (20)
Rostrevor will also enter its intercol against Sacred Heart with winning form after thrashing Pembroke at home on Saturday.
The hosts triumphed 22.14 (146) to 3.2 (20).
Dual sports star Sam Rahaley was the star for Rostrevor, booting six goals, boosting his tally to 17 majors from just four Messenger Shield games.
Jett Boxer and Xavier Tranfa were also strong up-forward, finishing with three goals each.
They were given plenty of support from Jayden Gale, Tyson Walls and. Kynan Kenny.
Rostrevor coach James Allan said the win was important ahead of the final game for 2020 against Sacred Heart,
“It was a really strong performance,” Allan said.
“We set a number of KPIs for each line group and I thought we ticked them all off.
“Players are growing in confidence and now have a better understanding of how we want to play.
“We were able to score pretty well but this came off the back of defending really well (and) that was a real focus for us.
“It’s nice to be in good form and the boys are really looking forward to this Saturday (the intercol).”
Henry Read, Nick Blackman and Will Hammond were Pembroke’s goal kickers, while Ethan Schwerdt, Ned Carruthers and Oliver Duffy worked hard.
Nick Mills, Lachlam Skeate and Jack Willis were also solid for the visitors.
Pembroke football director Michael Bawden said it was a disappointing day.
“(We were) soundly beaten by Rostrevor,” Bawden said.
WESTMINSTER 16.12 (108) ST MICHAEL’S 6.14 (50)
Westminster bounced back from a narrow four-point loss to Sacred Heart when it beat St Michael’s at home on Saturday.
Lukas Cooke (four goals) and Connor Blackwell (three majors) starred in the 58-point win.
Jack Francis and rising star Antonio James booted two goals each.
Riley Brown, skipper Harvey Bock and Harry Snodgrass were also strong for the hosts.
Westminster coach Tim Weatherald said his side played very well in patches.
“(It) enabled us to get a good score on the board and wen the ball went forward, Lukas Cooke, Jack Francis and Connor Blackwell looked dangerous each time,” Weatherald said.
“St Michael’s were good in the midfield and moved the ball fast but were unable to capitalise up forward.
“Our defence was lead by Riley Brown and Harry Snodgrass
“Antonio James started down back but was moved forward and kicked a couple of great goals in the second half.
“He did some exciting things throughout the day.”
SCOTCH 15.8 (98) SACRED HEART’S RESERVES 13.7 (85)
(Not for Messenger Shield points)
Scotch was pushed in its clash with Sacred Heart’s reserves but had too much fire power in the end to prevail by 13 points.
The hosts triumphed 15.8 (98) to 13.7 (85).
Hugo Walter was best-on-ground for Scotch, while Seb Steele, Jordan Cock, Max Dixon and Ben Legoe also played well.
Harry Lemmey was the hosts’ leading goal kicker, finishing the match with four, while Max Johnson and Cock kicked three apiece.
Cormack O’Reilly (two), Oscar Turnbull, Campbell Thompson and Eddie Bok rounded out Scotch’s goal kickers.
THIS WEEK — INTERCOL GAMES
Saturday, September 12
■ Rostrevor v Sacred Heart at Rostrevor
■ St Peter’s v Prince Alfred at St Peter’s
■ Pembroke v Westminster at Pembroke
■ Scotch v Immanuel at Immanuel
■ St Michael’s v Trinity (Not for Messenger Shield points) at Trinity on September 10