Sacred Heart set to face college football rival Rostrevor in intercol, a year after one-point thriller
The tradition dates 96 years and it’s a huge game on Adelaide’s local footy calendar. On Saturday, the intercol between Sacred Heart and Rostrevor looms as a showcase for future AFL talent.
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They have built their fierce college football rivalry on close to a century of tradition, tribal lines and healthy respect.
But as Sacred Heart and Rostrevor’s First XVIIIs prepare to face off on Saturday, 96 years after their inaugural intercol, debate continues about one question.
Was it a mark or not?
Twelve months ago, Rostrevor ended a six-year intercol losing streak against Hearts with a thrilling one-point home win – not before a contentious finish.
With their side down by the slimmest of margins, Sacred Heart players thought teammate Brad Thompson marked the ball 30m from goal in the dying stages, only for umpires to call play on, believing the kick was either touched or did not travel the required 15m.
The siren sounded seconds later, leading hundreds of jubilant Rostrevor fans to storm the oval.
Losing narrowly still stings Hearts players and they have been discussing redemption and that mark ahead of Saturday’s game at Sacred Heart.
“All the boys have been talking about it leading up to this game and really don’t want to repeat it (losing),” Beau McRae, 17, says.
“From memory we didn’t think it was touched and Brad Thompson took the mark ... but the umpire didn’t pay it, unfortunately.
“We were that close, were chipping away all day but it just didn’t work out in the end.
“There’s still a bit of debate but it’s all fun and games looking back on it.”
Rostrevor captain Stefan Lanzoni has a different view about last year’s umpiring decision.
“It would’ve been a massive call to call it,” Lanzoni, 18, says.
“On the day, I thought we’d lost because I was in the forward line at the other end and I didn’t hear the play-on call.
“Then all our boys ran onto the oval when the siren sounded – it was amazing but confusing.
“I had a chat with a few of our boys ... and they thought it was touched.
“I didn’t know anything about it not being 15m until it was brought up this week.”
Intercol footy games between Sacred Heart and Rostrevor are not only huge for school pride but also bragging rights for students, staff and old scholars.
The colleges have been known to play ducks and drakes in the build-up to the big game, which is the culmination of several days of various sporting matches between the schools.
This week, Rostrevor AFL draft prospect Cameron Taheny told McRae he was in doubt for the match because of an injury, only for him to be listed among the outs from Norwood’s league team on Thursday night due to “college”.
McRae calls it “a bit of fun” and expects the SA under-18 star will line up on Saturday.
“We’ll just have to wait and see,” he says.
Taheny is among several players sure to attract AFL scouts’ attention in the intercol.
His teammate, Anzac Lochowiak (Sturt) and Sacred Heart duo Will Day (Glenelg) and Ben Jungfer (Woodville-West Torrens) are also considered draft prospects this year.
Rostrevor’s Ned Carey (Norwood) and Xavier Tranfa (Norwood) and Hearts’ Zac Dumesny (South Adelaide) are on scouts’ radars for 2020.
Both colleges have a rich history of producing AFL stars, including Matthew Pavlich, Chad and Kane Cornes and Andrew Mackie from Sacred Heart, and Luke Darcy, Tom Jonas and Ben Hart with Rostrevor.
McRae, a Glenelg under-18 midfielder/half-back, says the fact both sides have their best players available on Saturday will make the game even bigger.
“It’s a pretty big deal for the whole college,” he says.
“It’s your last game on the main oval for us Year 12 boys in front of all your mates.
“It’s not just about us, it’s about everyone who’s been before us.
“Both teams have players that stand out but it’ll have to be a 22-player, team effort.”
Lanzoni, a Norwood under-18 midfielder, adds: “We probably go in with our strongest side this year and having Cameron is a massive in, so I’m confident in the boys.”
Sacred Heart and Rossies played an intercol against each other for the first time in 1923 – the year Rostrevor was founded – and have battled in all bar two seasons since.
Hearts enter Saturday’s game – their final Messenger Shield match of the season – on the back of their first loss in 2019, a shock 20-point defeat to St Peter’s.
Sacred Heart remains favourite to claim its third Shield, but a Rostrevor victory can open the door for six-time winner Prince Alfred.
“To go out in front of a thousand-odd people and play, I know the boys are nervous but keen to give it a crack and play some good, hard footy,” Lanzoni says.
“We want to keep the cup where it is.”
Sacred Heart takes on Rostrevor at Sacred Heart College’s main oval on Saturday. First XVIII game is at 2.15pm.
