Salisbury North draws for second time in three games, coming from three goals down against Seaton

Footy players love winning, hate losing and usually feel strange after draws. Salisbury North would know – it’s had two draws in its past three games. See the dying stages of Saturday’s match.

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Welcome to One-Percenters – a wrap of some of the quirky talking points from across the Adelaide Footy League.

Each edition we will bring several titbits – they might be eye-catching results, milestones, comebacks, big wins, broken droughts or inspiring stories.

If you have heard about something quirky, email us your suggestions or photos to [e-mail].

Here are some of the things that caught our eye at the weekend:

ALL SQUARE AGAIN

Some footballers go through their entire senior careers without playing in a draw.

Salisbury North A-grade players have experienced two in three games.

Three weeks after drawing 11.3 (69) to 10.9 (69) against Unley Mercedes (link here), the Hawks finished level with Seaton Ramblers, 13.11 (89) apiece.

Jamie Solly kicked the goal that tied the scores on Saturday. Picture: Stephen Laffer

Seaton had led by three goals 19 minutes into the final term before Salisbury North stormed home, kicking the last three majors of the match.

Jamie Solly levelled the scores with a goal with one minute remaining.

Seaton won the subsequent centre clearance, only for Salisbury North to rebound from its defensive 50 and launch the ball deep into its forward line.

Solly snapped the footy over his head under immense pressure but it went straight up and down then Ramblers players helped scramble it out of bounds.

The siren sounded as soon as the ball was thrown in and players from both sides slumped to the ground.

Salisbury North coach Joe Hay said his team was fortunate to escape with a draw.

“We didn’t use the ball very well and didn’t play our best,’’ Hay said.

“We locked them down at the stoppages after an open first quarter but being a small ground, it was fairly easy to score.

“It was disappointing not to play with the intensity we can but in the end we were lucky to steal a point, even though we had the chance to win.’’

Salisbury North beat Athelstone by seven points in the only game it played in between.

The Hawks are second on the division two ladder with six wins, one loss and two draws.

LONG WAIT FOR WIN CONTINUES

Saturday looked like it might be the best chance this season for Flinders University to break through for its first win since August 5, 2017.

The cellar-dweller Crabs were facing second-bottom Mitchell Park, which had only prevailed once before this campaign – against Flinders University by 60 points in April – and was missing several key players through injury.

But Flinders’ wait for a victory has now stretched to 684 days after Mitchell Park’s 9.12 (66) to 8.7 (55) triumph at home on Saturday.

Crabs president Dean Schofield said the players were sombre after the match.

“We knew it was an opportunity,” Schofield.

Flinders University player Jordan Smith after his side’s loss to Mitchell Park on Saturday. Picture: AAP/Mark Brake

“We came off being quite disappointed, as you would be, because we were so close, yet so far.

“We need to look at where we could’ve improved and try to take it into the next game.”

The Crabs were down by three points at half-time and then three goals at the last break before closing to within a goal with 10 minutes remaining.

“We knew we had a chance here and then Mitchell Park tightened right up, put the clamps on I suppose, and then shut things up, which made things difficult,” Schofield said.

Flinders hosts fourth-placed Adelaide Lutheran on Saturday.

Lutheran beat the Crabs by 12 points in April.

Schofield believed his club would end its win drought this season.

“It can’t be too far away,” he said.

FROM GRAND FINAL TO RELEGATION BATTLERS

Nine months ago, former Southern Football League clubs (link here) Marion and O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale played off in a grand final and earned promotion in their first years in division seven.

O'Sullivan's Beach/Lonsdale players and officials after the club’s division seven grand final loss to Marion last year. Both teams are now battling for survival in the sixth tier. Picture: AAP/Bianca De Marchi

Now they are both battling to stave off relegation in division six.

Ahead of their match last Saturday, Marion had one win for the season and O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale was yet to triumph.

And the Lions’ wait goes on after the Rams’ thrilling 9.10 (64) to 10.3 (63) victory.

Sullies had been in a strong position to get off the mark for the season, leading at every change, including by 19 points at three-quarter time.

But they could not hang on.

THESE JETS NEED MORE CHAIRS

Unley Mercedes Jets needed more “chairs” at the end of its game on division two game against Broadview on Saturday.

Three Jets players celebrating milestones got chaired off the field by teammates after the A grade’s 15.6 (96) to 7.10 (52) triumph at Broadview Oval.

Nick Stuart was celebrating his 200th match, while Dylan Duval and Luke Heaslip reached the 100-game mark.

Unley Mercedes sits on top of the second-tier ladder with seven wins, one loss and a draw.

RACE TO REMAIN UNBEATEN

There are only two undefeated A-grade teams left across the league’s seven tiers.

Division five club Kenilworth and the seventh tier’s St Paul’s Old Scholars.

The Kookaburras thumped Eastern Park by 129 points on Saturday to move to a 9-0 record, while St Paul’s climbed to the same mark following its 15.14 (104) to 8.5 (53) victory over Houghton.

Kenilworth forward Daniel Motlop with his brother, Power player Steven Motlop.

Former Power forward Daniel Motlop booted six goals for Kenilworth, taking his tally to 12 from four games this season.

The Kookaburras’ narrowest victory has been by 30 points against Hope Valley in May and the biggest is 139 versus Blackfriars Old Scholars the same month.

St Paul’s smallest winning margin is 44 points against Mawson Lakes and the largest is 155, crunching Greenacres.

The Saints and Dragons face off again this Saturday, while Kenilworth’s next test is away to Trinity Old Scholars.