Six local footy games to watch across South Australia in the suburbs and the bush this weekend
Can Garry McIntosh lead Payneham Norwood Union to a third decider in five years? It’s one of the local footy games to watch this weekend around the state with grand final season upon us.
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Spring has arrived and with it is the thick of SA local footy grand final season.
There’s previews for some big deciders and massive preliminary final clashes across the state’s country league’s and Adelaide suburban competitions in this week’s top matches to watch.
ADELAIDE FOOTY LEAGUE
Division one preliminary final
Payneham Norwood Union v Rostrevor Old Collegians
Saturday, 2.15pm @ Payneham Oval
Will the firepower of Garry McIntosh’s Payneham Norwood Union or the might of Rostrevor Old Collegians which makes it through to the division one grand final?
This shapes as a cracking contest between two of the state’s best sides outside of the SANFL with plenty on the line.
Also a rematch of the 2017 grand final, both sides a stocked with talent and raring to win through to face Prince Alfred Old Collegians in the decider.
ROC was the winner of that grand final clash, while the Falcons will hope to win through to have a crack at their first top flight Adelaide Footy League flag since 1978.
PNU got the win when the sides met in round three but ROC turned the tables in a low-scoring dogfight in round 11.
One thing is for sure, it will be a high-quality display of local footy at Payneham Oval.
Division five grand final
Hope Valley v Pulteney
Saturday, 2.30pm @ Salisbury Oval
Josh Schilling always loved Hope Valley Football Club having played there as a junior.
And when a chance to put on a Demons guernsey again after almost a decade arose Schilling could not turn to turn it down.
The 24-year-old is one of six Hope Valley juniors to have returned to the club this season and they have all helped the Demons earn a berth in this Saturday’s Adelaide Footy League division five grand final.
“I was a junior at the club and played there from under-10s to seniors,” Schilling says.
“So it’s nice to be back and back with a few of the other boys.
“I left (Hope Valley) in 2012, went and played a bit of country with Renmark for a year and then I went and played some div one footy with Tea Tree Gully before taking a year off last year.
“Then I made the decision this year with Mitch (Sandery) taking over as coach it was a good opportunity to get everyone back together and hopefully bring some success back to the club.”
The Demons earned direct entry into the flag decider after a shock, seven-point win against minor premier Kenilworth in the second semi-final a fortnight ago.
They have also gained automatic promotion to division four next season.
Hope Valley is set to play Pulteney in the flag decider.
The Navy Blues pulled off an upset as they knocked minor premier Kenilworth out of the finals in a straight sets with a 15-point preliminary final victory.
The two sides could only be separated by four, two and two points in their three meetings earlier in the season.
Division six grand final
West Croydon v Fitzroy
Saturday, 2.30pm @ Elizabeth Oval
West Croydon will hope to finally snare another flag as it takes on local rival Fitzroy in the division six decider.
At first glance the club appears to have been treading water in recent years, not having been out of division six since 2013. Its last A grade flag was in 2010 in that division.
But there have been a couple of obstacles in the Hawks’ way over the journey.
In 2016 the A grade suffered a surprise loss to Woodville South in the division six grand final after dominating the minor round with just one loss.
Expecting to be promoted the club was kept in division six after Brighton entered the competition from the Southern Football League in division three, forcing a reshuffle of teams in various divisions. Woodville South was the only team promoted from the division from that year.
Hawks’ coach Michael Annese, in his second year at the club, said the players and officials had put in plenty of hard work on and off the ground.
“I couldn’t be happier with their approach,’’ Annese said.
“A few things have gone against the club in recent years so the club has been a bit unlucky. “Last year we lost some points for breaking a league affiliation (sanctions) which dropped us down the ladder. And before that the Brighton situation saw us stay where we were instead of going up.
“This year there has been a big change in attitude, it’s a much different felling to last year. At this stage we hope to go in unchanged.’’
The club has enjoyed a good spread of top players with Luke Woodcock who is in the senior leadership group leading the charge with 83 goals.
Kyle O’Toole (38 goals), Chris Beaty and last season’s key forward Ryan Foley (26 goals) also have hit the scoreboard.
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SOUTHERN
Preliminary final
Flagstaff Hill v Christies Beach
Saturday, 2.30pm @ Noarlunga Oval
Can Flaggies keep their hopes alive of winning four straight SFL flags by saluting this weekend. Or can the Saints find something on their recent form?
That’s the query for the teams as they line up against each other for the third time in six weeks with Flagstaff Hill unbeaten in those clashes.
But Flaggies will need to be on their game as they were outpointed easily by Noarlunga in the second semi-final. Brad Kirk, David Kearsley and Mitchell Fazekas all had big games. Christies will be looking to build on its solid first semi-final win against Port Noarlunga last Sunday with Josiah Sheppard, Ben Powell (four goals) and returning from a long lay off through injury, and Rhys Mundy leading the way.
GREAT SOUTHERN
Willinga v Mount Compass
Preliminary final
Saturday, 2.30pm @ Yankalilla
Two of the key movers and shakers of the league Willunga and Mount Compass will lock horns in the preliminary final after contrasting finals last week.
Minor premier Willunga went down to Langhorne Creek by nine points in the second semi final, while Mount Compass finished well in the second half to beat Victor Harbor.
Sam Tregenza starred for the Demons last week, while Mount Compass had firepower in attack with Tom Pinyon and Ziggy Vitkunas kicking seven goals each.
Both sides know each other’s game well with the Bulldogs beating Willunga in the 2017 grand final and will be looking to set a date with Langhorne Creek in the big one on September 21.
HILLS
Mount Barker v Onkaparinga Valley
Preliminary final
Saturday, 2.30pm @ Blackwood Oval
There’s no tomorrow for the loser but the question is whether the Barkeroos and Onkas are just battling it out for the right to be beaten by Hahndorf in the following week’s grandy.
Mount Barker earned its place in the prelim by beating Uraidla by 54 points in the first semi-final with Mark Thomas showing the way.
The Dogs had no answer to the might of Hahndorf in the second semi-final, crashing by 61 points with Tim Webber doing his best to stem the flow.
A toss of the coin with maybe the Barkeroos getting the nod.
THIS WEEKEND’S A-GRADE FINALS
SATURDAY
ADELAIDE PLAINS
Preliminary
Balaklava v Hummocks Watchman Eagles @ Mallala Oval, 2.45pm
ADELAIDE FOOTY LEAGUE
Division one preliminary
Payneham NU v Rostrevor OC, 2.15pm @ Payneham Oval
Division two grand final
Unley Mercedes v Athelstone, 2.30pm @ Thebarton Oval
Division three grand final
Glenunga v Old Ignatians, 2.30pm @ Richmond Oval
Division four grand final
CBCOC v Edwardstown, 2.30pm @ St Mary’s
Division five grand final
Hope Valley v Pulteney, 2.30pm @ Salisbury Oval
Division six grand final
West Croydon v Fitzroy, 2.30pm @ Elizabeth Oval
BAROSSA LIGHT AND GAWLER
Grand final
Tanunda v Angaston @ Freeling, 2.20pm
GREAT FLINDERS
Grand final
United Yeelanna v Ramblers @ Cummins, 2.30pm
GREAT SOUTHERN
Preliminary
Willunga v Mt Compass @ Yankalilla, 2.30pm
HILLS
Division 2 grand final
Kersbrook v Gumeracha @ Macclesfield Oval, 2.30pm
Division 1 preliminary
Mt Barker v Onka Valley @ Blackwood Oval, 2.30pm
KANGAROO ISLAND
Grand final
Western Districts v Parndana @ Kingscote, 2.15pm
KOWREE NARACOORTE TATIARA
Grand final
Lucindale v Mundulla @ Penola, 2.20pm
MID SOUTH EASTERN
Preliminary
Hatherleigh v Kalangadoo @ Mt Burr, 2pm
NORTH EASTERN
Preliminary
South Clare v B.S.R. @ Robertstown, 2.15pm
NORTHERN AREAS
Grand final
Broughton-Mundoora v Crystal Brook @ Melrose Oval, 2.15pm
PORT LINCOLN
Preliminary
Mallee Park v Marble Range @ Centenary, 2.40pm
RIVER MURRAY
Preliminary
Mypolonga v Imperial @ Mannum Oval, 2.30pm
RIVERLAND
Grand final
Waikerie v Renmark @ Berri, 2.40pm
SOUTHERN
Preliminary
Flagstaff Hill v Christies Beach @ Noarlunga, 2.30pm
SPENCER GULF
Preliminary
PropRisdon v Solomontown @ Pt Pirie Memorial Oval, 2.25pm
WESTERN BORDER
Grand final
North Gambier v West Gambier @ McLaughlin Park Millicent, 2.50pm
WHYALLA
Grand final
West Whyalla v Central Whyalla @ Bennett Oval, 2.20pm
YORKE PENINSULA
Grand final
Southern Eagles v CMS Crows @ Wallaroo Oval, 2.40pm
SUNDAY
SOUTHERN WOMEN’S
Grand final
Aldinga v Cove @ Aldinga, 2.40pm