Tea Tree Gully responds to hefty loss with gritty win over Adelaide University in the Adelaide Footy League
Tea Tree Gully has gone from despair to hope in the space of a week, responding to last round’s 172-point thumping with a stirring eight-point victory in the Adelaide Footy League.
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Reigning premier Tea Tree Gully remains the story of the Adelaide Footy League’s division one after a 180-point turnaround on Saturday.
The Wolves have now won two tight matches and been thumped in their two other fixtures so far this season.
Here are Messenger Community News’ match reports from every A-grade division in a bumper round four.
DIVISION ONE
Tea Tree Gully players, coaches and supporters were back with smiles on their faces after the A grade stood tall to beat Adelaide University in a tight division one clash at Pertaringa Oval last Saturday.
Seven days earlier, the Gullies looked in disarray after kicking just 1.7 to Rostrevor Old Collegians’ 28.17, suffering one of their heaviest defeats in the top tier.
But on Saturday the misery of that defeat was cast aside with a gritty 13.10 (88) to 12.8 (80) victory.
Relieved Gullies coach Justin Maschotta said the team had moved on from the big loss.
“I started the review last Saturday night,” Maschotta said.
“It was no point coming to practice on Tuesday and starting from there.
“I spent 10 hours reviewing the video and each of the players had to watch the full video and give me feedback, which they did.
“The players were really positive.
“We had to move on and instil positivity in the players but we also had to make sure everyone understood that effort was not good enough.
“Last week’s game against Uni was an intense game and we responded the way I had hoped.
“We are two (wins) and two (losses) which isn’t bad.”
Best for the Wolves were Dylan Schoenmakers, Zac McKay and Connor Elphick.
Uni coach Craig Smith said his side expected a tough game.
“We knew they would respond and we worked on that,” Smith said.
“But we weren’t happy with the way we played.
“We played poor footy and are having too many lapses which give teams a chance against us.’’
Prince Alfred Old Collegians crushed Brighton in their away clash on Saturday.
Most Old Reds players had not played on the Bombers’ home ground but that did not stop a clinical 19.17 (131) to 6.8 (44) victory after keeping the Bombers goalless in the second half.
PAOC coach Brett Backwell said it was an excellent effort from his side.
“That was our best four-quarter effort for the year,” Backwell said.
“We are still trying to work out our mix with guys coming in and out of the side.
“We have some elite skills and I would say we had a really even team performance with no standouts.’’
Best for the Old Reds were Craig Pitt (five goals), Will Dalwood and Tom Bartlett (five goals).
St Peter’s Old Collegians held out Rostrevor Old Collegians in a dour contest at Caterer Oval, 9.6 (60) to 4.9 (33).
James Duncan, Nick McGill and Luke Mitchell (four goals) impressed for SPOC.
James McLeay kicked three goals.
A last-quarter lapse hurt Henley’s hopes of breaking through for its first win of the campaign.
The Sharks went down to Goodwood Saints away, 14.11 (95) to 13.6 (84), after leading 9.1 to 7.6 at half-time and 12.5 to 10.10 at the last change.
Port District’s fluctuating season continued when it lost to Payneham Norwood Union at home on Saturday.
The second-placed Falcons proved too strong at Largs Reserve, winning 13.15 (93) to 10.8 (68).
Cameron Milne, Pierce Seymour (three goals) and Liam Davis (five goals) were among the best for PNU.
DIVISION TWO
Unley Mercedes remains the only undefeated division two side and moved to the top of the ladder after seeing off PHOS Camden at Thebarton Oval on Saturday.
The Jets, missing reigning best and fairest Daniel Caire and star forward Nick Petch through injury, won a seesawing affair, 14.13 (97) to 11.10 (76).
In a strange contest, Unley booted 8.2 to 1.1 in the opening term with a slight wind.
PHOS charged back to within nine points as it kept the Jets scoreless in the second term before Unley regrouped in the second half to take an important victory.
Smooth-moving former West Adelaide left-footer Josh Stevens was best for the Jets, alongside recruit Jye De Zylva and midfielder Blake Harris.
Salisbury North was the division’s other undefeated side prior to the weekend but coach Joe Hay had plenty of time to think about what went wrong last Saturday after the long trip back from Sacred Heart Middle School.
After entering clash with a 3-0 record, the Hawks were beaten 17.13 (115) to 6.5 (41).
While many of his players had not played at SHOC’s second home ground, Hay said there were no excuses.
“They played their ground really well and hit their targets, while our skills were poor,” Hay said.
“We struggled to find any run and to create space.
“We were so far from our structure we now have to just get back to the basics.
“How we respond is what I’m interested in seeing now.’’
Seaton Ramblers held out Scotch Old Collegians at Scotch College, 9.14 (68) to 8.12 (60).
In the clash of last season’s division three grand finalists, the Rams led 2.3 to 1.4, 5.10 to 2.5 and 7.11 to 6.7 at the changes.
Chris Scherwitzel, Brett Harland and Michael Bondarenko played strongly for Seaton.
The Rams, fourth, host second-placed SHOC on Saturday.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Athelstone 23.12 (150) d Gaza 13.8 (86) at Klemzig Oval
■ Broadview 7.15 (57) d Modbury 8.5 (53) at Modbury Sports Reserve
DIVISION THREE
Portland and North Haven continued their keen rivalry on Saturday and the Thunder took the honours in their division three contest at Largs North Reserve.
Portland moved to fourth on the ladder with its 13.16 (94) to 10.10 (70) victory.
Aron Asfaha, Corey Evans and Dale Laslett were among the Thunder’s best, while Lindsay Thomas (four goals) and Tyson Friend (three goals) were solid in attack.
Matthew Reed, Dominic Douglas and Chris Lipson battled well for the Magpies.
Glenunga proved it is the team to beat in the third tier after overcoming Flinders Park away by 10 points.
The undefeated Rams handed the Reds their first loss of the season in the 12.10 (82) to 10.12 (72) result at Flinders Park.
Michael McMahon starred for the visitors, while Steven Pollock booted four goals to take his tally to 18 for the season in a strong start to the campaign.
Lachlan Smith was best for the Reds.
Glenunga, which has won premierships in divisions four and five the past two seasons, has been victorious in 32 of its last 41 matches since the beginning of 2017.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Golden Grove 27.18 (180) d Gepps Cross 8.6 (54) at Harpers Field
■ Old Ignatians 15.17 (107) d Westminster OS 7.7 (49) at Hunter Park
■ Morphettville Park 13.16 (94) d Plympton 7.12 (54) at Kellett Reserve
DIVISION FOUR
SMOSH West Lakes had 17 more scoring shots than Kilburn but still lost its division four game at home, 16.7 (103) to 12.24 (96).
The Lions had won three close contests to begin the season but were outdone by the Chics in clutch moments.
SMOSH kicked seven points in both the second and third quarters.
Scott Galbraith and Matthew Clark were best for Kilburn, alongside former Carlton and North Adelaide forward Rhys O’Keeffe.
Rhys Woods led the way for the Lions.
Edwardstown lost its third game this season by less than a kick as it went down to CBC Old Collegians by four points in the East Parklands.
The 8.17 (65) to 8.13 (61) defeat followed two-point losses to Mitcham on Anzac Day and SMOSH in the opening round.
The Towns are eighth on the ladder and above fellow 1-3 sides Pooraka and Colonel Light Gardens on percentage.
Mitcham is top with a 4-0 record after accounting for Pooraka 15.15 (101) to 11.10 (76) at Price Memorial Oval.
The Hawks have been one of the surprise packets of the competition in the early rounds and look almost certain to improve on their 9-9 performance from last year.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Woodville South 16.21 (117) d 10.11 (71) at Ledger Reserve
■ Pembroke OS 11.9 (75) d Walkerville 6.17 (53) at Walkerville Oval
DIVISION FIVE
Kenilworth handled the pressure to beat Hope Valley in a big early season division five clash at Hope Valley Oval.
With both sides going into the clash unbeaten, it was the Kookaburras who stood tall to win 12.16 (88) to 8.10 (58).
The visitors led at each change before both sides kicked one goal in the last term.
Shaun Clarke, former Glenelg player Neil Vea Vea and Nick Chesser were among the best for Kenilworth, while former North Melbourne and Port Adelaide player Daniel Motlop kicked four goals.
The Kookaburras face another test on Saturday with a top-of-the-table home battle against fellow unbeaten team Pulteney.
The Navy Blues dispatched Eastern Park in a 20.19 (139) to 10.8 (68) thumping at Morgan Oval.
Cabbot Stewart-Browne (four goals), Dalton Tucker (three), Daniel Polec (three) and James Tripodi (three) formed a potent attack for the hosts.
Trinity Old Scholars recorded its first win for the season as it smashed Rosewater 17.15 (117) to 8.8 (56) at home.
The Lions found their form with another win over the Dogs in the first meeting between the two since last year’s division six grand final, which Trinity prevailed in.
Matt Drewett was best for the hosts and Alex Cotter kicked five goals.
Trinity and Rosewater are both 1-3, along with Eastern Park, Salisbury and Blackfriars Old Scholars.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Smithfield 18.14 (122) d Salisbury 8.11 (59) at Smithfield Oval
■ Lockleys 21.10 (136) d Blackfriars OS 8.10 (58) at St Dominic’s Oval
DIVISION SIX
West Croydon and Elizabeth both kept their undefeated records in tact after round four of division six on Saturday.
The top-placed Hawks had their smallest winning margin of the season, beating Hectorville by 39 points at Daly Oval.
West Croydon trailed by a point at the first change but then piled on 6.3 to 1.2 to split the match open before half-time in the game’s crucial quarter.
Michael Vaskelainen was best for the Hawks and Zane Donaldson battled hard for the Hounds.
O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale again found the depth of the sixth tier hard to combat when it lost at home to Elizabeth last Saturday.
The Lions opened well to trail 2.3 to 2.2 at quarter-time but were no match after that, going down 20.13 (133) to 3.6 (34).
Daniel Goodwin, Ryan Sargood and Shaun Morris were among the best for OSB/Lonsdale.
The Lions are 0-4 to begin the season and sit bottom of the ladder.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Ingle Farm 13.8 (86) d Brahma Lodge 8.9 (57) at Rowe Park
■ Para Hills 14.9 (93) d Marion 6.9 (45) at Sturt Oval
DIVISION SEVEN
St Paul’s sent another challenger packing in division seven to strengthen its claim as early season flag favourites.
The Saints were too good at home for Adelaide Lutheran, which entered the game unbeaten, in a 15.10 (100) to 8.1 (49) victory.
Former Broadview, Payneham Norwood Union and Goodwood division one big man Taylor Charlton starred for St Paul’s.
The Saints are yet to lose and take on rival Mawson Lakes at home this Saturday.
Greenacres won its first game in almost two years when it scraped past Mawson Lakes away in a one-point thriller.
It was the Dragons’ first win since July 2017, more than 650 days in between drinks.
Greenacres was relegated from division six last season with a 0-18 record and was demoted from division five after going 2-16 the year before.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Houghton Districts 26.8 (164) d Mitchell Park 8.11 (59) at Houghton Memorial Oval
■ Central United 13.22 (100) d Flinders University 9.3 (57) at Mofflin Reserve
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