The favourites, finals hopefuls and relegation battlers for all seven Adelaide Footy League divisions
It’s approaching crunch time in the Adelaide Footy League and we’ve assessed the chances of every club in every division from favourites to battlers. Plus vote for who you think will win the flag in our poll.
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The Adelaide Footy League’s 67 clubs are about to hit the run home to the end of the season.
Who is leading the premiership charge in each division? Who is going to make the five? And which sides look destined for relegation?
Messenger sports reporter Patrick Keam has assessed each club’s chances with five rounds to play.
Who do you think will win the flag? Vote in our poll below.
DIVISION ONE
Three sides have established themselves as the real deal in the race for the division one flag.
With the top tier having a bye this weekend, Prince Alfred Old Collegians sit the most comfortable on top of the ladder with an 11-2 record.
The Old Reds have won seven on the trot and it is hard to see them relinquishing the minor premiership, despite Payneham Norwood Union and Rostrevor Old Collegians only two wins behind.
PAOC plays the bottom three sides in the coming rounds before a date with the Falcons and a clash away to Goodwood to finish the season.
Lock Brett Backwell’s boys in for top spot.
That leaves PNU and ROC – both two games clear of the fourth-placed Saints – to battle it out in the double chance positions.
The Falcons’ firepower and Rostrevor’s stout defence should make for an intriguing first final if the two finish second and third.
Goodwood is best-placed of the chasing bunch but play PNU and ROC in the coming weeks.
Port District, St Peter’s Old Collegians and Brighton are also in the fight for those final two spots, while Uni has won two in a row to close the gap to just two points.
Henley and Tea Tree Gully – both a further two wins back – appear to have their fates sealed for relegation.
Flag fancies: Prince Alfred OC (11-2), Payneham NU (9-4), Rostrevor OC (9-4)
Finals hopefuls: Goodwood Saints (7-6), Port District (6-7), St Peter’s OC (6-7), Brighton Bombers (6-7),Adelaide University (5-8)
Relegation battle: Henley (3-10), Tea Tree Gully (3-10)
DIVISION TWO
Unley’s Jye De Zylva is tackled by SHOC’s Michael Teal. Picture: AAP/Brenton Edwards
Unley Mercedes has taken a major step forward since 2018’s fifth-placed finish and lead the line in division two coming into the home straight.
The Jets have the best attack when it comes to points scored and have conceded the least, unsurprisingly propelling them to the top of the ladder.
But looming ominously just one point behind is the in-form Sacred Heart Old Collegians.
SHOC beat Unley at home just two weeks ago in a four-point battle, before smashing Salisbury North on Saturday.
It plays four of its last five matches at home and is every chance to pip the Jets for top spot.
Also in hot touch is Jade Sheedy’s Athelstone, which has won five straight including a win over SHOC, and has the mettle to take it up to the top two.
Salisbury North was highly-touted earlier in the season but has lost three in a row to throw serious doubt over its premiership credentials.
The Hawks have fallen back into a pack of quality but inconsistent sides in Seaton Ramblers, PHOS Camden and Broadview, which look set to fight for positions four and five.
The Phantoms do not play any of the top three to finish the campaign and will control their own fate.
Gaza is doomed for relegation with just one win on the season while Scotch Old Collegians and Modbury are on the chopping block to join the Eagles.
Scotch looked the most likely but has won three from its past four. The Lions and Hawks face off next Saturday, which could decide ninth spot.
Flag fancies: Unley Mercedes (10-2-1), Sacred Heart OC (10-3), Athelstone (9-4)
Finals hopefuls: Salisbury North (7-4-2), Seaton Ramblers (6-6-1), PHOS Camden (6-7, Broadview (6-7)
Relegation battle: Modbury (4-9), Scotch OC (3-9-1), Gaza (1-11-1)
DIVISION THREE
Three flags in three years – could Glenunga do it?
The Rams are a win and a half clear on top of the division three ladder and have just beaten a big challenger in Flinders Park.
They play Golden Grove (fifth), Old Ignatians (third) and North Haven (fourth) in the next three rounds – two wins from those fixtures will be enough to grab the minor premiership.
Flinders Park is not to be discounted however, while Iggies and the Magpies are the only two sides to beat Glenunga so far this season.
Golden Grove has shown an ability to beat any side on its day but will be ruing some close losses earlier in the season if it falls short of the double chance.
Westminster Old Scholars, Portland and Plympton are in no man’s land – too far back to make the top five but clear of relegation.
Destined for division four in 2020 will be Morphettville Park and Gepps Cross.
Flag fancies: Glenunga (11-2), Flinders Park (9-3-1)
Finals hopefuls: Old Ignatians (9-4), North Haven (9-4), Golden Grove (8-4-1), Westminster OS (6-7), Portland (5-7-1)
Relegation battle: Morphettville Park (1-12), Gepps Cross (1-12)
DIVISION FOUR
The fourth tier presents arguably the most interesting battle in the league, with a very even and unpredictable division.
SMOSH West Lakes holds top spot, though it has done things the hard way this season with several tight wins, and three other sides have shown the capability to win against anyone.
CBC Old Collegians, Edwardstown and Mitcham make up the open field for the flag.
The Towns have the easiest run of the four to finish the season and should join the Lions in the top two. But good luck picking the premier.
Then there is the battle for fifth.
Woodville South, Kilburn, Pembroke OS, Walkerville and Pooraka are separated by just one win, so the last finals spot could go anywhere.
Colonel Light Gardens is three victories back after a tough year and one loss away from guaranteed demotion.
Flag fancies: SMOSH West Lakes (10-3), CBCOC (9-4), Edwardstown (9-4), Mitcham (8-5)
Finals hopefuls: Woodville South (6-7), Kilburn (6-7), Walkerville (5-8), Pembroke OS (5-8), Pooraka (5-8)
Relegation battle: Colonel Light Gardens (2-11)
DIVISION FIVE
It is a race in three in division five with Kenilworth, Hope Valley and Pulteney all holding genuine flag ambitions.
Seeing the flag winner coming from anywhere but this trio is hard with the significant gap they have opened up on the chasing pack.
Kenilworth’s single loss was an upset by sixth-placed Salisbury but the Kookaburras had a 51-point win over second side Hope Valley last Saturday to ease any nerves.
The Demons are down a few key soldiers and boast a serious threat if they are at full strength come September.
Pulteney has the firepower to kick big scores, which could come into play.
The aforementioned Salisbury has beaten the Navy Blues and Kenilworth this season – so watch out for the Magpies to cause another upset if they sneak into the top five.
Blackfriars Old Scholars have not won since round two and, given they face six of the top seven sides to finish the campaign, will need a minor miracle to avoid relegation at season’s end.
Rosewater has beaten the Hounds and ninth-placed Trinity Old Scholars the past two rounds, which could ensure its safety for another year.
Flag fancies: Kenilworth (12-1), Hope Valley (11-2), Pulteney (10-3)
Finals hopefuls: Eastern Park (7-6), Lockleys (7-6), Salisbury (7-6), Smithfield (5-8)
Relegation battle: Rosewater (3-10), Trinity OS (2-11), Blackfriars OS (1-12)
DIVISION SIX
West Croydon is odds on to wrap up a double chance in the coming weeks and then push towards the minor premiership.
The Hawks saw off second-placed Hectorville last Saturday but the Hounds will still challenge deep into the finals along with third side Elizabeth.
Playing into Hectorville’s favour is its game in hand plus matches against the bottom two to come.
From there it appears to be a gap in class.
Para Hills has flexed its muscle at times this season before going its past four matches without a win.
Looming large in fifth is the in-form Ingle Farm, winners of five of its past six matches. Expect the Bulldogs to have a say come finals while Fitzroy is a wildcard of sorts.
O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale is winless and destined to be relegated.
Brahma Lodge and Marion are battling to avoid joining the Lions in the drop.
Flag fancies: West Croydon (10-2), Hectorville (9-2), Elizabeth (8-4)
Finals hopefuls: Para Hills (6-5-1), Ingle Farm (6-5), Fitzroy (5-6)
Relegation battle: Brahma Lodge (4-8), Marion (3-7-1), O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale (0-12)
DIVISION SEVEN
There is not much debate about which side is the front runner in division seven.
St Paul’s Old Scholars has been unstoppable on its way to a 13-0 record with an average winning margin of 71 points.
In fact, no side has got within four goals of the Saints all season.
Adelaide Lutheran, which should secure a finals spot, came closest on a terrible wet and windy day in round 11 but lost by 25 points.
Houghton Districts appeared to be SPOS’ biggest challenger before it lost to battlers Mitchell Park and only just got over Central United and bottom side Flinders University.
Mawson Lakes, Central United and Greenacres are in a three-way battle to fill out the finals positions.
Unfortunately Mitchell Park and Flinders University are almost certain to be consigned to the bottom two places for the second-straight season.
Flag fancies: St Paul’s OS (13-0)
Finals hopefuls: Houghton Districts (8-4-1), Mawson Lakes (7-5-1), Adelaide Lutheran (6-6-1), Central United (6-6-1), Greenacres (6-7)
Relegation battle: Mitchell Park (3-10), Flinders University (1-12)
patrick.keam@news.com.au
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