Top five teams not set as division one of the Adelaide Footy League enters the final minor round
Goodwood Saints left it to the dying minutes to win on Saturday but more late season drama is set to come this weekend in the Adelaide Footy League’s notoriously tight top flight.
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Positions one to five in division one of the Adelaide Footy League are still up for grabs heading into the last minor round this Saturday.
Plus finals match-ups are set after there were upsets galore across the competition in The Messenger’s match reports from every division.
DIVISION ONE
Two three-way contests will take centre stage of division one this Saturday as the final round is set to serve up a thrilling finish to the home-and-away season.
Prince Alfred Old Collegians, Payneham Norwood Union and Rostrevor Old Collegians are vying for the minor premiership with all three a chance to take top spot.
Meanwhile Port District, St Peter’s Old Collegians and Goodwood Saints are locked together on 16 points in the fight for spots four and five.
Brighton, one win back of the pack, remains an outside chance but will need multiple results to go its way.
With upset results dominating last Saturday’s games, Goodwood ended on the right side of the ledger when it edged Port District at home, 15.6 (96) to 13.10 (88).
The Saints kicked showed their grit to kick two goals in time on of the last quarter to snatch victory after trailing 12.6 to 12.5 at the last change.
Tom Anderson (four goals), Lou Whitelock and Jordan Turner led the charge for the winners.
Saints coach Adam Jeffries said it was going to be another tense day in the final minor round.
“Everyone knows how tight the div one comp is. It is just nuts,” Jeffries said.
“We were a lot more attacking against Port which was different to how we have played.
“This week we just have to find a way to beat Princes. But we are excited and we are still alive.”
Prince Alfred OC fell away after quarter time in its 12.15 (87) to 7.9 (51) loss at home to in a top of the table clash against Payneham Norwood Union.
Leading 4.2 to 4.1 at quarter time the Falcons cut out the Old Reds’ attacking options with Campbell Wildman, Adam Perryman and Justin Graetz (two goals) battling well.
Jack O’Leary starred for PNU.
Poor kicking for goals proved costly to St Peter’s Old Collegians in its home loss to Adelaide University, 11.8 (74) to 4.16 (40).
Thomas Matsouliadis, Harry Hayward and Hamish Allan were solid for SPOC which must beat Tea Tree Gully away this Saturday to hold fifth place on the ladder.
Uni all but confirmed its survival in the top flight for another season with the win.
The Blacks are one win ahead of the Wolves plus a healthy percentage gap.
TTG knew before its away clash with Brighton last Saturday it was almost certainly going to be demoted at season’s end.
But that did not stop the reigning premier showing enormous courage to give the Bombers a start and then a beating at Brighton Oval.
Conceding the first four goals of the game the Wolves dominated the second and third quarters to get home 12.11 (83) to 10.13 (73).
The gap kicked out to nearly five goals in the second quarter before Brighton rallied.
For the Bombers, the loss put a significant dent in its hopes of making the division one finals in its debut top-level season.
Rostrevor Old Collegians had few worries away against Henley, cruising home 20.11 (131) to 9.3 (57).
Will Mead, Heath Commane (seven goals) and Nathan Bowles shone for ROC, which end its home-and-away rounds against Port District and is a chance to finish anywhere from top to third, depending on results.
DIVISION TWO
PHOS Camden had coach Simon Quinn and its supporters take a few quick breaths before edging out Scotch Old Collegians at Scotch College, 16.10 (106) to 16.9 (105).
Sam McCabe gave the Phantoms the lead when he goaled with less than two minutes to play before Scotch had the chance to win the game with the ball in its forward line when the siren sounded.
But with Seaton Ramblers beaten easily by Salisbury North, PHOS was in no danger of missing the division two major round.
The Phantoms meet Salisbury North in an away elimination final this Saturday.
“Both sides were great,” a relieved Quinn said.
“We knew Scotch had been very good lately, the match was played in good spirit and it really was top shelf from both sides.
“This week we are looking forward to playing Salisbury North. Last time we played them they got a big jump on us but we liked our footy after quarter time.”
Last Saturday Orry Cross, McCabe (five goals) and Nick Ramsey (two goals) led the charge with Matthew Rowe kicking four goals.
Unley Mercedes is in the box seat for not only the division two flag but the reserves and C2 titles as well after the club secured three minor premierships on Saturday.
Needing a win to finish in top spot, the Jets A grade was too strong for Broadview at Kingswood Oval on Saturday in a comfortable 16.10 (106) to 9.12 (66) victory.
Mitch Duval starred across half-back for the hosts while Nick Petch booted five goals.
The Jets B and C grade sides also confirmed top position and the first week of finals off in their respective divisions with wins over Broadview.
Sacred Heart Old Collegians and Athelstone will meet for the second straight week when they face off in the qualifying final.
SHOC defeated the Raggies at home last Saturday, 12.7 (79) to 9.7 (61), to secure home ground advantage in the first round of the finals.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Salisbury North 21.19 (145) d Seaton Ramblers 8.8 (56) at Salisbury North Oval
■ Modbury 18.16 (124) d Gaza 7.14 (56) at Klemzig Oval
DIVISION THREE
Golden Grove came close to securing a qualifying final spot and the double chance but will instead play away in the division three elimination final this Saturday.
The Kookaburras came into the last minor round sitting third on the ladder but went down to North Haven, 13.3 (81) to 9.9 (63) at Largs North Reserve.
The Magpies jumped from fifth to fourth with the win while Flinders Park also skipped ahead of Golden Grove to move into third spot.
North Haven and Golden Grove will meet for the second week in a row in the do or die final this Saturday, again at Largs North Reserve.
Flinders Park will take on Old Ignatians in the qualifying final away this Saturday after accounting for Morphettville Park.
Jay Hansen and Cameron Miller (six majors) led the way for the Reds in their 19.8 (122) to 6.11 (47) triumph.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Old Ignatians 18.29 (137) d Plympton 5.6 (36) at Karen Rolton Oval
■ Glenunga 16.15 (111) d Portland 11.16 (82) at Port Reserve
■ Westminster OS 24.12 (156) d Gepps Cross 12.10 (82) at Glandore Oval
DIVISION FOUR
Kilburn produced a huge effort to comfortably beat Mitcham by 76 points on Saturday in its quest to make the division four finals.
But what the Chics did not account for was Woodville South and Walkerville upsetting top two sides SMOSH West Lakes and CBC Old Collegians to block their path to the top five.
The impressive 24.10 (154) to 11.12 (78) victory became irrelevant as Kilburn finished sixth on the ladder behind their two rivals on percentage.
Woodville South was held scoreless in the opening term at Ledger Oval but banged on 7.5 to 0.2 in the second term to take a commanding lead, which it would not relinquish on the way to a 17.10 (112) to 6.14 (50) victory.
Walkerville also did it easy in its 16.16 (112) to 6.8 (44) win at home over the Dolphins.
The two Cats sides will face off in the elimination final while CBCOC will host Edwardstown at the East Parklands.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Pembroke OS 18.9 (117) d Pooraka 7.11 (53) at Haslam Oval
■ Edwardstown 24.11 (155) d Colonel Light Gardens 10.15 (75) at Mortlock Park
DIVISION FIVE
Salisbury came from behind to defeat Lockleys and leapfrog the Demons and Eastern Park to secure a home elimination final in division five.
The Magpies trailed Lockleys at every break away from home before putting on a 6.1 to 1.1 final term to win 13.8 (86) to 11.7 (73).
Brad Dalglish, Matthew Garreffa and Reece Powell led the charge for the visitors.
The triumph moved Salisbury from sixth to fourth, shuffling Lockleys down to fifth and pushing Eastern Park outside of the finals positions.
Pulteney and Hope Valley both tuned up for their highly-anticipated qualifying final by belting their respective opponents last Saturday.
The Navy Blues and Demons will meet at St Mary’s Park due to the former’s home at Morgan Oval being unavailable.
The two sides could only be separated by two points in their last meeting a fortnight ago.
Last Saturday Pulteney showed no mercy as it belted Trinity Old Scholars 27.22 (184) to 3.5 (23) at home, confirming the visitors demotion to division six next season.
Hope Valley put already relegated Blackfriars Old Scholars to the sword at St Dominic’s Oval in a 31.20 (206) to 5.5 (35) thrashing.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Kenilworth 24.16 (160) d Eastern Park 13.13 (91) at Dwight Reserve
■ Smithfield 18.14 (122) d Rosewater 14.8 (92) at Eric Sutton Oval
DIVISION SIX
Hectorville and Elizabeth will face off in back-to-back weeks as the division six finals get underway on Saturday.
The Hounds will go in as favourites for its home qualifying final after downing the Eagles by 17 points at Argana Park in the last minor round.
Jak Goudman-Glasson kicked three goals and Jake Mazzone was influential as Hectorville held on to win 11.13 (79) to 9.8 (62) after leading by 10 points a the last change.
Para Hills and Fitzroy will contest the elimination final while West Croydon has the week off after taking out the minor premiership.
Marion avoided relegation as it won the rematch of last year’s division seven grand final over O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale and condemned the Lions to a winless season in the process.
The Rams overcame the wayward visitors 13.6 (84) to 10.15 (75) at Sturt Oval.
Brahma Lodge will join OSB Lonsdale in demotion for next season.
OTHER RESULTS:
■ Fitzroy 14.10 (94) d Ingle Farm 9.10 (64) at Fitzroy Sports Club
■ Para Hills 18.13 (121) d Brahma Lodge 12.11 (83) at the Paddocks
DIVISION SEVEN
Greenacres fell excruciatingly close of a come-from-behind win over Adelaide Lutheran in the division seven elimination final as it fell one point short at the South Parklands on Saturday.
The Bulldogs were held goalless in the opening half but booted 5.6 to 0.1 in the third quarter to hold a 19-point lead at the last change.
The Dragons stormed home in the fourth only to be undone by inaccurate kicking, with their 4.6 not enough as Lutheran stayed alive with a 7.9 (51) to 7.8 (50) victory.
Matthew Delsar starred for the Bulldogs while Matthew Richards (two goals) was Greenacres’ best.
Houghton Districts was too strong for Mawson Lakes in the qualifying final, winning 13.15 (93) to 8.5 (53).
Josh Davis was best for the Raiders, while Jake Tonkin battled for Mawson Lakes.
Houghton will now play for a spot in the decider against the unbeaten St Pauls Old Scholars in the second semi-final, while Mawson Lakes takes on Adelaide Lutheran in the first semi-final.