SANFL Grand Final 2025: Almost 35,000 fans watch Sturt beat Glenelg by 31 points at Adelaide Oval
Sturt coach Martin Mattner has given a detailed insight into his team’s stunning season, and why this year’s flag ranks among the best of the club’s 16 premierships.
An emotional Sturt coach Martin Mattner has hailed the mentality of his players after they overcame the pain and bitter disappointment of last year’s straight-sets finals exit to produce one of the great SANFL seasons of all time.
Mattner declared the Double Blues’ 31-point grand final triumph against Glenelg at Adelaide Oval on Sunday as the “sweetest’’ of his three premierships as Sturt coach, which included back-to-back triumphs in 2016-17.
“I’m just so proud of the group and what we’ve been able to achieve this year,’’ he said after steering Sturt to a remarkable 19-win, one-loss season and its 16th premiership.
“Last year was a little piece of the whole package and the journey we’ve been through, along with the (grand final) loss in 2023 (against Glenelg) and the building of the group from 2021 (when he rejoined the club).
“It’s a combination of all those things, which was topped off by the resolution of last year, losing those two finals, which resulted in the group having a different mindset this year.
“The mentality of the group has been so strong, while them (Glenelg) being so good has also driven us to try to be better than them.
“We knew we had to be so much better than what we were last year to beat Glenelg (which knocked them out of the first semi-final) and that has taken a lot of hard work.
“It was a big driver for us to get better and at the end of last season we reviewed where we were at. This season, win, loss or draw, we’ve reviewed every week and tried to work out ways to get better.
“There’s been a different vibe with the group all year, there are some guys who have done things differently, and to get this final result is very sweet.’’
Mattner’s star-studded side’s only loss all season came in the final minor round against the Crows by just two points, before it won both finals (the second semi and grand final) against Glenelg by a combined 73 points.
He said he felt his team “controlled’’ the grand final after a first quarter arm wrestle.
“We kept them to two goals in the first half and I felt we were very good in the two middle quarters,’’ Mattner said.
“We then grinded out the start of the last quarter (pushing 51 points clear) and were then able to enjoy the game, which was really nice.’’
Sturt caps one of the greatest SANFL seasons of all time
Mission accomplished.
Powerful, ruthless Sturt capped off one of the greatest seasons in SANFL history by steamrolling its way to its 16th premiership at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The mighty Double Blues, who lost only one game all season – in the final minor round against Adelaide by just two points – showed why they were the toast of the state league competition this year, convincingly beating back-to-back premier Glenelg in the grand final by 31 points.
On a redemption mission to atone for last year’s horror straight-sets finals exit – a major driving force all year – Sturt denied the Tigers their first hat-trick of flags in club history by emphatically running them off their legs.
Looking fresher, meaner and better, they took control midway through the first term and opened up a game-breaking 34-point advantage midway through the second quarter before leading by a game-high 51 early in the last.
A gallant Glenelg booted the final three goals to gain some respectability on the scoreboard.
The dominant victory saw the Double Blues complete the finest SANFL season since Glenelg lost only one game in 1973 on the way to winning the premiership, famously beating North Adelaide in the grand final in a match largely remembered for club great Graham Cornes’ late heroics.
This Sturt side, which nearly completed the first flawless campaign since Port Adelaide’s famous ‘Invincibles’ side in 1914, was simply too good and ripped the Bays apart in the midfield, while their small forwards, Josh Hone (four goals), Sam Conforti and James Mathews, bagged eight goals between them.
It was the Blues’ first flag since their back-to-back triumphs in 2016-17, and Martin Mattner’s third as coach.
On-ballers, Magarey Medallists Tom Lewis and Will Snelling, along with find of the year Angus Anderson, destroyed their opponents, handing out a midfield belting.
The powerfully-built, explosive Anderson won the Jack Oatey Medal as best afield after a dynamic 24-disposal, nine-mark, one-goal performance, while Lewis and Snelling combined for 46 disposals and 24 tackles.
As it has done all season, Sturt shared the goalkicking load, having 10 goalkickers.
This year’s Ken Farmer Medallist Lachie Hosie was terrific for the Bays, making the most of limited opportunities to kick a game-high five goals, including the Tigers’ first four.
Sturt, which had won all three previous encounters between the teams this year, hurt Glenelg outside the contest with its greater leg speed and spread.
It ran what appeared to be a bruised, battered and physically spent Tigers outfit – missing inspirational triple-premiership defender Max Proud, sidelined after suffering a punctured lung and broken ribs in the preliminary final – off its feet.
The win saw the Blues exact some revenge for their loss to Glenelg in the 2023 decider.
Led by co-captains Lewis and Snelling after regular skipper and dual premiership midfielder James Battersby, who had been playing reserves, controversially “stepped away’’ from the club following its second semi-final victory, Sturt started as hot favourite after a season for the ages.
But the Tigers – contesting their fifth grand final in seven years and attempting to become the first side since Norwood in 2012-14 to win three flags in a row – opened brightly and struck first blood when Hosie hauled in a spectacular contested mark and, aided by a slight breeze, kicked truly from 40m to the main scoreboard end.
However it didn’t take long for the Double Blues to find their feet.
Livewire forward Mathews kick-started their grand final when he snapped truly on the run in the ninth minute, before Snelling pounced on a bad defensive turnover from Tiger Nick Stevens to boot Sturt’s second soon after.
After Hone marked unattended in the goalsquare in time-on, the Blues had extended their lead to 14 points at the first change, despite kicking into the breeze.
They took advantage of having the wind at their backs in the second quarter, with a quickfire Sam Conforti double pushing them 34 points clear as Glenelg managed only two goals in the first half.
The dam wall appeared to burst early in the third quarter when two superb, courageous marks from Tom Emmett and Hone in the opening four minutes resulted in goals and Sturt’s lead was out to 38 points.
But the Bays – with the emotional Hosie on fire – hit back with three majors in four minutes to close to within 19 points.
However the comeback was short-lived.
Rain fails to dampen fans
By Shashi Baltutis
Wet weather failed to stop 34,426 fans flocking to Adelaide Oval for the SANFL Grand Final on Sunday.
It was a sea of black, yellow and blue as swathes of supporters from both Glenelg and Sturt turned out for the big game.
Lifelong Sturt fan Ryan Arlt, from Belair, had his faced painted blue for the occasion as he celebrated the win with the cheer squad.
“It’s finals footy, you have to get it all together,” said Mr Arlt, 33, of his support.
“It’s my old man’s club so I’ve been brought up with it.”
Robert Mudogno, 71, had been supporting the Double Blues, both Sturt and Carlton in the AFL, since the 1970s and had lost track of the number of finals he had seen live.
“I’m so happy (with the win) because Sturt means a lot to me,” Mr Mudogno, from Gepps Cross, said.
The atmosphere was lively behind the goalposts as every goal sent the Sturt cheer squad members into rapturous cheering and unfurling giant Double Blues flags.
Before the footy action, the hallowed turf of Adelaide Oval was transformed by a colourful dance spectacle involving more than 50 dancers and cheerleaders.
In an SANFL first, fans at the stadium were treated to a 15-minute dance performance directed by Mike Snell Entertainment.
Melbourne-based Snell, whose performance featured a backdrop of giant winged performers, had previously worked alongside Hugh Jackman, Kylie Minogue and Guy Sebastian.
The crowd also stood for a moment’s silence for SA footy legend Max Basheer, who died earlier this month at age 98.
Glenelg supporter Catherine Ames, from Brighton, brought her children George, 7 and Harry, 6 along for the match.
“It’s a great place to take the kids,” Catherine, 41, said.
It was her kids’ second taste of SANFL finals as they were at Adelaide Oval last year for Glenelg’s triumph.
Support for Sturt had been in Adam Canney’s family for generations as his grandfather Ted Biggs played for the club in the 1930s and 40s.
“I’ve been a Sturt fan all my life,” said Mr Canney, 46, from Camden Park.
“It’s a family friendly club and it’s a good atmosphere.”
He brought his daughter Nyla, 6, to her first grand final.
“She’s really adapting to footy and enjoying it this year and that’s really cool,” he said.
Sturt fans and players poured out of the stadium at the final siren and headed to the Arkaba Hotel in Fullarton.
Scott Oakley, whose family owns the Arkaba, said the win was “awesome” as he celebrated with his wife Samantha and children Harry, 2, Jack, 6 and Hugo, 4.
“It’s a good reward for the players,” said Mr Oakley of the win.
“We’ve had a longstanding relationship with Sturt.”
Glenelg fan Renee Groffen, from Christie Downs, enjoyed watching her team regardless of the loss.
“I’ve been a Tigers fan since I was conceived and I love them win or lose,” Ms Groffen said.
“I’m always proud of the boys even when they struggle.”
It was a family affair for Cherie Naylor and her son Lachlan, who had been Glenelg fans their whole lives.
“I’ve been coming since I was a little girl,” said Ms Naylor, 48, from Glenelg.
Ahead of the first bounce, Glenelg fan and AFL hopeful Ollie Tippins, 11, said he was excited for the grand final atmosphere.
“[I love] the atmosphere, seeing my friends and favourite players,” he said.
Former Sturt midfielder Tom Bartlett’s daughter, Georgia, 6, said she was excited to cheer on her father’s former team at the game.
“When I watch it on the TV, I like seeing how many [points] they need to win,” she said.
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