Adam Proud, Walkerville put Adelaide Footy League on notice with 35-goal hot streak

A star forward has started the Adelaide Footy League season on fire with 35 goals in five games as his club tops the ladder. Can they win the flag and promotion?

Welcome to One-Percenters – a wrap of the talking points from the round in the Adelaide Footy League.

Each edition we will bring you titbits from the weekend – they might be eye-catching results, milestones, comebacks, big wins, broken droughts or inspiring stories.

If you have a titbit you’d like to share from the Adelaide Footy League, email us your suggestions or photos to [e-mail]

Here’s what’s catching our eye after round five:

CATS ON THE PROWL

After losing its first game to a hungry newly-promoted Kenilworth side, Walkerville has won four straight games in division four, all by at least seven goals.

Included in the win streak has been a 180-88 win over Mitcham, and a round four 148-56 win over a strong Pembroke Old Scholars side.

The main catalyst for Walkerville’s success has been the form of key forward Adam Proud.

Proud has booted a huge 35 goals in just five appearances, including six against Pembroke OS and most recently eight against Pooraka on the weekend.

Picture Lisa Wright

“I think we’ve managed to gel quite well since working on some things after round one,” Proud said of Walkerville’s form.

“This is currently the best stretch we’ve had since getting to the div five grand final in 2020.”

As a new division four club last season, Walkerville started in a similar way, going 5-0 after five rounds and 8-1 at the season’s halfway point.

What followed was a drop in form and a failure to gain promotion into division three.

Proud said the club is eager to right its wrongs this season.

“We started last year hot too but dropped off a bit, we maybe lost a bit of focus,” Proud said.

Walkerville Football Club

“I think if we can make sure we stay consistent and play to our strengths we’ll be a big chance to go one further.

“Division four is a very strong division this year, it’s so tight with so much SANFL experience coming to the competition so it’s going to be interesting.”

While Proud had been happy with his own early season form, he credited his teammates for getting him going.

He also guaranteed he was not thinking about the possibility of a 100-goal season.

“I had a relatively big preseason, I like trying to go as hard as possible at trainings and I pride myself on my work rate so I think it’s a bit to do with that,” Proud said.

“I’m also really comfortable on the field with the boys and I’ve got guys like Nick Gillard from Central District and Jack McKenzie as well drawing defenders away to give me one-on-one opportunities.

“We’ve had a lot of team success through that so as long as we can keep working as a team up front the milestones are secondary.”

LEAGUE LEVELLING OUT

Round five made it no clearer who the outlying frontrunners are in any Adelaide Footy League division.

The start of the season has been one of the most even in recent memory and each division sees a handful of teams either tied on points at – or one or two points off – the top of the ladder.

In division one alone, Port District, Glenunga, St Peter’s OC, Goodwood Saints, Old Ignatians, Tea Tree Gully and Rostrevor are all 3-2 and tied on six points.

Glenunga coach Nathan Grima believed football was evening out statewide.

Glenunga coach Nathan Grima believed SA football was evening out across all levels. Picture: Sarah Reed

“It’s my view on all footy on all levels that it’s evened out, across the board,” Grima said.

“The teams moving up are a bit more competitive now and you see that with us and Iggies (Old Ignatians).

“There’s a lot of talent at a lot of clubs now and I think the salary cap levelling out has been a really good equaliser too because a lot of clubs use the same amount of points and money as everyone else.”

While Grima admitted the even nature of the competition would make winning a flag a tough ask for Glenunga, he embraced the challenge.

“It’s going to be tough but I think we have what it takes to be competitive,” he said.

“You’ve got to enjoy it, it’s a really good and competitive league and everyone has good respect for each other.”

GOALS AND MARKS OF THE WEEK

The Adelaide Footy League has partnered up with The Advertiser and Messenger again this season to crown the best mark and best goal of 2022.

Each week you can find the top three from the round here in the One-Percenters column.

Vote in the poll for your favourite and at the end of the year the top marks and goals will go in the running to be named the best of the season with an overall vote decided by you.