Adelaide Footy League: Aldi Div 4 Round 9 review

North Haven is the team to beat after the first half of the ALDI Division 4 season.

North Haven is the team to beat after the first half of the ALDI Division 4 season.

The Magpies enter this weekend’s Adelaide Footy League break with a 9-0 record and have accounted for each of their divisional rivals through the opening half of the season.

North Haven sits two wins clear of the nearest side, Morphettville Park, and in its last outing smashed Eastern Park by 63 points in a top-of-the-table clash.

The Magpies’ average winning margin has been 43 points.

North has been spearheaded by Tom Lipson, who has 42 goals through the opening nine rounds.

The next nearest challenger, Colonel Light Gardens’ Alistair Fleming, sits 13 majors back.

Other influential players in the opening nine rounds have been Ross Merrett, Sam Tylor, Mark Rowe, Matthew Reed and Richard Rosewall.

The Magpies face another huge test when they take on the second-placed Roos at Kellett Reserve following this weekend’s long weekend bye.

North won the opening round encounter between the two sides by 23 points.

Since then Morphettville Park has made itself more than at home in the Adelaide Footy League.

The Roos have won seven of their past eight to be in a strong position to claim a finals double chance.

Morphettville Park’s success has come on the back of stingy defence, with the Roos allowing a division-low 61.8 points per game.

Eastern Park and Kilburn both side two competition points back from Morphies with six wins.

One of the two sides could go a step closer to a top-three finish when they face off at Dwight Reserve after the break.

Behind them, Gepps Cross holds fifth spot with a 4-5 record.

The Rams have been inconsistent but remain percentage clear of Edwardstown in the race for the five.

Gepps had a percentage-boosting 97-18 victory over Hectorville last start.

Meanwhile, Edwardstown has climbed to sixth after wins over the Rams and Colonel Light Gardens.

Below the Towns, Salisbury and Colonel Light Gardens sit on 3-6 records.

Hectorville (2-7) and Smithfield (1-8) are occupying the relegation spots at the midway point of the season.

The Lions host Hectorville, Gepps Cross travels to Salisbury and Smithfield welcomes Edwardstown in round 10 action