Adelaide Footy League: BankSA Division 3 April 7 preview

FIRST-round winners Brighton and Golden Grove look set for an absorbing battle when they meet at Brighton Oval this Saturday.

Brighton coach Joel Tucker ... says his men relished the challenge of a new competition. Picture: Keryn Stevens

FIRST-round winners Brighton and Golden Grove look set for an absorbing battle when they meet at Brighton Oval this Saturday.

Brighton, which joined the Adelaide Footy League this season after recent years in the Southern Football League, beat Walkerville by 31 points after being challenged at stages.

Club mainstays Will Rivers (captain), John McPherson (four goals) and Todd Johnstone led the way with strong games from Scott Hunt and Cooper McRae (debutant from under-18s).

Brighton coach Joel Tucker said the side played well and enjoyed the challenge of a new league.

“The level of competition was what we expected,’’ he said.

“It was tough and it wasn’t pretty footy but it was good to win. The atmosphere was really good and the players enjoyed going to a new ground and a new team (to us).’’

Robert Kernick and Jack Chalmers were the other Brighton debutants.

Golden Grove began slowly in its season opener against Portland, took charge early in the last quarter and then held on to win by three points.

Shane Walker, Chris Hannah, Josh Ingram, Judd Morris and Duane Schultz, a member of last season’s Mount Compass premiership team in the Great Southern Football league, led the way.

An intriguing game to assess but Brighton’s home ground could be enough by 13-24 points.

Plympton hosts SMOSH Wests Lakes with both sides having good moments in their first-round losses.

The Bulldogs lost to Seaton Ramblers by 40 points with Mark Schutz, Jeremy Kennewell and Jim Smith solid.

SMOSH West Lakes found Flinders Park too strong, going down by 40 points.

Alex Gillespie, Matthew Harper and Brad Moore stood tall.

Plympton can win at home by 15-26 points.

Portland and Seaton Ramblers looks a top match at Port Reserve. The Thunder lost to Golden Grove by three points last week with Brad Traeger, Robert Wilson and Jarryd Jackson among the best.

Seaton Ramblers did enough to hold Plympton out by 10 points last week with Luke Roberts, Brett Harland (four goals) and Chris Bender leading the charge.

Portland can bounce back by 14-28 points.

Flinders Park looks to have the depth to test Mitcham in their game at Thomas Farms Oval.

The Reds enjoyed a 40-point win against SMOSH West Lakes with Andrew Ainger starring with seven goals.

Mitcham pushed Westminster Old Scholars before losing by 31 points with Simon Tucker, Steven Harding and Stuart Henshall playing well.

The Reds can win by 28-40 points.

Westminster Old Scholars looks to have the depth to beat Walkerville at Tilbrook Rasheed Oval (Glandore). Shane Birss starred for the Dragons last week, while Thomas Daly was strong for the Cats.

The Dragons by 48-62 points.