Seven games to watch in the bush and the suburbs across South Australia this weekend
A 100-goal season beckons in the River Murray league, Multicultural Round in the Spencer Gulf, top-of-the-table clashes in Hills and Adelaide leagues and a qualifying final preview down south. Here are some of the best local footy games around SA.
- ‘BC’ keeps retirement — and training — at bay on way to 500
- The premiership ‘Factor’ notches up 350th
- Mawson Lakes legend players 800th match
- One-handed hanger from a high-flying footballer
- ‘Fossil’ wins race to SA’s first ton
RIVER MURRAY
Mypolonga v Tailem Bend
Mypolonga, Saturday @ 2:30pm
The result of this penultimate home and away matchup is undeniably important, however it’s not what’s likely to draw a bumper crowd to Mypolonga Oval.
Tigers forward James Moss currently sits on 94 goals for the season. After kicking 16 in his two encounters with Tailem Bend so far this year, it’s fair to say he’s a reasonable chance of snagging the six needed to join Glencoe’s Brodie Foster in the South Australian football “100 Club” for season 2019.
Mypolonga had a bye last week but crushed Mannum by 160 points a fortnight ago — largely thanks to Moss kicking a lazy 17 — and currently sit less than 2 per cent behind Ramblers in the chase for top spot and an all-important bye in the first week of finals.
The Tigers have beaten Tailem Bend twice already by an average of 137 points in 2019.
SPENCER GULF
West Augusta v PropRisdon
Central Oval, Saturday @ 2:25pm
With three weeks to go in the season, fifth-placed West Augusta need a win against the high-flying PropRisdon Lions to keep their top four hopes alive.
As important as a win would be for West Augusta’s season, though, just as significant for the club is the specially designed guernsey their senior and reserve sides will be wearing to recognise the ongoing contributions of the club’s indigenous players and supporters.
The initiative comes as part of the SGL’s Multicultural Round, with the guernsey — designed by Aboriginal Arrernte Artist, Heather Kamarra Shearer — representing the many different language groups of West Augusta’s current indigenous players.
This is the inaugural year the Hawks have worn an indigenous jumper.
HILLS
Mount Barker v Echunga
Hanson Oval, Saturday @ 2:30pm
Mount Barker have the chance to give themselves some much-needed breathing room in the congested race for a top five spot, as they host sixth-placed Echunga in the penultimate round of the home & away season.
In the absence of star midfielder Tom Hughes, co-captain Mark Thomas was excellent last week in the Roos’ narrow away win over third-placed Onka Valley which vaulted them in to second position on the ladder.
He’ll need to fire again if Mount Barker are to get over the top of a Demons side who know they need to win their remaining two games if they want to sneak in to finals calculations.
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Christies Beach v Flagstaff Hill
John Bice Memorial Oval, Saturday @ 2:30pm
This week’s SFL match of the round sees two teams certain to be seeing each other in September clash in a sneak preview of the finals action to come.
The Saints are currently third on the ladder, and host the second-placed Falcons in a match-up which is already locked in for a Qualifying Final in 15 days’ time, regardless of results in the final two rounds.
Flagstaff Hill have won the last three Southern Football League premierships and, under new head coach Darren Vanzetta, look the most likely challenger to the currently-undefeated Noarlunga.
They’ll face a stern test this week though against a Christies Beach side on a six-game winning streak and spearheaded by 72-goal key-forward Blake Carter.
ADELAIDE FOOTY LEAGUE
Division One
Prince Alfred Old Collegians v Payneham Norwood Union
Park 9, Saturday @ 2:15pm
The implications for this clash between the top two teams on the Division One ladder are enormous.
A win away from home in the penultimate round of the home & away season would see the second-placed Falcons well-and-truly in the hunt to sneak past the Reds in to top spot, and potentially earn themselves a finals bye and home-ground advantage throughout September.
A loss, though, and they may be left with the daunting task of taking on 2018 grand finalist and 2017 premiers Rostrevor away from home in a Qualifying Final.
PAC’s backline — led by veteran Will Dalwood — must find a way to stop Payneham’s twin towers in Alex Forster and Liam Davis, who have kicked 114 goals between them in 2019.
Division Two
Sacred Heart Old Collegians v Athelstone
Sacred Heart Senior College, Saturday @ 2:15pm
The members of the top three on the Division Two ladder may be set going in to the final round, but the order they’ll finish in is still yet to be determined.
A win against the Raggies — who they lost to in heartbreaking fashion by 8 points earlier in the season by — and a loss from the Unley Mercedes Jets would result in SHOC finishing the season as minor premiers.
A loss, however, will see this match-up replicated next week in a Qualifying Final.
SHOC must find a way to stop the Raggies’ ageless-wonder Justin Sheedy, who has played all 17 games so far this season (taking his career tally to 247) and continued on his merry way after winning the Keith Sims OAM league medal in division one last year.
With Nick Forster — SHOC’s reigning A-grade best and fairest — facing him across the centre-circle, spectators are in for a midfield bonanza.
Division Seven
Adelaide Lutheran v Greenacres (Elimination Final)
South Parklands, Saturday @ 2:00pm
It’s been a season of remarkable ups and downs for Greenacres.
The Dragons sat 6th on the ladder with a 3-7 record after 10 rounds, but stormed in to finals contention thanks to six wins in a row between rounds 11 and 16.
Their streak came to an end last week at the hands of Flinders University, but just to give themselves the chance to suit up in an Elimination Final is a phenomenal achievement.
This match promises to be a cracker as well, given the only clash between these two this season was a 28-goal thriller, which the Bulldogs eventually prevailed in by 4 points at the same venue.
Greenacres’ Braden Stewart has been in their best players in all but one of his last seven matches, and will be crucial to the Dragons’ chances of staying alive in season 2019.