Glenelg and West Adelaide can still qualify for SANFL finals
GLENELG and West Adelaide’s much-needed wins have kept their faint finals hopes alive, North desperately misses its skipper and a Norwood defender’s incredible recovery. Warren Partland wraps up the first weekend of the SANFL’s Round 17 split round.
GLENELG and West Adelaide’s much-needed wins have kept their faint finals hopes alive, North desperately misses its skipper and a Norwood defender’s incredible recovery. Warren Partland wraps up part one of the SANFL’s Round 17 split round.
FINAL FIVE RACE
So what impact did the two games on the weekend have on the race for the final five?
West Adelaide and Glenelg moved within two games of fifth-placed South Adelaide, although the Panthers, who have a hefty percentage advantage, still have to play Sturt in the second weekend of the split round.
North Adelaide damaged its top-three hopes with the loss to the Tigers. It stayed in fourth spot, just percentage below the Double Blues, who have a game in hand.
COME BACK, MAX
No Maxy Thring, no North Adelaide. Maybe.
The captain was missing against Glenelg at Prospect Oval on Sunday due to a calf injury and his absence was significant. Although the Tigers can rightly argue they were without Josh Scott.
Roosters coach Josh Carr admitted Thring was missed. He said Thring could kick those crucial goals and be an inspiration for his teammates.
The Roosters got belted at the stoppages, lacking that oomph Thring can provide.
Thring hurt his calf at training on Friday and could be sidelined for three weeks. The Roosters have just two more games after the bye this weekend.
BEECH FIRES
West Adelaide coach Gavin Colville wasn’t too impressed with his side despite beating Port Adelaide at Richmond Oval on Saturday.
He was remarkably subdued after the game, even a little flat. But he was full of praise for his gun forward Jono Beech and with very good reason.
Beech returned to form in style against Port Adelaide and bagged seven big ones in a best-on-ground effort.
“Jono sets high standards for himself,” Colville said. “It was great for him to find form. He has been working hard and got what he deserved.
TIME TO RELAX
The Port Adelaide players, the Magpies contracted variety anyway, had a night at the pub on Saturday after the Westies contest.
They got together for a feed and watched the Showdown on tele. Port’s state team footy manager Shane Grimm said the contracted players don’t get a chance for much time together as a group.
It was an opportunity for the players to relax after a torrid stretch in which they have lost their past six games.
GEORGIOU A CHANCE
Norwood defender Alex Georgiou could be back in action much sooner than expected and may not miss any game time.
He looked to have suffered a serious ankle injury against Woodville-West Torrens a week ago, but scans have revealed bad bone bruising and slightly strained ligaments.
The club is optimistic he will front Central District at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.
Key forward Luke Surman is expected to be promoted to the league side after another impressive performance in the reserves against South Adelaide at The Parade on Friday night.
He bagged four goals and will definitely be strongly mentioned at the selection table.
ALL ROSEY
There is good news for South Adelaide after classy defender Matt Rose successfully negotiated his return froma broken collarbone in the reserves against the Redlegs.
Rosey picked up more than 30 possessions playing 75 per cent of the game and the club was satisfied with his efforts.
BROOKSBY FLIES
The SANFL came up with its three options for mark of the week from round 16, but in my humble opinion they missed the best effort.
Panthers’ ruckman Keegan Brooksby took a beauty going back with the flight of the ball in the game against Port Adelaide. Of course, the Panthers were biased when they used social media to question whether it deserved more recognition. But I have to agree.
GREAT SCOTT
Then there was the tweet from the SANFL announcing Bulldogs defender Fraser Fort had been fined $200 and reprimanded for engaging in rough conduct in the game against Sturt.
No problem with that, except surely the bigger news was Josh Scott being suspended for two games and facing the prospect of another three-week ban.
That would have ended his season. Scott beat the second charge though.
ROUND 17 RESULTS
West Adelaide 12.15 (87) d Port Adelaide 9.7 (61) at Richmond Oval
Glenelg 8.8 (56) d North Adelaide 8.5 (53) at Prospect Oval
LADDER
1: Norwood 24 (58.1%)
2: Eagles 21 (55.5)
3: Sturt 20 (55.3)
4: North Adelaide 20 (52.8)
5: South Adelaide 18 (56.3)
6: Glenelg 14 (47.7)
7: West Adelaide 14 (45.9)
8: Central District 12 (47.9)
9: Port Adelaide 9 (43.6)
10: Adelaide 2 (37.5)
* North, Glenelg, West, Port played one more game
GOALKICKERS
Mark Evans (Sturt) 36
Josh Scott (Glenelg) 33
Terry Milera (Glenelg) 31
Lewis Hender (North) 29
Jack Hayes (Glenelg) 29
John Butcher (Central) 28
Matthew Panos (Norwood) 26
Mason Middleton (West) 25
Mitch Grigg (Norwood) 24
Nick Hayes (Eagles) 24
ON THE BANDWAGON
Not much space on the Glenelg wagon with colleague Andrew Capel and SANFL’s Zac Milbank jumping back on board after being missing most of the season. But I’ll find some room after four wins on the trot.
OFF THE BANDWAGON
Until North Adelaide can show more intent with its defensive actions and get more blokes willing to go full bore for the whole game, I’ll leave my seat empty.
RANKINGS
Only two games on the weekend so only four teams to rank.
1: Glenelg: The players are adapting to the requirements of Mark Stone and there is plenty of passion and want to follow his message.
2: West: Should have won by a lot more. The Bloods just need to understand they just can’t switch on and off when they want to.
3: North: The deficit was only three points, but until those final frenetic minutes it never felt like the Roosters would win.
4: Port: Only had the 10 AFL listed players and they never looked like winning after half-time.
THIS WEEK
ROUND 17 (second weekend of split round)
Saturday
Central District v Norwood (My Money House Oval, Elizabeth, 1.10pm)
Sunday
Eagles v Adelaide (Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval, Woodville, 2.10pm)
South Adelaide v Sturt (Hickinbotham Oval, Noarlunga, 2.10pm)
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