Glenelg defender Max Proud pushes his claims for selection in the SANFL side
Glenelg defender Max Proud has been brilliant, Jake Sutcliffe is back for Sturt and North Adelaide raise the flag in another big week for the SANFL. See the Round 2 highlights here.
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- Red-hot South too strong for Port
- Roosters unfurl flag, open account
- Dogs fall short in valiant fightback
- Tigers take charge of Crows
- Brave Sturt finally conquers Eagles
THE state game against the WAFL in Perth is a little more than a month away so selectors will be starting to ponder their options.
If the SANFL side was named today, Glenelg defender Max Proud must be the fullback. His form in the opening two rounds against Norwood and Adelaide has been nothing short of outstanding.
Maybe his best and fairest win at the Tigers last season had a touch of surprise about it to people outside the club. But he has used the first couple of rounds to show why he deserved the trophy, and his true potential when injury free.
His captain and fellow defender Chris Curran has also established himself as one of the most reliable components in the side and his name is another the state selectors need to think seriously about.
By the way, Proud was not in my top 50 players in the comp revealed before the opening round. He would be now.
FORWARD THINKING
WITH Jake Sutcliffe back in the side, Sturt started with reigning Ken Farmer Medallist Mark Evans on the bench with Ben Hansen, playing his first league game since 2017.
Unfortunately for Hansen, he spent most of the day there after damaging his shoulder in the first quarter. The small forward will have scans on the injury and hopefully it is not season ending.
Hansen and Josh Hone have always been a worry for opposition defences when they are on the field together.
Sutcliffe spent more time on the ground than planned because of Guy Page breaking his leg in the opening minutes and Hansen’s injury.
IN THE BACK!
DID Eagles assistant coach Vincenzo Rugolo, also the club’s reserves coach, give Double Blues midfield coach Ben Warren a little nudge in the back as they retreated to their coaching boxes after the quarter-time chats to the players at Unley Oval, on Saturday?
No doubt it was all in jest. Both are good blokes.
ALMOST A HERO
Murray Stephenson has done most of his work for Central District in defence since being recruited from Coolamon in NSW in 2014. But this season he has been moved forward as coach Roy Laird seeks to find some goalkicking weapons.
In the first two rounds he has bagged five goals. Laird would have hoped it was six though.
Stephenson had the chance to be a hero on Saturday when he had the final kick in the game against Norwood at Elizabeth Oval. The Bulldogs, who had faced a deficit of more than 40 points, had got within four points when Stephenson wheeled around on his right about 40m from goal and unloaded.
However, the ball floated to the left of the goalpost and the Redlegs were able to hang on for their second win.
The Bulldogs are winless and they face another 0-2 team West Adelaide at the kennel on Saturday. What a big game for both clubs.
Twenty-eight years after captaining @NorthAdelaideFC to grand final success, Kim Klomp unveils the Roosters' 2018 premiership flag ahead of the club's match against @WestAdelaideFC at Prospect Oval.#SANFL @TheTiserSport @SANFL pic.twitter.com/uEOgSbWgdq
— Matt Turner (@mattturner1986) April 6, 2019
REAL THRING
“The captain kicked captain’s goals when needed.”
Roosters coach Josh Carr could not have described the efforts of his skipper Max Thring in the win over West Adelaide at Prospect Oval on Saturday any better.
The No. 30 has established himself as an inspirational leader, very much in the mould of Sturt’s champion captain Zane Kirkwood.
We all know the influence of Kirkwood and he was at it again against the Eagles. Early in the third quarter he went full bore at a stray ball surrounded by players while others contemplated their next move. No hesitation.
LIDDLE CROSS
Is there any doubt former Bulldogs’ Chris and James Gowans have been the most influential interstate imports to play in the state league?
Well Joel Cross and Nick Liddle can’t be too far behind. They have not won any flags, unlike the nine for the twins, but it is not through a lack of trying.
The Panthers snapped a six-game losing streak at Alberton Oval last year with a 74-point thumping when Port was not travelling well. On Saturday, they made it two in a row. This time though, the home side had gone into the game on the back of an impressive win in the opening round.
Cross has been arguably the side’s best player in the first two games, while Liddle has been not far behind. Liddle and Cross have won eight Knuckey Cups between them as club best and fairest.
Surely Panthers CEO Neill Sharpe must be considering a couple of statues at Noarlunga to honour the pair?
SCANS FOR CAM
PORT might need to find a new captain for the clash against the Roosters at Alberton Oval on Sunday following the hamstring injury for Cam Sutcliffe.
The former Fremantle utility, who left the game against the Panthers in the first quarter on Saturday, will have scans on the injury on Monday afternoon.
Port will discuss the captaincy later in the week if Sutcliffe is forced to miss the Roosters battle.
LOWER WAY
HAD a peek at the player profiles on the North Adelaide website and the final question is: Stranded on an island, what are your 3 essential items?
Now listen here Mitch Clisby, I’m an old bloke and you are a prime example why the world has its issues these days. Your answer: Wi-Fi, Iphone and laptop. You sound too much like my kids who can’t breathe without a device.
If I’m going to be stranded with a Rooster hopefully it is Max Lower. His three wants are beer, boat and food.
The Double Blues break the 10 year curse against the Eagles pic.twitter.com/wTLSucIWkz
— 7SANFL (@7SANFL) April 6, 2019
QUOTABLE QUOTE
It is probably more than just the points, for a news coach it is a character win.
— Sturt coach Nathan Grima after the brave win over the Eagles. It’s the second week Grima has provided a nice quote. Good start to his SANFL coaching career.
RESULTS
Glenelg 18.7 (115) d Adelaide 9.8 (62) at ACH Group Stadium.
North Adelaide 14.11 (95) d West Adelaide 9.12 (66) at Prospect Oval.
Norwood 13.11 (89) d Central District 12.14 (86) at X Convenience Oval, Elizabeth.
South Adelaide 14.10 (94) d Port Adelaide 8.10 (58) at Alberton Oval.
Sturt 12.12 (84) d Woodville-West Torrens 11.11 (77)
GOALKICKERS
Liam McBean (Glenelg) 10
Tom Whittlesea (South) 7
Jack Hayes (Eagles) 7
Matthew Wright (Adelaide) 6
Myles Poholke (Adelaide) 6
Lewis Hender (North) 5
Murray Stephenson (Central) 5
Joel Cross (South) 5
Tyson Stengle (Adelaide) 5
DISPOSALS
Jack Trengove (Port) 86
Lewis Johnston (Norwood) 75
Sam Colquhoun (Sturt) 63
Joel Cross (South) 61
Jordan Foote (Eagles) 59
Travis Schiller (Central) 58
Sam Hayes (Port) 58
Mitch Grigg (Norwood) 58
Cam Ellis-Yolmen (Adelaide) 57
ON THE BANDWAGON
This tweet from Port media guru Norts says it all.
Very good point old son. I’m ready to go. If you closely I’m at the back of this tram heading toward Brighton Road. The Bays bandwagon is alive and well. Bring on September! pic.twitter.com/68YTHlV0gJ
— Daniel Norton (@Norts1974) April 6, 2019
OFF THE BANDWAGON
The two AFL reserves teams were highly impressive in round one. But Adelaide and Port came crashing back to earth on the weekend. It must be said though. they faced terrific teams in Glenelg and South Adelaide though.
ROUND 1 RANKINGS
1: Glenelg: How good was that effort against the Crows? While it was a brilliant team performance, the Tigers defence was against outstanding. Then there was the nine goals from Liam McBean.
2: South Adelaide: The Panthers backed up the strong round 1 win over the Bulldogs with a highly impressive victory at Alberton Oval when they went about their work in style.
3: Sturt: The Double Blues had lost their previous 11 home games against the Eagles. They were hit by injuries and coughed up a handy lead in the final quarter, only to fight back for the win.
4: North Adelaide: This was a must-win game for the Roosters and they got the job done against the Bloods. It wasn’t the prettiest win, but they were able to eat into the deficit on the ladder.
5: Norwood: There would have been some relief when the Redlegs drove back down Main North Road after the Elizabeth game. They coughed up a 40 plus lead and would have lost had Murray Stephenson nailed the goal with the final kick of the game.
6: Central District: The Bulldogs were coming off a sloppy effort at Noarlunga and they had a handy lead in the first quarter, only to ben swamped in the second. They kept coming in the final term and almost stole the win.
7: Eagles: The Double Blues’ injuries have been well documented, but the Eagles also had issue with talented wingman Chris Hall sidelined for the second half. They were also missing key personnel.
8: West Adelaide: Led the Roosters at half-time at Prospect Oval, only to struggle with their skills in the second half. Still searching for the secret to consistency.
9: Port Adelaide: Lost captain Cam Sutcliffe in the first quarter and still very much in the contest at half-time. The third quarter was ugly for the home side and they outscored the Panthers in the final term.
10: Adelaide: Outscored the Tigers in the second quarter to trail by only 11 points, but disappointing in the third term when they struggled against the opposition pressure.
THIS WEEK
Friday: Norwood v Sturt (Coopers Stadium, Norwood, 7.20pm)
Saturday: Central District v West Adelaide (X Convenience Oval, Elizabeth, 1.10pm)
Glenelg v South Adelaide (ACH Stadium, Glenelg, 1.10pm)
Eagles v Adelaide (Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville, 1.10pm)
Sunday: Port Adelaide v North Adelaide (Alberton Oval, 2.10pm)
Download your Norwood or Glenelg Grand Final team posters
The stage is set for an epic battle between two of the traditional SANFL clubs. Download your Grand Final posters here.
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