Monday Recovery: North Adelaide briefly has 19 men on field against Central District, why some clubs have case for help as AFL clubs fire and your team’s run to finals
North Adelaide briefly fields 19 men in win against Central, why some clubs should be calling for help as AFL clubs fire and your team’s run to finals. Another big week of state league action wrapped up in this week’s Monday Recovery.
- ‘Hell of a game’: Tigers see off Eagles in thriller
- Redlegs reeling after third straight loss
- Port’s powerful arsenal batters Bloods
- Roosters finally erase penalty
- Double Blues produce for Riley milestone
NOT AGAIN!
North Adelaide had 19 men on the field when it snapped a 10-game losing streak against Central District at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.
True story. In the second quarter, the Roosters had an extra bloke on the paddock.
But before we get too carried away with the dramatics, it was for only a few seconds it must be said.
Billy Laurie ran onto the ground before Mitchell Harvey had arrived at the interchange. Apparently Harvey yelled “what are you doing”, but it was quickly sorted out and no damage.
You would think the boys would be a little more careful after last year, although Keith recruit Laurie wasn’t involved with the club.
The Bulldogs also had a similar incident on Saturday so it was all square on the 19th man stakes for the game.
FINALS RULE
With the two AFL clubs set for finals action, here is a reminder of the rules for the finals.
The Crows and Power can field only 17 AFL-listed players in the finals and that includes the marquee player. So Matty Wright will be counted as an AFL player at the Crows.
If their AFL team is still alive in the finals, that 17 can include any player no matter how many SANFL games they have played.
Once the AFL team has been eliminated, players need to have appeared in more SANFL games than AFL in the minor round and have played three in the state league after round 11.
CLUBS NEED HELP
Port Adelaide’s footy boss Chris Davies’ decision to complain to the SANFL last year, saying the club was embarrassed to finish ninth and needed help, has obviously been effective.
The two AFL’s reserves teams are flying with the Crows top and Power third and headed to the finals.
What concerned Port was the quality of its top-up players so the SANFL changed a few rules to provide assistance. The difference this season though is less injuries to AFL-listed players.
Port smashed West Adelaide, who lost players in the AFL’s mid-season draft, on Sunday. So what help will the Bloods be getting?
The Bulldogs’ lack of depth was evident when awful against bottom-placed Roosters. What help will the Bulldogs be getting?
What help will South Adelaide get for losing three gun bigmen to the AFL is the pre-season supplementary draft and mid-season draft?
NOT GOOD SIGNS
The Bulldogs should have known it was going to be an ordinary day when the mascot tripped over his own feet as well as the cheerleaders, in front of the grandstand as they lined up for the players to enter the ground.
And the same can be said for the Panthers against Sturt at Noarlunga Oval on Sunday. The home side should have known it was not going to be their day given there was no power at the ground because of a power outage in the Noarlunga area until halftime.
WOODEN SPOON?
Will the wooden spoon be decided on Saturday when the Bloods host the Roosters at Richmond Oval?
There are still three clubs in the running, although the Bulldogs probably deserve the unwanted award after what they coughed up on Saturday.
The Roosters have now erased their two-game penalty and if they beat the Bloods, they will be off the bottom of the ladder. If the Bloods win, they will have two wins and same points as the Bulldogs, albeit with better percentage.
That is of course, the Bulldogs don’t beat the Double Blues at home on Saturday. That is a given on what we saw on the weekend.
RUN HOME
There are six rounds left and the race for the finals is going to hot right up with seven teams still well and truly in the running.
So maybe it is time to check the run home for each club.
Adelaide: Port (Port Pirie), North (away), Glenelg (a), West (a), Eagles (a), South (a). The Crows have only one more home game and it is in Port Pirie.
Glenelg: Norwood (home), Port (a), Adelaide (h), North (a), West (h), Sturt (a).
Port: Adelaide (Port Pirie), Glenelg (h), South (a), Eagles (h), Sturt (a), Central (a).
Sturt: Central (a), West (h), Eagles (a), Norwood (h), Port (h), Glenelg (h).
South: Eagles (h), Norwood (a), Port (h), Central (a), North (h), Adelaide (h).
Norwood: Glenelg (a), South (h), North (h), Sturt (a), Central (h), West (a).
Eagles: South (a), Central (h), Sturt (h), Port (a), Adelaide (h), North (a).
RESULTS
North Adelaide 17.5 (107) d Central District 11.13 (79) at Elizabeth Oval.
Port Adelaide 14.15 (99) d West Adelaide 3.4 (22) at Alberton Oval.
Glenelg 14.6 (90) d Eagles 11.9 (75) at Woodville Oval.
Sturt 15.8 (98) d South Adelaide 9.8 (62) at Noarlunga Oval.
Adelaide 13.10 (88) d Norwood 6.15 (51) at Norwood Oval.
GOALKICKERS
Liam McBean (Glenelg) 36
Luke Reynolds (Glenelg) 30
James Rowe (Eagles) 27
Tyson Stengle (Adelaide) 26
Jono Beech (West) 21
Lachlan Hosie (Glenelg) 21
Troy Menzel (Central) 21
Justin Hoskin (Central) 21
Tobin Cox (20)
DISPOSALS
Sam Colquhoun (Sturt) 350
Patrick Wilson (Adelaide) 343
Lewis Johnston (Norwood) 341
Travis Schiller (Central) 332
Jarred Allmond (North) 331
Kaine Stevens (West) 324
Aidan Tropiano (North) 322
Zane Kirkwood (Sturt) 315
HITOUTS
Sam Baulderstone (Norwood) 432
Jesse White (Glenelg) 367
Andre Parrella (West) 317
Jarrad Redden (Eaglea) 280
Paul Hunter (Adelaide) 262
Peter Ladhams (Port) 249
Michael Knoll (South) 200
ON THE BANDWAGON
There is nothing better than wearing the duffel coat with one of your favourite players’ number and the bloke comes up big with his performance. Had the No. 43 on the coat at Noarlunga Oval on Sunday and Aidan Riley was at his best in Sturt’s impressive win.
OFF THE BANDWAGON
I’d already handed back my Central District membership earlier this season, but how bad were the Bulldogs on Saturday? So disrespectful to Roy Laird. And did I hear right, a player’s partner criticised the leadership and coaching staff on social media? Hopefully my mail was wrong because the player did not deserve to be paid for what he delivered.
RANKINGS
1: Sturt — the way the Double Blues went about their business at Noarlunga Oval was impressive and the coach tagged it their best game for the season. Keep up that pressure and they will definitely have a say in who makes the five.
2: Port — won by plenty against Westies, but so they should with that line-up.
3: Glenelg — this was a serious test for the Tiges at Woodville Oval against a side coming off five successive wins. They were outplayed for much of the final quarter, but still got the job done.
4: Adelaide — it was an even team performance against a Norwood side which got some big names back at The Parade. Held to the Redlegs to four behinds in the second quarter and three in the fourth.
5: Eagles — will reflect on this game as one that got away. Had so much of the play for much of the final term against the Tigers and failed to finish their work. Just have to do better in front of goal in big games.
6: North Adelaide — yes I know, the Roosters finally got a win so why not rank them higher. And it was a good win too from a side which has been more competitive than the ladder indicates. But they were only playing the Dogs.
7: Norwood — the coach reckons the Redlegs made some inroads with the loss to the Crows. They led after the first quarter and were very competitive in the third. Inaccuracy hurt.
8: South Adelaide — it has been an issue, too many Panthers fumble and panic under pressure. They had as many possessions as the Double Blues in the first half, yet half the tackles. Composure is needed.
9: West Adelaide — yes, they were belted at Alberton Oval. But it was expected given the powerful Port line-up.
10: Central District — if the buses had that many passengers there would be no need to cut any services.
THIS WEEK
Saturday
South Adelaide v Eagles, Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga, 2.10pm
West Adelaide v North Adelaide, City Mazda Stadium, Richmond, 2.10pm
Central District v Sturt, X Convenience Oval, Elizabeth, 2.10pm
Adelaide v Port Adelaide, Port Pirie, 2.40pm
Sunday
Glenelg v Norwood, ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg, 1.10pm