Monday Recovery: Sturt has injury worries in preparation for finals battle against Eagles
STURT will enter the finals on the back of a loss and with injury worries to key personnel while South Adelaide steps up its tilt in the best-possible fashion. These and more in your weekly wrap of all the SANFL action, Monday Recovery.
- Head clash sours Panthers’ stunning win
- Glenelg upsets Sturt on last kick
- Roosters win nailbiter against Magpies
- Porps signs off with big win
- Eagles collar Dogs to soar into finals
STURT will enter the finals on the back of a loss and with injury worries to key personnel. This and more in your wrap of all the SANFL action Monday Recovery.
INJURY BLUES
Sturt has a few nervous days waiting to see how a few key players pull up after copping injuries in the final round loss to Glenelg at the Bay on Sunday.
Tough midfielder Aidan Riley, probably the most important member of the Double Blues line-up, has some hamstring issues although nowhere near as ugly as early in the season when sidelined for a while.
Gun defender Fraser Evans is the other major worry and he needs scans on an ankle problem.
Jack Stephens has a corked thigh, but should be okay for the qualifying final against Woodville-West Torrens, and the Double Blues expect John Greenslade to shrug off an ankle injury.
The Double Blues finished the game against the Tigers with 17 on the field.
OVAL OPPORTUNITY
The four teams going around in the finals this weekend get an opportunity to have a run on Adelaide Oval, although the Eagles will stay at Woodville Oval all week.
North Adelaide will train at the ground on Monday night from 6pm, the Double Blues are there on Wednesday night and South Adelaide the following night.
ROOM TO MOVE
The loss at the Bay had no bearing on the finals with the Double Blues already locked into the qualifying final.
However, it did have some impact as it cost them the roomy AFL visitors changerooms. Instead, they will be the much smaller cricket rooms, while the Eagles will feel comfortable with much more space.
With Adelaide and Port Adelaide finished for the season in the AFL and SANFL, maybe they can show some goodwill and allow clubs to use those rooms.
BROWN UPDATE
It was good to see Panthers defender Tyson Brown didn’t need to stay in hospital on Sunday night after his sickening head clash against Norwood at Noarlunga Oval.
Brown was convulsing after the blow and had to leave the ground in an ambulance in the third quarter. He was discharged from hospital after being kept for observation but has severe concussion and is almost certainly out of the elimination final against the Roosters.
With the game held up for more than 25 minutes, the quarter went for a staggering 58 minutes. There was 37 mins, 53 secs of time on because of Brown’s injury and 10 goals being kicked.
If a game does not restart within 30 minutes it is called off. If it happens in the first half it is a draw, but the side leading at half time is declared the winner if it is in the second half.
The Panthers were leading at halftime.
WILL LAIRD COACH?
Will Central District have a new coach next season?
Roy Laird, who has had the job since 2003 and won seven flags, was a little evasive when asked about his future for 2019.
He enjoys the job, loves the club and loves being involved. Those are his words.
Asked if he would be back for an 18th season, he responded: “Not sure”.
There are a few people claiming it is time for Lairdy to move on. That’s fine to say, but come up with a superior option.
Expect the Bulldogs to make a call on the coaching position sooner rather than later.
TEACHING OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS
A couple of old Dogs will be back next season after Trent Goodrem confirmed his intention to run around in the red, white and blue jumper in 2019.
And he said there was no reason his good mate Kyle Jenner would also not be back given he had enjoyed one of his best seasons.
They are the last remaining players from the Bulldogs’ golden era when they won nine flags in 11 years.
SHARRAD THE PEST
Eagles midfielder Louis Sharrad just cannot help himself.
He loves to agitate opponents at every opportunity and he was being his usual pest against Central District at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.
Every opportunity he would be pushing and shoving, getting in the face of the opposition. And there is nothing wrong with that because he is also not afraid to get the hard ball, he sort of earns the right.
Even when sitting on the bench he has to get involved. Like the time when Bulldogs captain Trent Goodrem tackled an opponent and ended up close to the Eagles bench.
As Goodrem walked away, Sharrad sprayed water at him.
RYSWYK ON THE MONEY
Leigh Ryswyk was to have made his final appearance at Prospect Oval on Saturday after announcing his retirement from the Roosters, but was sidelined for the final round clash against Port Adelaide with a rib injury.
He still has some involvement though, being given the honour of tossing the coin. And appropriately the Roosters called correctly.
The Roosters have already declared Jarred Allmond a starter in the elimination despite leaving the contest against Port early due to a corked thigh.
TALIA DILEMMA
What does Norwood coach Jarrod Cotton do with classy defender Michael Talia?
That is the dilemma for Cotton given Talia missed the final five rounds due to a back problem. He was to have resumed in the reserves against the Panthers on Sunday, but had a minor setback.
The Redlegs have a bye in the first weekend of finals as does their reserves, which means he will need to impress Cotton at training.
The minor premiers will train at usual on Tuesday and Thursday followed by a two-hour session on Saturday to compensate for no action.
ROUND 19 RESULTS
Eagles 13.11 (89) d Central District 9.9 (63) at Elizabeth Oval
North Adelaide 11.12 (78) d Port Adelaide 11.8 (74) at Prospect Oval
Glenelg 13.7 (85) d Sturt 11.14 (80) at Glenelg Oval
South Adelaide 16.11 (107) d Norwood 12.9 (81) at Noarlunga Oval
West Adelaide 19.17 (131) d Adelaide 10.7 (67) at Richmond Oval
LADDER
1: Norwood 28 (57.4%)
2: Eagles 25 (55.8)
3: Sturt 24 (55.1)
4: South Adelaide 22 (55.5)
5: North Adelaide 22 (52.3)
6: Glenelg 18 (49.1)
7: West Adelaide 16 (47.0)
8: Central District 14 (47.4)
9: Port Adelaide 9 (43.8)
10: Adelaide 2 (37.1)
GOALKICKERS
Mark Evans (Sturt) 40
Josh Scott (Glenelg) 35
Terry Milera (Glenelg) 33
Lewis Hender (North) 32
John Butcher (Central) 31
Jack Hayes (Eagles) 31
Nick Hyaes (Eagles) 30
Mason Middleton (West) 30
Shane McAdam (Sturt) 29
Mitch Grigg (Norwood) 28
ON THE BANDWAGON
I’ve stayed on the Panthers bandwagon, although I’m now sitting in the front seat alongside CEO Neill Sharpe. They have peaked at the right time, especially the old bloke Lids, and Sam Overall gives them a strong target up forward. Overall just needs a good haircut.
OFF THE BANDWAGON
The Double Blues go into the finals on the back of a loss and with plenty of injury concerns. Definitely not good timing. Aidan Riley needs to be on the paddock.
RANKINGS
1: South Adelaide: When you beat a team coming off 13 successive wins, it is an obvious choice for top spot. The way the Panthers went about their work was impressive.
2: Glenelg: The Tigers have finished the season with six wins and it will be an impatient wait for next season for the fans.
3: West Adelaide: Got the job done in style for Jason Porplyzia.
4: Sturt: The game could have gone either way and the Double Blues had five more scoring shots.
5: Eagles: Did what they had to do to get the win at Elizabeth Oval. There are still doubts hanging over the Eagles though.
6: Norwood: Wasn’t at their best, and missing Matthew Panos, but got within a couple of points in the third quarter. They confronted an inform opponent at Noarlunga on Sunday.
7: North Adelaide: Had to come from behind to overcome Port and now go into the finals with some confidence on the back of a win.
8: Port Adelaide: The drought continued, but not before putting up a brave fight at Prospect Oval.
9: Central District: Gave the Eagles a scare in the third term, but the skills are awful.
10: Adelaide: Hasn’t been a good season and not in the contest after quarter time at Richmond Oval.
THIS WEEK
Elimination final
South Adelaide v North Adelaide
Adelaide Oval, Sunday, 12.15pm
Qualifying final
Eagles v Sturt
Adelaide Oval, Sunday, 3.15pm