Monday Recovery: The Panthers have all but confirmed the SANFL top five with win at Alberton, but can anyone catch the Redlegs
SOUTH Adelaide’s win at Alberton has all but confirmed the top five for finals, but what order and can anyone beat Norwood? Plus Aidan Riley to get his hands dirty and what is the future of the Port reserves? Catch up on another big weekend of SANFL.
- Tigers sink boot into Bloods’ finals hopes
- Sturt’s brilliant quarter buries Central
- Roosters crowing after closing in on finals spot
- Panthers sink claws into Magpies
- Redlegs conquer Eagles to claim 11th win a row
SOUTH Adelaide’s win at Alberton has all but confirmed the top five for finals, but what order and can anyone beat Norwood? Plus Aidan Riley to get his hands dirty and what is the future of the Port reserves? Catch up on another big weekend of SANFL.
TOP FIVE SETTLED
The top five looks settled and now the final three rounds will determine which order.
Central District, Glenelg and West Adelaide can still make it, but the miracle count is high. They need to win all three games and South Adelaide not have another win. Then there is the matter of the Panthers’ vastly superior percentage.
The Dogs have Norwood, Port and the Eagles so forget that. The Bloods have Port, Sturt and Adelaide and the Tigers face North, Adelaide and Sturt.
The Redlegs will finish top and the Eagles, Sturt and North will fight for the double chance. The Panthers can still climb into the top three, but their final three games are against Sturt, the Eagles and Norwood.
WATT PRICE FOR RILEY
Double Blues star Aidan Riley faces a tough work day on Monday.
His boss James Watt, who has an electrical business, told him before game at Unley Oval to expect to be digging trenches.
Watt returned to the Double Blues this season, but took his game to Elizabeth seeking more opportunities after being told they would be limited at Unley.
And after working his way into the Bulldogs’ league side, he returned to Unley Oval on Sunday and was named in their best in the 51-point loss to the Double Blues.
Watt said he felt weird, having been in the Double Blues jumper just a couple of months ago. There was the expected banter with old teammates.
Watt also employs Double Blues forward Shane McAdam, who has been sidelined with injury, while Bulldogs defender Murray Stephenson is about to join his work crew.
ROWEY’S TRIM
Eagles youngster James Rowe sported a new look in the reserves battle against Norwood on Friday, opting for the shaved head.
It didn’t cost him his strength though, being busy picking up touches and bagging four goals.
In the same game, Luke Surman showed he was ready for a recall to the Redlegs league side, marking strongly at full forward and nailing six goals.
THIRD MAN UP
The third man up in the ruck is still allowed in the SANFL, but maybe Eagles onballer Louis Sharrad should reconsider his approach.
Twice he knocked the ball straight to the Redlegs. And Matt Panos doesn’t need any more help getting his hands on the ball.
Sharrad is an interesting character. Twice a Redleg feigned to strike him in the stomach and both times he did not flinch at all. It was like he was oblivious to the actions of the opponents as he just walked away.
If the Eagles are serious about winning the flag Nick Hayes needs to get more involved. He has the talents to play in the AFL, but holds himself back.
He is a class act, but just needs to do more as a key attacking weapon.
KEEP IT IN RESERVE
Someone needs to make a call on the future of the Port Adelaide reserves’ reserves team.
It is getting thumped every week and either the SANFL or Power need to pull the pin. Without a zone, how can the situation get any better?
The side has scored 513 points and had 1821 scored against it in 14 games to have just 22.58 per cent. Five times the defeats have gone beyond 100 points.
DISCIPLINE ISSUES, NAH
Adelaide’s state league coach Ryan O’Keefe had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he said his side was minus 21 in free kicks against the Roosters on Saturday and he would need to have a look at some discipline things during the week.
The Crows were given 17 free kicks compared to 38 for the Roosters and no doubt it was a frustration for the club. Mainly because it has become a regular pattern this season.
Just twice has it earned more free kicks than the opponents — two weeks back when they belted Port Adelaide and the count was 21-20 and the following week when it was 22-18 in the narrow loss to Central District.
In round four they had the same number of free kicks as the Bulldogs.
The Crows have conceded 273 free kicks in their 15 games and earned 270.
ROUND 16 RESULTS
Norwood 16.16 (112) d Eagles 12.6 (78) at Norwood Oval
North Adelaide 22.9 (141) d Adelaide 19.7 (121) at Prospect Oval
South Adelaide 17.15 (117) d Port Adelaide 6.7 (43) at Alberton Oval
Glenelg 13.12 (90) d West Adelaide 8.13 (61) at Glenelg Oval
Sturt 18.12 (120) d Central District 10.9 (69) at Unley Oval
LADDER
1: Norwood 24 (58.1%)
2: Eagles 21 (55.5)
3: Sturt 20 (55.3)
4: North 20 (53.0)
5: South 20 (56.3)
6: Central 12 (47.9)
7: Glenelg 12 (47.5)
8: West 12 (45.1)
9: Port 9 (43.7)
10: Adelaide 2 (37.5)
GOALKICKERS
Mark Evans (Sturt) 36
Josh Scott (Glenelg) 33
Terry Milera (Glenelg) 29
Jack Hayes (Eagles) 29
Lewis Hender (North) 29
John Butcher (Central) 28
Matthew Panos (Norwood) 26
Mason Middleton (West) 25
Mitch Grigg (Norwood) 24
Nick Hayes (Eagles) 24
ON THE WAGON
Getting a seat on the Norwood bandwagon is becoming harder and harder, it is loaded. Maybe we can forget about the bandwagon and just turn up when they close The Parade for the parade.
OFF THE WAGON
Central and West can all but forget about finals action after losing on the weekend. The Bloods need to recruit consistency over the summer and the Bulldogs just need to recruit.
RANKINGS
1: Norwood: Challenged early by the Eagles, the Redlegs responded just as would be expected from a hot premiership favourite.
2: South: Got the job done at Alberton Oval to all but ensure it will play finals. A loss would have done serious damage.
3: Sturt: How impressive was that first quarter against the Bulldogs. Now to find that four-quarter effort.
4: Glenelg: Grabbed its third win in a row with a strong performance against the Bloods.
5: North: has returned to the finals after accounting for Adelaide in an entertaining shootout. Won’t get away with that style against the top teams though.
6: Adelaide: Those AFL-listed boys were highly impressive and the Crows almost got the job done with 11 listed players.
7: Central: Was down by 51 points at quarter time and that was the final margin. Showed fight for the final three quarters.
8: Eagles: Took the fight to the Redlegs early but was over run by a classy outfit. Jared Petrenko and Joe Sinor will have appreciated the game time.
9: West: Just too inconsistent at the moment and the skills were shoddy.
10: Port: Has fallen away badly since the Power started to cop some injuries. Welcome to the Crows’ world this season.
THIS WEEK (split round)
Saturday
West Adelaide v Port Adelaide (City Mazda Stadium, Richmond, 1.10pm)
Sunday
North Adelaide v Glenelg (Prospect Oval, 2.10pm)
Saturday, August 11
Central District v Norwood (My Money House Oval, Elizabeth, 1.10pm)
Sunday, August 12
South Adelaide v Sturt (Hickinbotham Oval, Noarlunga, 2.10pm)
Eagles v Adelaide (Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval, Woodville, 2.10pm)