Port Adelaide ready to pounce on top five spot in SANFL

PORT Adelaide poised to pounce on a top five spot, Sturt’s attack has the Blues without Kory Beard and Norwood being driven by an AFL influence. This and more in the Round 11 Monday Recovery.

• Roosters hold off Dogs
• Panthers smash Crows in record mauling
• Pies overrun Double Blues
• Legs conquer Tigers
• Hayes helps Eagles outlast Bloods

PORT Adelaide poised to pounce on a top five spot, Sturt’s attack has the Blues without Kory Beard and Norwood being driven by an AFL influence. This and more in our Monday Recovery.

PORT ON MARCH

Don’t lock in the top five just yet.

Port Adelaide is still well and truly alive in the race, now only three points behind fifth-placed Sturt after knocking over the Double Blues at Alberton Oval on Sunday.

Surely the Double Blues, reigning champs for the past two years, won’t miss a spot in the finals?

The two clubs have a bye this weekend then the Double Blues face struggling Adelaide on July 1, the same day Port hosts red-hot Norwood.

A couple of familiar faces in the Port cheersquad. Picture: Sarah Reed

COLD DRAFT AT ALBERTON

Jack Watts was the top draft pick by Melbourne in 2008, Jack Trengove landed at the Demons with pick two the following year and Jimmy Toumpas was the No. 4 pick by the Dees in 2012.

The trio played together for the first time since 2015 when they fronted for Port against the Double Blues. I’ll guarantee they didn’t imagine the next time they would be in the same team was playing for Port in the SANFL competition.

@PAFC kick 7 in a row - WOW what a come-back #SANFL pic.twitter.com/UZpmI0NTmg

— 7SANFL (@7SANFL) June 17, 2018

NO BEARD, ATTACK LOOKING HAIRY

How would the Double Blues respond to the loss of Kory Beard after he quit the SANFL to be a farmer on the West Coast?

That was always going to be intriguing given his heavy influence in attack for the Double Blues in their charge to premiership glory in the past two years.

If he didn’t mark the ball, he brought the small forwards into the game with his attack on the contest.

The Double Blues have struggled for consistency this season and the absence of Beard has been significant.

AFL EVERYWHERE

Want an incredible stat from the weekend round?

Well even if you don’t, here it is. Norwood had 14 players front against Glenelg on Saturday who have been on an AFL list.

Matthew Panos, Michael Talia, Brad McKenzie, Mitch Grigg, Declan Hamilton, Jace Bode, Josh Glenn, Anthony Wilson, Lewis Johnston, Cameron Shenton, Mitchell Wilkins, Matthew Fuller and Alex Georgiou have all spent time with an AFL club.

So incredibly, that is 13 of the Redlegs 21 which overcame the Tigers.

And then you can add Simon Phillips, who returned from an extended lay-off in the reserves.

Getting the low down from Norwood’s Ed Smart. Picture: Tom Huntley

PUTTING ON A SHOW

While the Redlegs are doing some impressive things on the field, the club is also kicking a few goals off the ground.

The big screen shows highlights of big Redlegs wins, such as the 2013 grand final triumph which entertained the fans who braved the terrible weather.

Such things as the spruiker on the mic, the club is trying to provide an entertainment package and not just a footy game.

Now if only the Redlegs could enclose the media bench on cold days. You did say to put in a request, Fanta.

LITTLE REST

Glenelg wasn’t too happy with the draw for the weekend and it is hard not to blame them for being a little miffed.

Of the four teams who played on the holiday Monday last week, only Glenelg had to front up five days later. North Adelaide, South Adelaide and Sturt played on Sunday.

Jesse White was a victim of the short week, unable to shrug off a corked thigh, and had to pull out of the game at The Parade.

The Tigers’ next challenge is against Woodville-West Torrens at the Bay on Saturday. Tigers fans should turn away now if they don’t want to know the following stat, they have lost their past 11 games against the Eagles.

Not since round 11, 2012, have the Tigers sung the club song after beating the Eagles.

ROUND 11 RESULTS

Eagles 11.11 (77) d West Adelaide 8.8 (56) at Woodville Oval.

Norwood 12.13 (85) d Glenelg 7.11 (53) at Norwood Oval.

North Adelaide 14.11 (95) d Central District 13.8 (86) at Prospect Oval.

South Adelaide 22.8 (140) d Adelaide 4.4 (28) at Noarlunga Oval.

Port Adelaide 10.7 (67) d Sturt 9.6 (60) at Alberton Oval.

The Roosters had the Bulldogs collared. Picture: Russell Millard/AAP

LADDER

1. North Adelaide 16 (56.61%)

2. Eagles 15 (56.13)

3. South Adelaide 14 (56.43)

4. Norwood 14 (55.2)

5. Sturt 12 (54.55)

6. Port Adelaide 9 (47.52)

7. West Adelaide 8 (46.0)

8. Central District 6 (48.79)

9. Glenelg 6 (45.83)

10. Adelaide 0 (34.07)

LEADING GOALKICKERS

Terry Milera (Glenelg) 28

Josh Scott (Glenelg) 23

Mark Evans (Sturt) 21

Shane McAdam (Sturt) 21

Mitch Grigg (Norwood) 19

Nick Hayes (Eagles) 18

Mason Middleton (West Adelaide) 18

Lindsay Thomas (Port Adelaide) 17

Jack Hayes (Eagles) 16

Matthew Panos (Norwood) 16

ON THE BANDWAGON

There is no reason to jump off the Panthers’ wagon after a 112-point win over Adelaide. How good have Crossy and Lids been for the Noarlunga mob?

Nick Liddle was hot in the cold. Picture: Tom Huntley

OFF THE BANDWAGON

No change here either. The Double Blues had a handy lead at Alberton Oval, but inconsistency reared its ugly head again.

The Redlegs are flying high. Picture: Tom Huntley

RANKINGS

1. Norwood: It was win No. 6 in a row and the Redlegs are getting the job done in different ways. The coach liked the way his players got their hands dirty.

2. South Adelaide: The Crows are having problems with injuries, but a 112-point win is still impressive. Very handy for the percentage too.

3. Port Adelaide: Had to overcome a handy deficit to get the chocolates against Sturt at home and string together two wins.

4. Eagles: They also had to come from behind and got the job done against a spirited West Adelaide.

5: North Adelaide: Kept its spot on top of the ladder after being seriously challenged by Central District.

6. Sturt: Had the points at its mercy against Port and still searching for that four-quarter effort.

7. Central District: Got within three points late at Prospect Oval. Kept coming at North in testing conditions.

8. West Adelaide: Another very honest performance, but made to pay for some costly turnovers.

9. Glenelg: Never stop trying against the Redlegs, although the coach was not happy with the discipline of his players to keep the structures.

10. Adelaide: The less said the better.

The Eagles kick another behind. Picture: Emma Brasier/AAP

THIS WEEK

Saturday

Central District v South Adelaide (Elizabeth Oval, 2.10pm)

West Adelaide v North Adelaide (Richmond Oval, 2.10pm)

Glenelg v Eagles (Glenelg Oval, 2.40pm)

Bye: Port Adelaide, Norwood, Sturt, Adelaide