Roosters will need new miracle as SANFL looks to ride wave of momentum of entertaining and controversial 2018 season

Last year’s SANFL finals series was loaded with high-class entertainment, and a fair bit of controversy. Will North Adelaide be able to repeat its premiership feat as it starts 2019 two games behind the pack?

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If there is such a thing as taking momentum into the next season then the SANFL definitely has it in bucket loads and it will approach the opening round full bore.

The state league is coming off a phenomenal finals series packed full of drama, controversy and incredible entertainment. It was a month of football which showcased the state league at its very best.

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At the forefront was North Adelaide. Former Port Adelaide AFL premiership star Josh Carr took the Roosters from bottom in 2017 to premiership glory on the back of an aggressive attacking game plan.

Samuel McInerney celebrates his goal with Lewis Hender in the fourth quarter to seal North Adelaide’s grand final win against Norwood. Picture SARAH REED

North had to negotiate a testing ride from the elimination final and did it in style with euphoric wins over South Adelaide, Sturt, Woodville-West Torrens and eventually hot title favourite Norwood in an absorbing grand final.

The Roosters also had to contend with the drama of the 19th man controversy in the preliminary final and a worrying wait until the tribunal upheld the result and their place in the decider.

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More than 40,000 were at Adelaide Oval for the season finale in a mark of respect for the competition and they watched a stunning, high-quality contest.

On-ball star Mitch Grigg, the Magarey Medallist for the past two seasons, carried the Redlegs on his back with a stunning Jack Oatey Medal-winning performance. But it was not enough as the Roosters reigned supreme in one of the most remarkable premiership wins in the proud history of the SANFL.

So North Adelaide enters the 2019 season as defending premier. And if repeating the charge to the flag is not challenging enough, the Roosters must overcome the hurdle of starting two games behind the rest of the field as a penalty for having the 19th man on the field in the preliminary final.

North Adelaide players on the podium Picture SARAH REED

They have also lost a raft of class acts in last year’s national draft, including best-and-fairest winner Callum Wilkie.

The grand final was a high-scoring contest and that trend is not expected to diminish. “We still want to be attacking with ball movement, take games on and be a high-scoring side,” Redlegs captain Jace Bode said.

And the SANFL marketing department nailed the season draw with the Eagles and Roosters adding another chapter to their bitter rivalry when they battle at Woodville Oval in the opening round.

There is again an emphasis on night football with the Redlegs, West Adelaide and Glenelg hosting games under lights. The Redlegs’ first five games at The Parade are under lights.

There will again be plenty of Good Friday action with games at Prospect, Richmond and Glenelg ovals.

The Roosters and Redlegs will clash in the Anzac Day game at Prospect Oval on April 25 and the state game against the WAFL will be in Perth on May 12. The season will culminate in the grand final at Adelaide Oval on September 22.

There’s a slice of history with the eight state league clubs represented in the women’s league following the birth of teams from Central District and the Eagles. That has enabled the league to program plenty of double-headers with women’s and men’s games.

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