Tiger time: Glenelg breaks SANFL premiership drought in stunning grand final win against Port Adelaide
Glenelg has broken its 33-year SANFL premiership drought in stunning fashion against Port Adelaide in front of more than 39,000 people at Adelaide Oval.
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Just three years after the Save the Tigers campaign was launched amid a financial mess, Glenelg has snapped a 33-year premiership drought, with a team-driven 28-point triumph over Port Adelaide in Sunday’s grand final at Adelaide Oval.
The Tigers, seriously in danger of having their doors locked shut forever with mounting debts in 2016, were never headed and found all the answers whenever challenged, to claim their first premiership since 1986 and the fifth in the proud club’s history.
The victory was a personal triumph for coach Mark Stone in only his second year in charge.
Port has now been beaten in the final game of the season in three of the six years it has been the Power reserves.
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OHH WE’RE FROM TIGERLAND ðŸ¯ðŸ† pic.twitter.com/Ef2pOx7PVW
— Glenelg FC (@GlenelgFC) September 22, 2019
As predicted, Port captain Cam Sutcliffe went straight to Magarey Medallist Luke Partington in a repeat of the ploy from the second semi-final.
There were plenty of nervous moments from both sides in the early minutes with fumbles and clumsy skill errors.
Tigers forward Luke Reynolds gave his team the chance to settle three minutes into the contest when he kicked a goal while be being pressured.
Eight minutes later, Carl Nicholson capitalised on a tremendous smother from teammate Darcy Bailey to nail the second goal for the Tigers and grow their confidence.
Port forward Billy Frampton, who successfully appealed a striking charge to play, missed a couple of set shots in front of goal, and dropped some marks before heading to the bench for treatment on what appeared split webbing in the hand.
Ball magnet Jack Trengove was getting his hands to plenty of possessions for Port, who dominated the clearances.
But it was the Tigers applying the scoreboard pressure with Brad Close and Josh Scott bagging goals to give their side a 22-point advantage at quarter-time.
When Reynolds got a favourable bounce to snap a goal only a minute into the second quarter, the Tigers had built a handy 28-point buffer.
It took Port 12 minutes into the second term to register their first goal when Tobin Cox with kicked truly with his first disposal.
Motlop puts the cherry on top of this Grand Final game pic.twitter.com/zTom0nGAQw
— 7SANFL (@7SANFL) September 22, 2019
Joel Garner was outstanding in defence for Port and as the second quarter lengthened, his side grabbed more control of the contest. Port got its hands to more ball and spent lengthy periods camped in attack to put the Tigers’ defence under the pump.
As with any grand final, there were the inspirational moments, such as Tigers defender Aaron Joseph’s desperate sprint to knock the ball through for a behind.
While Port had its chances, so too did the Tigers, who wasted some prime scoring opportunities with skill errors and poor decisions.
Just 40 seconds into the third quarter, the Tigers forced the ball forward to eventually find Scott running towards goal and his wobbly kick sailed through.
Marlon Motlop then put his name on the highlights’ reel, knocking the ball towards the boundary line, before regathering and evading a defender to snap an amazing goal.
Frampton was a concern for the Tigers’ defence and after he took a strong mark, the ball landed with Sutcliffe who kicked a captain’s goal from 50m
Port threw Trent McKenzie forward and Todd Marshall to defence searching for answers.
The Tigers appeared to go defensive and were put under pressure by Port, which ate into the deficit on the back of two more goals from Sutcliffe.
In a repeat of the previous three quarters, the Tigers got an early goal in the final term courtesy of Scott after just a minute and they never looked back.
Matthew Snook was huge for Glenelg, finishing the match with 28 touches to earn the Jack Oatey Medal.
Matty Snook wins the Jack Oatey medal🅠#SANFL #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/rTXU6X3qTp
— Andrew Hayes (@_andrewhayes) September 22, 2019
SCOREBOARD
GLENELG 4.1 6.2 9.5 11.7 (73)
PORT ADELAIDE 0.3 2.7 5.8 6.9 (45)
BEST - Glenelg: Snook, Agnew, White, Motlop, Reynolds, Partington, Curran, Proud. Port: Sutcliffe, Garner, Frampton, Lienert, Drew, Mayes.
GOALS - Glenelg: Motlop, Scott 3, Reynolds 2, Partington, Close, Nicholson. Port: Sutcliffe 3, Cox 2, Frampton.
UMPIRES - Crosby, Bryce, Harris.
CROWD - 39,105 at Adelaide Oval.
JACK OATEY MEDAL - Matthew Snook (Glenelg).
RECAP THE MATCH
FOURTH TERM
The Bay is set to erupt after Glenelg stunned Port Adelaide to win its first grand final in 33 years.
Glenelg dominated from the outset, running out 28 point winners in the SANFL grand final in front of a crowd of 39,105 people at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The Tigers were too strong, too fast and too skilful from the first bounce, prevailing 11.7 (73) to 6.9 (45).
They suffocated the Magpies with intense pressure and always had an answer when Port asked the question.
THIRD TERM
Glenelg is now less than 30 minutes away from claiming its first flag since 1986.
The Tigers have produced a stunning performance so far in this year’s SANFL grand final against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval to take a 21-point advantage into three-quarter time.
A magical goal from Marlon Motlop early in the third quarter summed up the Tigers’ day.
Motlop sold some candy on the boundary line and booted his second major to put Glenelg 30 points in front.
The Tigers have looked way too composed, quick and skilful compared to the Magpies, whose youngsters struggled to deal with the pressure of the occasion.
The Magpies had plenty of the ball again late in the quarter and a huge smother from Willem Drew plus two big goals to skipper Cam Sutcliffe — who has three for the match — helped lift them.
Phenomenal goal to kick-start the second half 💥 #SANFLGF @GlenelgFC pic.twitter.com/ip2pftSgbr
— SANFL (@SANFL) September 22, 2019
But Port’s SANFL side was reminiscent of its AFL counterparts this season with erratic kicks inside forward 50 and poor goal kicking and the Tigers lead 9.5 (59) to 5.8 (38).
Luke Reynolds, Motlop and Josh Scott have two goals each for the Tigers.
Matthew Snook leads Glenelg’s possession-getters with 22 touches, while Sam Mayes and Jack Trengove have 20 disposals each for Port.
SECOND TERM
Port Adelaide cut Glenelg’s lead to 18 points at half-time following strong midfield work from Jack Trengove, Joe Atley and Willem Drew.
The Magpies had plenty of chances to edge even closer but squandered opportunities inside 50 with too many long bombs into attack.
Tobin Cox finally kicked the Magpies first goal at the 12th minute mark of the second quarter and Billy Frampton finally nailed a major after missing two in the first term.
Marlon Motlop ensured the Tigers still held the Magpies at arms length with a 6.2 (38) to 2.6 (18) advantage.
Port lifted its intensity after looking fumbly and nervous in the first term but the Tigers remained hungry.
Billy Frampton scores the second goal for Port pic.twitter.com/Xdu9AoR4d1
— 7SANFL (@7SANFL) September 22, 2019
Their desperation shone through with ferocious defensive pressure and tackling.
Glenelg’s advantage came despite Port leading the hit-outs (20-13) and clearances (20-14).
Sam Mayes and Jack Trengove (14 touches each) led the way for the Magpies, while Brad Agnew, Matthew Snook and Chris Curran (10 disposals) were Glenelg’s leading possession-getters at the main break.
FIRST QUARTER
Glenelg shot off to a hot start in the SANFL grand final, taking a 22-point lead into quarter-time.
Both the Tigers and the Magpies struggled with nerves early but it was Glenelg which took less time to settle.
Glenelg’s Luke Reynolds booted the first goal of the game against his former side, while Carl Nicholson, Brad Close and Josh Scott also kicked majors in the first term for the Tigers.
Port was inaccurate in front of goal in the first term with Billy Frampton and Sam Mayes both missing crucial shots.
Bradley Close with a huge goal solidifies the Bays lead in the SANFL Grand Final @glenelgfc #finalsfever pic.twitter.com/MvA0l8CkWF
— 7SANFL (@7SANFL) September 22, 2019
Frampton, meanwhile, went off midway through the first stanza with split webbing in his hand.
Nicholson is the Tigers’ leading possession-getter with seven, while Jack Trengove has nine touches for the Magpies as Glenelg takes a 4.1 (25) to 0.3 (3) advantage into the first break.
The Tigers — battling for their football survival just three years ago because of major financial issues — had not won a premiership since trouncing North Adelaide in 1986.
They have played in five grand finals since and lost them all — to the Roosters in 1987, Port in 1988, 1990 and 1992 and Central District in 2008.
Earlier, Norwood won the reserves premiership after beating Woodville-West Torrens by 19 points in the early game.
The @GlenelgFC and @PAFC teams have hit the ground for the @SANFL grand final. Nice crowd building. @theTiser pic.twitter.com/pRYYGFRZUT
— Andrew Capel (@andrewcapel) September 22, 2019
Glenelg, which last played in the finals in 2011, rose remarkably from sixth last year to minor premier this season under impressive second-year coach Mark Stone.
But it lost a pulsating second semi-final to the Magpies by four points and had to earn its spot in the big dance with a come-from-behind, 27-point win against the Crows in the preliminary final.
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