SANFL Insider Round 14: Soligo takes spectacular one-handed grab as premiers eliminated

Jake Soligo’s high-flying heroics for Adelaide have this round’s mark of the week sewn up, according to SANFL writer Andrew Capel. See the video.

Glenelg dodged a bullet, the Crows made another statement and Port Adelaide and Central District pushed their finals cases.

Individually, Adelaide midfielder Jake Soligo flew high for a spectacular one-handed mark while Sturt onballer Tom Lewis joined Harry Schoenberg at the top of The Advertiser SANFL player of the year voting.

Here’s all you need to know from an action-packed Round 14.

Rooster Nigel Lockyer celebrates his matchwinning goal against Norwood at Prospect Oval on Saturday. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Star Central District midfielder Harry Grant gets his kick away under pressure from South Adelaide’s Joseph Haines at Elizabeth Oval. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

ROUND 14 SCOREBOARD

Glenelg 6.8 (44) d West Adelaide 5.4 (34)

North Adelaide 6.12 (48) d Norwood 5.10 (40)

Central District 8.10 (58) d South Adelaide 4.9 (33)

Port Adelaide 10.13 (73) d Sturt 7.12 (54)

Adelaide 17.9 (111) d Woodville-West Torrens 6.6 (42)

POWER RANKINGS

1. Glenelg:

(12-2: Dodged a bullet – coming from 22 points behind in the third quarter in the wet – against a determined West at the Bay to consolidate top spot. Wasn’t at its best but displayed strong fighting qualities, which pleased coach Darren Reeves).

2. Adelaide:

(10-4: Produced a powerhouse display to put the Eagles to the sword at Woodville, despite fielding only 13 AFL-listed players. A genuine flag threat).

3. Sturt:

(11-3: Was locked in a titanic battle for three quarters against Port at Alberton before being overrun late. Still has a stranglehold on a precious top three spot and the double chance in the finals).

4. Port Adelaide:

(8-6: One of the form teams of the competition after winning four consecutive games – the best active streak in the league. Is on target to play finals for the first time in four years).

5. North Adelaide:

(7-7: The Roosters aren’t at their brilliant best but they consolidated their top five spot with a hard-fought win in the wet against premier Norwood. Will be boosted by the return of Magarey Medallist Campbell Combe from concussion for Sunday’s home blockbuster against Glenelg).

6. Central District:

(7-7: Continued its strong form at Elizabeth Oval, where it beat South to win its sixth game from seven starts at the ground this year. Remains in strong contention to play finals for the first time since 2017).

7. Woodville-West Torrens:

(5-9: Smashed by the Crows at home in a concerning loss that has left the Eagles facing a mountain to climb to play finals).

8. South Adelaide:

(4-10: Failed to kick a goal after halftime against the Bulldogs and has all but been eliminated from finals contention).

9. West Adelaide:

(3-11: Fought valiantly against the top-of-the-table Tigers before being pipped at the post. Despite winning only three games, has shown great improvement under first-year coach Adam Hartlett).

10. Norwood:

(3-11: The reigning premier is officially out of finals contention after going down to North in a slugfest at Prospect).

Crow Tyler Brown bursts clear against the Eagles at Woodville Oval on Sunday. Picture: Cory Sutton/SANFL

NUMBERS GAME

(Top 12 Champion Data ranking points)

Tom Lewis (Sturt) 174

Kieran Strachan (Adelaide) 162

Kobe Ryan (West) 161

Tyler Brown (Adelaide) 159

Matthew Snook (Glenelg) 156

James Rowe (Eagles) 148

Lachlan Gollant (Adelaide) 146

Elliott Himmelberg (Adelaide) 145

Oliver Davis (South) 141

James Battersby (Sturt) 140

Jase Burgoyne (Port) 137

Keegan Brooksby (South) 136

THE STAT

12

Consecutive goals Adelaide kicked against the Eagles from the 8-minute mark of the first term to the 4-minute mark of the third, turning a two-point lead into a whopping 72-point advantage.

FLYING HIGH

Mark of the week

Jake Soligo (Adelaide)

The Crows midfielder jumped high to take a spectacular one-handed grab in the goalsquare over Eagle Jimmy Toumpas at Woodville Oval on Sunday.

Playing his first SANFL game for the year after strong AFL form, Soligo starred with 27 disposals and a goal as high-flying Adelaide won easily by 69 points.

SAY WHAT

Quotes of the week

“This was a significant win for our group. Our team defence was awesome. We are playing a good brand of football and learned more from our losses against the Crows and Glenelg than we have in many of our wins. As far as finals go we are in that battle with a couple of other teams and just need to control what we can.’’

Central coach Paul Thomas

“The last quarter was something pretty special – dominant football and the brand that we’ve come to enjoy the past month. Eventually we knew the floodgates would open and we’d get our shots on goal, and we did. It was a pleasing way to finish the game off. We’ll just keep trying to win. North last week, Sturt this week and then we go into Adelaide and Glenelg, so this four-week period of footy is really important. We’ve started it in pretty good fashion, knocking off the Roosters and Double Blues. We’ll move onto the Showdown, which is always a big game, and see what we can do there.”

Port coach Tyson Goldsack

“I thought we were very good for three quarters and we won a lot of the KPIs but we didn’t convert on the scoreboard. In the last quarter we were behind so we had to play the game a bit faster. I thought overall we played really well.”

Sturt coach Martin Mattner

“We needed this result to stay in touch with the rest of the competition and I was really pleased with our players’ ability to get the job done. It was a really fierce game and with games like this, being so wet, there’s not too many tactics that go into it, it’s just a matter of trying to get the ball forward. Then it becomes a game of moments and fortunately we had that nice one from Nigel (Lockyer) near the end that made a difference.’’

North coach Jacob Surjan

“That’s the reality of it (missing finals). It was always going to be hard when you start like we did (losing its first eight games) but I admire how our team keeps competing and finds a way to keep hanging in there. It’s frustrating we’re not getting results because we’ve been in winning positions in the past three weeks but haven’t been able to find a way to win. We’ve paid a price for inaccuracy again but I’m very proud of our group for the way they keep competing and have gone about their footy.’’

Norwood coach Jade Rawlings

“Right from the start of the year we spoke about not being known as a talented team, but as a tough team.”

Glenelg coach Darren Reeves

“We had Ned Stevens rucking, he is 19 years old and tapping it down to Kobe Ryan and Jesse Thackeray, both 19 years old kids as well. That is our future a little bit, which is exciting.”

West Adelaide coach Adam Hartlett

“It is as pleasing as winning a game of footy to see Luke (Nankervis) make his AFL debut and Cooky (Brayden Cook) get his opportunity. That’s what we are here to do, make them as good as they can be and ready to go. To see them get an opportunity to get a game on the MCG against Melbourne, it gives you a smile.”

Adelaide coach Michael Godden

“We had a very young side in and have got to keep pushing these kids through because that’s the quickest way to try to get better. We have got to get our balance right, we have a fair few senior players who are parked in the sheds, which makes it hard. It is a bit of playing the right side that we think will do the best thing for the football club week in, week out.’’

Eagles coach Jade Sheedy

North Adelaide’s Lee Minervini tries to evade his Norwood opponent in the Roosters' tight win at Prospect. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

ROUND 14

TIGERS v BLOODS

Warren Partland’s votes

3 – Darcy Bailey (Glen)

2 – Kobe Ryan (WA)

1 – Max Proud (Glen)

ROOSTERS v REDLEGS

Andrew Capel’s votes

3 – Matthew Nunn (Nor)

2 – Nik Rokahr (Nor)

1 – Harrison Wigg (NA)

BULLDOGS v PANTHERS

Gordon Armstrong’s votes

3 – Harry Grant (CD)

2 – Jarrod Schiller (CD)

1 – Oliver Davis (SA)

MAGPIES v DOUBLE BLUES

Steve Barrett’s votes

3 – Tom Lewis (Sturt)

2 – Jase Burgoyne (PA)

1 – Jackson Mead (PA)

EAGLES v CROWS

Luke Marchioro’s votes

3 – Lachlan Gollant (Adel)

2 – Jake Soligo (Adel)

1 – Tyler Brown (Adel)

Central District’s George Kendall outmarks South Adelaide’s Damon Freitag at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

LEADERBOARD

17 – Harry Schoenberg (Adel)

17 – Tom Lewis (Sturt)

13 – Liam McBean (Glen)

12 – James Battersby (Sturt)

12 – Harry Grant (CD)

11 – Matthew Allen (Glen)

11 – James Rowe (WWT)

11 – Nik Rokahr (Norw)

10 – Jackson Hately (Adel)

9 – Patrick Wilson (Sturt)

9 – Campbell Combe (NA)

8 – Mitch O’Neill (SA)

8 – Jez McLennan (CD)

8 – Jarrod Schiller (CD)

8 – Jackson Mead (PA)

7 – Matt Crouch (Adel)

7 – Mitch Hardie (WWT)

7 – Luke Partington (Glen)

7 – Callum Park (WA)

7 – Lachie Hosie (Glen)

7 – Keegan Brooksby (SA)

7 – Harrison Wigg (NA)

6 – Cam McGree (Glen)

6 – Quinton Narkle (PA)

6 – Casey Voss (Sturt)

6 – Harry Boyd (Nor)

6 – Joseph Sinor (WWT)

6 – Corey Lyons (Glen)

6 – Hugh Jackson (PA)

6 – Kobe Ryan (WA)

5 – Alex Spina (NA)

5 – Nick Moore (PA)

5 – Sam Berry (Adel)

5 – Max Proud (Glen)

SHARPSHOOTERS

Leading goalkickers

40 – Lachie Hosie (Glen)

37 – Liam McBean (Glen)

31 – Josh Hone (Sturt)

29 – Luke Reynolds (Glen)

27 – Lachlan Gollant (Adel)

24 – Zach Sproule (SA)

22 – Lachlan Burrows (Sturt)

22 – Connor Ballenden (WWT)

21 – Liam Delahunty (WA)

21 – Tariek Newchurch (Adel)

UP NEXT

Round 15

Sturt v Woodville-West Torrens (Wigan Oval), Sat, July 29, 2.10pm

Adelaide v Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval), Sat, July 29, 3.30pm

South Adelaide v West Adelaide (Flinders University Stadium), Sun, July 30, 2.10pm

Norwood v Central District (Coopers Stadium), Sun, July 30, 2.10pm

North Adelaide v Glenelg (Prospect Oval), Sun, July 30, 2.10pm