SANFL Insider Round 15: Draft prospect Jack Delean takes hanger on debut as top 3 break clear
A South Adelaide teenager and top AFL draft prospect has taken an “excellent” hanger in his league debut against West Adelaide.
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The top three appears set, the battle for top-five spots heats up and a South Adelaide teenager and top AFL draft prospect takes a hanger on debut.
Here’s all you need to know from an action-packed Round 15 of SANFL footy.
ROUND 15 SCOREBOARD
Sturt 10.15 (75) d Woodville-West Torrens 9.6 (60)
Adelaide 14.8 (92) d Port Adelaide 2.15 (27)
South Adelaide 8.11 (59) d West Adelaide 6.1 (37)
Norwood 9.10 (64) d Central District 9.5 (59)
Glenelg 11.9 (75) d North Adelaide 6.9 (45)
POWER RANKINGS
1. Glenelg:
(13-2: Resisted everything North could throw at it at Prospect before breaking clear late to win a slugfest by five goals. A very professional performance and is closing in on the minor premiership).
2. Adelaide:
(11-4: Thrashed bitter rival Port in the SANFL Showdown for the second time this season and is virtually guaranteed a top-three spot and the all-important double chance in the finals as it chases its first state league flag).
3. Sturt:
(12-3: Had to fight tooth and nail to hold off a strong challenge from a desperate Eagles outfit to secure a top-three spot with three rounds remaining. Boasts a star-studded midfield).
4. Port Adelaide:
(8-7: Cost itself any chance of causing a SANFL Showdown upset by kicking 0.10 in the first half and 2.15 for the game, snapping its four-game winning streak).
5. North Adelaide:
(7-8: Was super-competitive against Glenelg for three-and-a-half quarters before being overrun by a class outfit. Is in a fight to make the finals but its best is good enough to cause any team concerns).
6. Central District:
(7-8: Showed great fighting qualities to push premier Norwood to the wire at The Parade despite copping a 49-32 inside 50 bath. The narrow five-point loss saw the Bulldogs leapfrog North into the top five on percentage).
7. Woodville-West Torrens:
(5-10: Played well against Sturt for three quarters before the Double Blues’ strong midfield took over. Will miss this year’s finals but coach Jade Sheedy is trying to build his next premiership team and he has some good kids to work with).
8. South Adelaide:
(5-10: A much-needed home victory for coach Jarrad Wright and his team against the Bloods, who have been super-competitive without winning. Uncovered a gem in teenage debutant Jack Delean).
9. Norwood:
(4-11: Strong. albeit tight, win against Central illustrated just how much the Redlegs have improved since their disastrous 0-8 start. Can’t make the finals but can cause some damage in the run home).
10. West Adelaide:
(3-12: A disappointing performance from the improved Bloods, who coach Adam Hartlett said took a step back in their development at Noarlunga. Needs to jag a win in the last three rounds to better last year’s three-win total).
NUMBERS GAME
(Top 12 Champion Data ranking points)
Oliver Davis (South) 179
Harry Grant (Central) 156
Kobe Ryan (West) 145
Nik Rokahr (Norwood) 143
Elliott Himmelberg (Adelaide) 138
Frank Szekely (North) 136
Michael Mattingly (West) 135
Tom Lewis (Sturt) 134
Matt Panos (Norwood) 133
Kobe Mutch (South) 129
Max Proud (Glenelg) 127
Connor McLean (Norwood) 127
THE STAT
12
Times that Norwood has scored more behinds than goals in 15 games this season.
“It (goalkicking accuracy) is the hardest thing in my job and is an issue in our game clearly. It has cost us games and to not put it (the Redlegs’ dominance against Central) on the scoreboard in the first quarter (1.6 to 3.0) keeps a team like that in the game,’’ Norwood coach Jade Rawlings said.
FLYING HIGH
Mark of the week
Jack Delean (South Adelaide)
The exciting AFL draft prospect shone in his league debut against West Adelaide at Noarlunga Oval, kicking two goals and taking a strong mark at the back of a pack to boot his second major.
Panthers coach Jarrad Wright was super-impressed with the 18-year-old small forward’s performance, saying: “JD was excellent. Straight up from the under-18s, we know he is a super talent, and he applied good pressure, with four tackles and two good goals’’.
SAY WHAT
Quotes of the week
“North is a high quality team that has got some talent back on the ground and the intensity, the way both teams cracked in, was a finals-like game, so it was a really professional win. We knew it was going to be a tough challenge and I was really pleased with how we defended when things were going against us. I thought our back seven were outstanding. Then, as the game wore on, we were really strong around the contest, were able to own territory for long periods and in the end were able to break them down and get some scoreboard reward based on that.’’
Glenelg coach Darren Reeves
“I was really proud of our last quarter and how we were able to execute a few things in that term, including Jimmy Mathews’ goal from a forward 50 stoppage. We have been training that for six months and to execute in a game where you need to, to get ahead, those types of things are really important and very pleasing. We had 14 minutes of that last quarter in our forward half, which built pressure, and while we could have executed a bit better going forward, it was great to get the win, to come from behind like we did. Our goal was to finish in the top three and get the double chance and it’s very pleasing to have achieved that with three rounds to go.’’
Sturt coach Martin Mattner
“I was really pleased with our method, systems and attitude. The game was played a lot in our half. The scoring shots weren’t that much different but we just took our opportunities. Scoreboard pressure is everything and it can become a bit like a pandemic (for Port) when you’re kicking points. Finishing and connection is really important and we were lucky to finish.”
Adelaide coach Michael Godden
“I thought we played a really good, strong, four quarter game. To play the last quarter the way we did, even though it was closer than we would have liked, there was some really good footy and some really good moments.”
Norwood coach Jade Rawlings
“I think it’s a hallmark of our footy club to keep cracking in even if it’s not going the way we want it to. I thought there were some pleasing signs because you need that mentality when things get really tough towards the end of the season. We would love to have won and moved a game clear of sixth but we will accept it because we want to be in the five. We will embrace whatever comes ahead, we have a lot to work on and going into the bye we control our destiny and can look to crack in for what can be an exciting three weeks for our club.’’
Central coach Paul Thomas
“Our boys worked really hard but in the end we got beaten by a more experienced team that hung in the contest a bit longer. Our younger bodies and inexperience showed at crucial times, giving up a couple of stoppage goals, and we know there is no quick fix. We have been pretty depleted over the past three years through the draft and retirements and we’ve just got to get this next group to come through together as quickly as we can. There are some greats signs there with our kids.’’
Eagles coach Jade Sheedy
“After the month of footy we have served up, being really competitive and playing a good brand, to go into our shells (against South) and probably take a step back from the trajectory we have been on, is disappointing.”
West Adelaide coach Adam Hartlett
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ROUND 15
DOUBLE BLUES v EAGLES
Andrew Capel’s votes
3 – Josh Hone (Sturt)
2 – Daniel Fahey-Sparks (Sturt)
1 – James Battersby (Sturt)
CROWS v MAGPIES
Steve Barrett’s votes
3 – Elliott Himmelberg (Adel)
2 – Sam Berry (Adel)
1 – Ned McHenry (Adel)
PANTHERS v BLOODS
Warren Partland’s votes
3 – Kobe Ryan (WA)
2 – Keegan Brooksby (SA)
1 – Oliver Davis (SA)
REDLEGS v BULLDOGS
Luke Marchioro’s votes
3 – Harry Boyd (Nor)
2 – Nik Rokahr (Nor)
1 – Jarrod Schiller (CD)
ROOSTERS v TIGERS
Andrew Capel’s votes
3 – Max Proud (Glen)
2 – Toby Pink (Glenl)
1 – Frank Szekely (NA)
LEADERBOARD
17 – Harry Schoenberg (Adel)
17 – Tom Lewis (Sturt)
13 – Liam McBean (Glen)
13 – James Battersby (Sturt)
13 – Nik Rokahr (Norw)
12 – Harry Grant (CD)
11 – Matthew Allen (Glen)
11 – James Rowe (WWT)
10 – Jackson Hately (Adel)
9 – Patrick Wilson (Sturt)
9 – Campbell Combe (NA)
9 – Keegan Brooksby (SA)
9 – Kobe Ryan (WA)
9 – Jarrod Schiller (CD)
9 – Harry Boyd (Nor)
8 – Mitch O’Neill (SA)
8 – Jez McLennan (CD)
8 – Jackson Mead (PA)
8 – Max Proud (Glen)
7 – Matt Crouch (Adel)
7 – Mitch Hardie (WWT)
7 – Luke Partington (Glen)
7 – Callum Park (WA)
7 – Lachie Hosie (Glen)
7 – Harrison Wigg (NA)
7 – Sam Berry (Adel)
6 – Cam McGree (Glen)
6 – Quinton Narkle (PA)
6 – Casey Voss (Sturt)
6 – Joseph Sinor (WWT)
6 – Corey Lyons (Glen)
6 – Hugh Jackson (PA)
5 – Alex Spina (NA)
5 – Nick Moore (PA)
5 – Josh Hone (Sturt)
5 – Oliver Davis (SA)
SHARPSHOOTERS
Leading goalkickers
43 – Lachie Hosie (Glen)
38 – Liam McBean (Glen)
34 – Josh Hone (Sturt)
32 – Luke Reynolds (Glen)
28 – Lachlan Gollant (Adel)
26 – Zach Sproule (SA)
24 – Lachlan Burrows (Sturt)
24 – Tariek Newchurch (Adel)
22 – Connor Ballenden (WWT)
22 – Liam Delahunty (WA)
UP NEXT
Round 16
Norwood v South Adelaide (Coopers Stadium), Sat, Aug 12, 2.10pm
Central District v Sturt (X Convenience Oval), Sat, Aug 12, 2.10pm
Port Adelaide v Glenelg (Alberton Oval), Sat, Aug 12, 4.40pm
Woodville-West Torrens v North Adelaide (Maughan Thiem Kia Oval), Sun, Aug 13, 2.10pm
West Adelaide v Adelaide (Johnstone Park., Murray Bridge), Sun, Aug 13, 2.10pm
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