SANFL Insider Round 16: Emotion-charged day for Redlegs as Rooster Finlay takes mark of year contender

SANFL writer Andrew Capel rounds up who’s hot, who’s not, player of year votes and all you need to know from an action-packed Round 16 of state league footy.

Rooster Karl Finlay took a mark of the year contender, Glenelg closed to within one win of the minor premiership and heartbroken Norwood held on for an emotional victory against South Adelaide as it paid tribute to premiership player Nick Lowden.

In a round where two games were decided by less than a kick and four by 15 points or fewer, the SANFL focus turned to Norwood Oval where the Redlegs honoured 2022 premiership player Lowden following his tragic death.

“We wanted to make our club proud this week, that’s what we spoke about and, irrespective of the result, I think that our people would feel proud of how the club and players have gone about things,’’ Norwood coach Jade Rawlings said after his devastated players held off a late Panthers charge to win by two points.

Here’s all you need to know from an emotion-charged Round 16 of SANFL footy.

North Adelaide's Karl Finlay flies high to take a spectacular mark of the year contender against the Eagles at Woodville Oval. Picture: Scott Starkey/SANFL

Redlegs forward Jackson Callow celebrates after kicking one of his four goals in the thrilling two-point win against South Adelaide. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

ROUND 16 SCOREBOARD

Norwood 12.11 (83) d South Adelaide 12.9 (81)

Sturt 8.14 (62) d Central District 9.4 (58)

Glenelg 9.12 (66) d Port Adelaide 8.9 (57)

North Adelaide 12.8 (80) d Woodville-West Torrens 9.11 (65)

Adelaide 15.6 (96) d West Adelaide 8.10 (58)

POWER RANKINGS

1. Glenelg:

(14-2: Held off a gritty Port at Alberton Oval to consolidate top spot with a 14-2 record. Given its healthy percentage, needs only one win from its final two games to clinch the minor premiership).

2. Adelaide:

(12-4: Lost key forward Elliott Himmelberg early with a hamstring injury but had too much class for West in the Neil Kerley Memorial Match at Murray Bridge in the round’s most lopsided contest).

3. Sturt:

(13-3: Kicked four late goals to come from 22 points behind midway through the final term to beat Central by four points at Elizabeth. Faces a huge game against likely qualifying final opponent the Crows at Unley Oval on Saturday).

4. Port Adelaide:

(8-8: Lost no admirers with a strong effort against Glenelg, despite fielding only 10 AFL-listed players. Can virtually secure a finals spot by beating South at Noarlunga on Saturday).

5. North Adelaide:

(8-8: Found its mojo in the second half against the Eagles, coming from 20 points behind to win by 15. Its finals equation is simple – beat sixth-placed Central at Elizabeth on Saturday and it is in).

6. Central District:

(7-9: Suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Double Blues after seemingly having them on toast in the final term. Now faces a must-win clash against the Roosters in a game that could determine its finals fate).

7. Woodville-West Torrens:

(5-11: Played well against North for two-and-a-half quarters before falling away. Is in rebuilding mode. Dual premiership coach Jade Sheedy has two games left in charge following his decision to take a break from SANFL coach at the end of the season).

8. Norwood:

(5-11: Showed great heart with a stirring performance against South as it paid tribute to Nick Lowden. Led by 39 points early in the final term before running out of gas and then being forced to fight tooth and nail late to hold on to win by two points. The reigning premier has now five of its past eight games after a 0-8 start).

9. South Adelaide:

(5-11: Strong start, poor second quarter and outstanding finish against Norwood, Kicked the last six goals and had late chances to win but paid a price for being outscored by 34 points in the second term).

10. West Adelaide:

(3-13: The Bloods had their moments against the red-hot Crows but they were outclassed and must now in their final two games to have any chance of avoiding a fifth consecutive wooden spoon).

The emotion shows on the faces of the Norwood players during the pre-game tribute to Nick Lowden at Norwood Oval. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

NUMBERS GAME

Top 12 Champion Data ranking points

Kieran Strachan (Adelaide) 172

Sam Mayes (North) 148

Matt Panos (Norwood) 143

Tom Lewis (Sturt) 143

Lachlan Gollant (Adelaide) 141

Jed Hagan (Port) 139

Mitch Harvey (North) 138

Kobe Mutch (South) 136

Michael Frederick (Sturt) 133

Michael Mattingly (West) 131

Kobe Ryan (West) 130

Jackson Callow (Norwood) 130

THE STAT

59

Kieran Strachan hit-outs for Adelaide against West Adelaide in the Neil Kerley Memorial Match at Murray Bridge.

Rucking for almost the entire game because of an early hamstring injury to Elliott Himmelberg, Strachan was outstanding, winning the inaugural Neil Kerley Medal as best afield.

FLYING HIGH

Mark of the week

Karl Finlay (North Adelaide)

The athletic Roosters defender used teammate Dyson Hilder as a stepladder to haul in a screamer in the final quarter of the game against the Eagles at Woodville Oval.

Finlay’s spectacular grab saw him seemingly fly through the air for an eternity and was the highlight of North’s significant, finals-shaping victory.

SAY WHAT

Quotes of the week

“I saw some individuals who were really affected after the game. The emotion of the day, the week, it was tough on everyone and there have been a lot of wild fluctuations with people at different stages of their grief cycle. The group has been around each other since (last) Monday in a footy sense but the way the group has rallied and supported each other has been great. We confronted it (Nick Lowden’s death), we didn’t want to not speak about it (during the week), and today (game day), with the ceremony at 2pm it was something none of us had ever been through before. To hear what was going on alongside me and behind me, with our reserves players and staff and how upset they were, to try and reset and get ready for a game was very challenging. The group has been incredible. We wanted to make our club proud, that’s what we spoke about, and irrespective of the result I think that our people would feel proud of how the club and players have gone about it.’’

Norwood coach Jade Rawlings

“I was thrilled with the effort the boys put in after halftime, We were a bit sluggish in the first half and a lot of things weren’t going our way. The Eagles’ pressure was really good. I challenged the group after halftime to be better with their roles and the way they are playing and they really responded, which is pleasing. We just have to control our own destiny now and play North Adelaide football and focus on our style of game.”

North coach Jacob Surjan

“I thought we played the best footy for most of the day. We controlled it, we had more (scoring) shots and we had the KPIs, but they capitalised when they had their little periods on top. We didn’t capitalise when we had the momentum until the last 10 minutes. We kept reminding the players it (fourth quarter) was going to go into the 30s (minutes, due to the eight-minute delay following James Richards’ injury). I’m super proud of the team. We want to be ready for finals and a win like that is what we’ve been able to do all year. We’ve been able to win those close games and that’s why we’re sitting second.”

Sturt coach Martin Mattner

“(Sturt’s) James Battersby and Tom Lewis did what they did to us in Round 4. They got their hands on the ball, got it out to their runners and we didn’t absorb their pressure. Sturt’s leadership was far superior to our leadership. Their captain (Battersby) was outstanding, our captain Jarrod Schiller was outstanding, the two leaders led their teams really well – one (Battersby) just had a bit more support. There were lots of moments where our leaders, for the situation of the game and what it was telling them, faltered. We didn’t handle the more crucial moments very well – and that’s not our young guys. That’s three games – Sturt twice and Norwood – where we’ve been in front and haven’t taken the next leap. That’s a big improvement for our footy club, to be ahead 22 points and stay there. If we beat Sturt here and played the way we wanted to play against Norwood, we go into Round 17 two wins ahead of sixth. Instead, we now can only control what happens when we play North this week. Whether we’ve done enough to play finals will be determined over the next two weeks.”

Central coach Paul Thomas

“The game was a bit of a slog with something like 106 tackles and when we lost Elliott (Himmelberg) with a hamstring and then Will Hamill with a head knock we were down on rotations. And our backline was good too with a different look. We had a number of good players with Kieran (Strachan) playing very well and having to ruck for the whole game.’’

Adelaide coach Michael Godden

“It was a bit of a pattern in what has happened this year for us, we can execute for a while but we are a young team not quite used to the intensity. The boys were a bit flat at halftime but they came out and just kept going. The Crows took their chances and their depth was telling.’’

West Adelaide coach Adam Hartlett

Adelaide’s Neil Kerley Medallist Kieran Strachan with Kerley’s grandson Campbell Hossack at Murray Bridge. Picture: Peter Argent/SANFL

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

ROUND 16

REDLEGS v PANTHERS

Andrew Capel’s votes

3 – Nik Rokahr (Nor)

2 – Jackson Callow (Nor)

1 – Oliver Davis (SA)

BULLDOGS v DOUBLE BLUES

Steve Barrett’s votes

3 – James Battersby (Sturt)

2 – Harry Grant (CD)

1 – Connor McFadyen (Sturt)

MAGPIES v TIGERS

Warren Partland’s votes

3 – Cam Sutcliffe (PA)

2 – Toby Pink (Glen)

1 – Corey Lyons (Glen)

EAGLES v ROOSTERS

Luke Marchioro’s votes

3 – Sam Mayes (NA)

2 – Dyson Hilder (NA)

1 – Harrison Wigg (NA)

BLOODS v CROWS

Gordon Armstrong’s votes

3 – Kieran Strachan (Adel)

2 – Lachlan Gollant (Adel)

1 – Michael Mattingly (WA)

Norwood’s Matt Panos celebrates a goal against South Adelaide at The Parade. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

LEADERBOARD

(After Round 16)

17 – Harry Schoenberg (Adel)

17 – Tom Lewis (Sturt)

16 – Nik Rokahr (Norw)

16 – James Battersby (Sturt)

14 – Harry Grant (CD)

13 – Liam McBean (Glen)

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)

8 – Harrison Wigg (NA)

7 – Matt Crouch (Adel)

7 – Mitch Hardie (WWT)

7 – Luke Partington (Glen)

7 – Callum Park (WA)

7 – Lachie Hosie (Glen)

7 – Sam Berry (Adel)

7 – Corey Lyons (Glen)

6 – Cam McGree (Glen)

6 – Quinton Narkle (PA)

6 – Casey Voss (Sturt)

6 – Joseph Sinor (WWT)

6 – Hugh Jackson (PA)

6 – Oliver Davis (SA)

6 – Toby Pink (Glen

6 – Lachlan Gollant (Adel)

6 – Sam Mayes (NA)

5 – Alex Spina (NA)

5 – Nick Moore (PA)

5 – Josh Hone (Sturt)

5 – Kieran Strachan (Adel)

SHARPSHOOTERS

Leading goalkickers

45 – Lachie Hosie (Glen)

38 – Liam McBean (Glen)

34 – Josh Hone (Sturt)

34 – Luke Reynolds (Glen)

34 – Lachlan Gollant (Adel)

29 – Zach Sproule (SA)

27 – Lachlan Burrows (Sturt)

26 – Connor Ballenden (WWT)

24 – Tariek Newchurch (Adel)

22 – Liam Delahunty (WA)

UP NEXT

Round 17

South Adelaide v Port Adelaide (Flinders University Stadium), Sat, Aug 19, 1.10pm

North Adelaide v Central District (Prospect Oval), Sat, Aug 19, 2.10pm

Woodville-West Torrens v Glenelg (Maughan Thiem Kia Oval), Sat, Aug 19, 2.10pm

West Adelaide v Norwood (Hisense Stadium), Sat, Aug 19, 2.10pm

Sturt v Adelaide (Wigan Oval), Sat, Aug 19, 2.10pm