SANFL Monday Recovery: Norwood on fire against Port Adelaide without big guns firing
NO Mitch Grigg, no problem for Norwood, North Adelaide play on without the coach and Adelaide shows terrific unity. Catch up on another big week of SANFL action in Monday Recovery and see the video highlights.
Local Footy
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- Panthers, Crows in drawn out battle
- Tigers conquer Double Blues
- Depleted Roosters go down fighting to Dogs
- Legs pick up pace to conquer Port
- Bloods stun Eagles to break drought
Norwood coach Jarrod Cotton made an interesting point after the impressive win over Port Adelaide at The Parade on Thursday night.
He reckons teams probably think if Mitch Grigg and Matt Panos can be shut down then the Redlegs can’t win. Well suspended Grigg did not play and Panos was well contained for the first half.
Cotton said the manner of victory proved he was working with an even group and everyone put their hand up to play their role.
It’s amazing how often Redlegs ruckman Sam Baulderstone palms quality ball to Panos standing on the defensive side of the stoppage and the gun midfielder charges towards goal with a clear passage? It happened again a little over a minute in to the second quarter, resulting in a Panos goal.
HIT THOSE TARGETS
The number of times teams were hurt by players missing targets attempting to kick inside to the corridor on the weekend was incredible.
Redlegs’ link man Lewis Johnston is usually an extremely reliable kick, but even he coughed up the ball a couple of times looking for teammate in the corridor.
Both teams were guilty of doing the same in the Glenelg versus Sturt battle at the Bay. It was extremely damaging with teams able to hurt opponents on the rebound.
GRIGG BAN
The Redlegs did consider challenging the Mitch Grigg ban for striking in the narrow win over Sturt in round 3.
However, they decided not to risk the charge being upheld at the tribunal and his suspension being extended from one to two weeks. That would have meant also missing the grand final rematch against North Adelaide at Prospect Oval on Thursday.
CARR STALLS
It was bad enough for North Adelaide to be without Alex Barns, Jake Neade, Mitch Clisby and Lewis Hender for the battle against Central District at Prospect Oval on Saturday. But they were also without the coach after the club doctor sent Josh Carr home before the start of the game because of the flu.
Jacob Surjan took the reins and did a good job to almost get the Roosters up. It certainly didn’t help when skipper Max Thring left the game in the second quarter because of a hamstring issue.
Carr was expected back at training on Monday night. Barns and Hender will return to face Norwood in the Anzac Day game.
Just for the record, Roosters team manager Darryl Wintle had the flu last week so maybe the coach can blame him. Who said Tubs only gives away boomerangs and homing pigeons?
CHEAP ADVERTISING
Who said politics and sport don’t mix?
A politician hoping to get re-elected had some folk running around Noarlunga Oval on Saturday for the kick and catch advertising her name on T-shirts.
So what is she offering the South Adelaide Football Club? Nothing is my mail.
By the way, hope the young folk aren’t hoping for a footy contract on their kick and catch efforts.
IRRA ON THE MOVE
Emmanuel Irra has matured tremendously with his time at Port Adelaide and his return to Noarlunga Oval was welcomed by the Panthers.
But he needs greater awareness of his surrounds in the game. Twice in the first half he was caught holding the ball against the Crows with his habit of playing on at all costs.
Then he was penalised for running too far, although he was a touch unlucky.
ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE
Former Crows coach Neil Craig did not care where state league clubs positioned his players when they went back to the SANFL under the old system.
What he was concerned about was the players’ attitudes to being demoted from the AFL side.
Well he would be impressed how well the Crows personnel have handled being dropped back to the SANFL this season. Bryce Gibbs went back with a great attitude in round 3 and Myles Poholke and Josh Jenkins were outstanding how they approached the game against the Panthers.
One week they were playing in Melbourne, and the next at Noarlunga Oval.
YOUNIE INFLUENCE
Heath Younie’s return to coaching the Crows’ state league side has had a positive impact.
I’ve always felt the Power listed players have been more supportive of the top up players when playing for Port Adelaide’s state league side.
Late in the second quarter at Noarlunga Oval, James Mathews nailed his first goal on debut for the Crows. Teammates came from everywhere to enthusiastically slap him on the back and ruffle his hair, even the AFL-listed blokes.
RESULTS
Norwood 20.8 (128) d Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) at Norwood Oval.
Central District 10.13 (73) d North Adelaide 9.12 (66) at Prospect Oval.
West Adelaide 18.8 (116) d Eagles 11.13 (79) at Richmond Oval.
Glenelg 11.13 (79) d Sturt 10.10 (70) at Glenelg Oval.
South Adelaide 10.13 (73) drew with Adelaide 11.7 (73) at Noarlunga Oval.
LADDER
1 Norwood 8 (53.67%)
2 South Adelaide 6 (58.15)
3 Glenelg 5 (54.76)
4 Adelaide 5 (50.15)
5 Port Adelaide 4 (48.73)
6 Central District 4 (46.8)
7 Eagles 2 (46.95)
8 Sturt 2 (46.61)
9 West Adelaide 2 (46.31)
10 North Adelaide -2 (48.15)
GOALKICKERS
Liam McBean (Glenelg) 11
Lachlan Hosie (Glenelg) 11
Myles Poholke (Adelaide) 10
Jack Hayes (Eagles) 10
James Rowe (Eagles) 10
Tyson Stengle (Adelaide) 10
Matthew Wright (Adelaide) 9
Peter Bampton (Norwood) 8
Mitch Harvey (North) 8
Tom Whittlesea (South) 8
DISPOSALS
Jack Trengove (Port) 158
Lewis Johnston (Norwood) 135
Pat Wilson (Adelaide) 128
Sam Colquhoun (Sturt) 122
Jordan Forte (Eagles) 121
Travis Schiller (Central) 119)
ON THE BANDWAGON
It’s a good time to have a beer at the West Adelaide Football Club. The Bloods would have been a little shaken with the 0-3 start given there was plenty of optimism at Richmond Oval, and the club needed that win against the Eagles. Plus they can do with the bar takings.
OFF THE BANDWAGON
The Eagles were my tip to win the premiership and while there is still a long way to travel yet, they need to start getting some wins on board. Injuries have hurt badly, but those getting a game need to make a stand.
RANKINGS
1: Norwood — the win over Port was as good a performance seen from Norwood for a long time. Port was on song as well in that first half, which was played at a frenetic pace. It was a champagne game of SANFL footy and the Redlegs to the job done without Mitch Grigg and little influence from Matt Panos for the first half.
2: West Adelaide — the Bloods deserve a high ranking after a superb performance against the Eagles. They were under pressure to find some answers after being without a win and coach Gavin Colville did a great job to have his players focused as they were.
3: Glenelg — the Tigers were seriously challenged by the Double Blues in a game which could have gone either way. It was a terrific contest in which both sides showed plenty of character. The manner of the win proves the Tigers are serious.
4: Sturt — the Double Blues have just one win from four games, but should have beaten Norwood last week and they took the Tigers right to the line. They are better than their spot on the ladder.
5: South Adelaide and Adelaide — the Crows were ultra impressive in the first half and keep in mind they had eight top up players. The Panthers came from more than 40 points down and one more second they win the game. A highly entertaining contest and definitely a game of two halves.
7: Port Adelaide — seriously challenged the hot Redlegs for two and a half quarters with a brand of football which would have beaten most sides.
8: North Adelaide — despite missing a heap of quality players, plus a sick coach, and losing captain Max Thring due to a hamstring injury in the first half, the Roosters were in this game right up to the neck. Josh Carr has installed plenty of belief in this mob.
9: Central District — why should the Bulldogs be ranked below the Roosters when they won the game? Given the injuries of the opposition, the Bulldogs should have won by more. Some players need to lift the work rate.
10: Eagles — they have been belted by injury, but never in the contest against the Bloods.
THIS WEEK
Wednesday — West Adelaide v Glenelg (City Mazda Stadium, Richmond, 7.20pm).
Thursday — North Adelaide v Norwood (Prospect Oval, 2.40pm).
Saturday — Central District v Adelaide (X Convenience Oval, Elizabeth, 1.10pm), Eagles v Port Adelaide (Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville, 2.10pm).
Sunday — Sturt v South Adelaide (Peter Motley Oval, Unley, 2.10pm)
Download your Norwood or Glenelg Grand Final team posters
The stage is set for an epic battle between two of the traditional SANFL clubs. Download your Grand Final posters here.
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