SANFL Round 12: Adelaide flags intent as Tigers duo make medal move

Glenelg, Sturt and Adelaide have separated themselves from the pack at the top of the SANFL table. Here’s all you need to know ahead of Round 13.

There has been a breakaway in the SANFL.

While a blanket can be thrown over the rest of the competition, Glenelg, Sturt and Adelaide have separated themselves from the pack at the top of the table with six rounds remaining.

All victorious on the weekend, they now have at least a two-win lead on the chasing pack in the battle for coveted top three spots and a double chance in the finals.

But the race for the last two finals positions is on in earnest after Port Adelaide upset the Eagles on the road and North Adelaide edged South Adelaide at Noarlunga.

Here’s all you need to know from a season-shaping Round 12.

Glenelg’s Cole Gerloff is tackled by Norwood’s Cory Stockdale in the Tigers’ five-goal win at The Parade. Picture: David Mariuz (SANFL)

Central District’s Isaiah Dudley takes a strong mark against Adelaide at Nuriootpa Oval. Picture: Peter Argent (SANFL)

ROUND 12 SCOREBOARD

Port Adelaide 13.10 (88) d Woodville-West Torrens 8.4 (52)

Glenelg 13.9 (87) d Norwood 7.15 (57)

North Adelaide 6.9 (45) d South Adelaide 3.12 (30)

Sturt 5.8 (38) d West Adelaide 4.8 (32)

Adelaide 15.14 (104) d Central District 5.6 (36)

POWER RANKINGS

1. Glenelg:

(11-1: Was seriously tested by a rejuvenated Norwood at The Parade but responded like the strong side it is to pull away late and record an 11th consecutive win. Clearly the team to beat).

2. Adelaide:

(8-4: Bounced back hard from a shock loss to North to put Central to the sword at Nuriootpa in a performance coach Michael Godden described as “one of our best performances in the contest we’ve put on the park all year’’. Looms as Glenelg’s biggest threat).

3. Sturt:

(10-2: The Double Blues aren’t in great form but they keep finding a way to win, evidenced by the hard-fought six-point victory against the Bloods. It’s hard to argue with a 10-2 record that has seen Sturt almost certainly sew up a coveted top-three spot).

4. Port Adelaide:

(6-6: Took a big step towards making the finals with a strong win on the road against the Eagles. Is one of the form teams of the competition, having won six of its past nine games).

5. North Adelaide:

(6-6: Two wins on the trot have seen the Roosters return to the top five after a horror patch where it lost five of six games. One of this year’s pre-season flag favourites, North looks threatening again with Sam Mayes’ return from injury significant).

6. Central District:

(5-7: Back-to-back losses to heavyweights Glenelg and Adelaide has put the Dogs – aiming to make the finals for the first time since 2017 – under some pressure. Needs to respond against bottom-placed West on Saturday).

7. Norwood:

(3-9: Played very well in spurts against the Tigers to draw to within six points early in the last quarter but paid a heavy price for some inaccuracy in front of the sticks and costly turnovers, which ended its three-game winning streak. Finals seem beyond the reigning premier but it will shape them in the run home).

8. South Adelaide:

(4-8: Faces a giant task to make the finals after inaccuracy in front of goal robbed it of a chance to upset North, prompting coach Jarrad Wright to say: “You could look back at 10 games we have lost in the past two years when we have had more shots than the opposition and lost because of inefficiency.”).

9. Woodville-West Torrens:

(4-8: Battled hard against Port but suffered a second consecutive home loss which has cast great doubt about its ability to make the finals, Is struggling to hit the scoreboard, kicking only 20 goals in the past three weeks).

10. West Adelaide:

(3-9: Continues to knock on the door but can’t push it open, falling to a narrow one-goal loss to Sturt. Is vastly improved this season – losing six games by 18 points or fewer – but needs more wins in the back half of the year to get some reward for effort).

Glenelg’s Lachie Hosie flies high but spills the mark against Norwood at The Parade on Saturday. Picture: David Mariuz (SANFL)

NUMBERS GAME

(Top 12 Champion Data ranking points)

Matthew Allen (Glenelg) 167

Kieran Strachan (Adelaide) 162

Liam McBean (Glenelg) 161

Corey Lyons (Glenelg) 158

Jackson Hately (Adelaide) 158

Sam Berry (Adelaide) 154

Brett Turner (Glenelg) 152

Kobe Ryan (West) 145

Declan Hamilton (Norwood) 141

Trent Dumont (Port) 140

Campbell Combe (North) 140

Matt Crouch (Adelaide) 139

THE STAT

16

Consecutive wins for Sturt against West Adelaide, dating back to the Bloods’ premiership season in 2015.

FLYING HIGH

Mark of the week

Shane McAdam (Adelaide)

The ace Crows forward showcased his athleticism by charging hard at the ball, leaping high and taking a strong mark against Central District in Adelaide’s big win at Nuriootpa Oval.

SAY WHAT

Quotes of the week

“It was one of our best performances in the contest we’ve put on the park all year. To win that first quarter while kicking against it (wind) was outstanding and we were then able to put a really good second quarter together and make a big enough break. I thought the players responded really well from last week. We were obviously really disappointed with that North game and we put together a strong four-quarter effort in really difficult conditions. Even more important than the win-loss was just the way we played.”

Adelaide coach Michael Godden

“The game was on there, five minutes into the last quarter when there was just a goal in it, so credit to our boys for being able to find a way (to win). Our last quarters have been really strong and that was evident again. We were able to get on top around the ball, in the contest, and as a result were able to get things going our way. Norwood won a premiership for a reason last year and are still a quality side and to finish like we did was really pleasing.’’

Glenelg coach Darren Reeves

“That was a most comprehensive game. We know our depth is there but the connection of the players is really good. We have an elite level of fitness and the players bring effort. We had a number of very good players with Dante (Visentini) playing a great game.’’

Port Adelaide coach Tyson Goldsack

“Winning always makes things nicer, but for me it is not (all) about winning, it is about the process and method and the way we are trying to go about our football. We probably did not do that in the little part (middle of the season), we were very inconsistent with the way we wanted to go about it.”

North Adelaide coach Jacob Surjan

“You could look back at 10 games we have lost in the past two years when we have had more shots than the opposition and lost because of inefficiency.”

South Adelaide coach Jarrad Wright

“In the past six-to-eight weeks there has been some really good footy in there but the opposition have taken advantage of us at times as well. It is about finding that consistency now. The positive is, yes, we have lost a couple of games, but we are still able to find a way to win more often than not.”

Sturt coach Martin Mattner

“I feel for the players, it’s frustrating because I see the amount of work that they do. It is another learning opportunity for us. It seems like each week there is an opportunity for us to get better. It’s going to take time to click consistently but we are getting closer.”

West Adelaide coach Adam Hartlett

“We’ve won a lot of quarters this season but we also have a lot of players with not many games in them. I thought our first quarter was exceptional but then in the last quarter we had 12 inside 50s for no score. We have to get our connection better. The players’ spirit is there and their ability to win the ball back was better but we just need to keep the chemistry.’’

Eagles coach Jade Sheedy

“Adelaide’s ability, with their seasoned AFL bodies, to go out of the contest with their handball was the remarkable difference in the game. They were so clean with their ball take and movement. We just couldn’t control the ball in the same manner. You’re not going to win any games when the opposition scores 11.8 off turnover.’’

Central District coach Paul Thomas

It’s celebration time for Glenelg midfielder Brett Turner after he kicked a crucial goal against Norwood. Picture: David Mariuz (SANFL)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

ROUND 12

EAGLES v MAGPIES

Gordon Armstrong’s votes

3 – Jackson Mead (PA)

2 – Dante Visentini (PA)

1 – Joseph Sinor (WWT)

REDLEGS v TIGERS

Andrew Capel’s votes

3 – Liam McBean (Glen)

2 – Matthew Allen (Glen)

1 – Corey Lyons (Glen)

PANTHERS v ROOSTERS

Warren Partland’s votes

3 – Sam Mayes (NA)

2 – Campbell Combe (NA)

1 – Oliver Davis (SA)

BLOODS v DOUBLE BLUES

Luke Marchioro’s votes

3 – James Battersby (Sturt)

2 – Amos Doyle (Sturt)

1 – Kobe Ryan (WA)

BULLDOGS v CROWS

Steve Barrett’s votes

3 – Sam Berry (Adelaide)

2 – Tyler Brown (Adelaide)

1 – Jackson Hately (Adelaide)

Six-goal Tigers star Liam McBean is tackled by Norwood opponent Jack Heard at The Parade. Picture: David Mariuz (SANFL)

LEADERBOARD

14 – Harry Schoenberg (Adel)

13 – Liam McBean (Glen)

12 – James Battersby (Sturt)

11 – Tom Lewis (Sturt)

11 – Matthew Allen (Glen)

10 – Jackson Hately (Adel)

9 – Harry Grant (CD)

9 – Patrick Wilson (Sturt)

9 – Campbell Combe (NA)

8 – James Rowe (WWT)

8 – Mitch O’Neill (SA)

7 – Mitch Hardie (WWT)

7 – Luke Partington (Glen)

7 – Nik Rokahr (Norw)

7 – Callum Park (WA)

7 – Lachie Hosie (Glen)

7 – Keegan Brooksby (SA)

7 – Jackson Mead (PA)

6 – Cameron McGree (Glen)

6 – Jez McLennan (CD)

6 – Quinton Narkle (PA)

6 – Casey Voss (Sturt)

6 – Harry Boyd (Nor)

6 – Harrison Wigg (NA)

6 – Joseph Sinor (WWT)

6 – Corey Lyons (Glen)

5 – Jarrod Schiller (CD)

5 – Matt Crouch (Adel)

5 – Alex Spina (NA)

5 – Nick Moore (PA)

5 – Sam Berry (Adel)

SHARPSHOOTERS

Leading goalkickers

35 – Lachie Hosie (Glen)

32 – Liam McBean (Glen)

25 – Josh Hone (Sturt)

24 – Luke Reynolds (Glen)

21 – Zach Sproule (SA)

20 – Connor Ballenden (WWT)

20 – Tariek Newchurch (Adel)

19 – Lachlan Gollant (Adel)

17 – Matthew Allen (Glen)

17 – Lachlan Burrows (Sturt)

UP NEXT

Round 13

Glenelg v Adelaide (Stratarama Stadium), Sat, July 15, 1.10pm

West Adelaide v Central District (Hisense Stadium), Sat, July 15, 2.10pm

Port Adelaide v North Adelaide (Alberton Oval), Sat, July 15, 2.10pm

Woodville-West Torrens v Norwood (Maughan Thiem Kia Oval), Sat, July 15, 2.10pm

Sturt v South Adelaide (Wigan Oval), Sun, July 16, 2.10pm