SANFL Round 17: Roosters, Legs state flag cases, Eagles on the rocks

Who’s hot, who’s not, team of the week and all you need to know from Round 17. We take you behind the scenes of Australia’s best state league competition.

Andrew Capel

@andrewcapel

5 min read

August 9, 2022 - 6:00AM

Replay: SANFL – Glenelg vs North Adelaide (League)

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Four finals spots secured, one up for grabs.

That is the state of play in the SANFL with two minor round series remaining after red-hot Norwood and high-flying Adelaide sewed up top five spots on the weekend.

While four teams are still fighting for the coveted double chance in the finals, fifth-placed Sturt and back-to-back premier Woodville-West Torrens are locked in a race for the last major round position, ensuring their round 18 clash on Saturday will be a blockbuster.

Here’s all you need to know about an action-packed round 17.

Crow Matt Crouch dishes out one of his 25 handballs against the Eagles at Woodville Oval on Sunday. Picture: SANFL Image / Cory Sutton

Norwood’s Nik Rokahr attempts to spoil a mark from Central District’s Chris Olsson at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday. Picture: SANFL Image / David Mariuz

ROUND 17 SCOREBOARD

Norwood 7.6 (48) d Central District 6.11 (47)

North Adelaide 16.12 (108) d Glenelg 7.15 (57)

Sturt 13.7 (85) d Port Adelaide 7.12 (54)

West Adelaide 10.8 (68) d South Adelaide 8.15 (63)

Adelaide 17.14 (116) d Woodville-West Torrens 10.16 (76)

POWER RANKINGS

1. North Adelaide

(12-4: Displayed its premiership credentials in a high stakes game against Glenelg, winning by 51 points at the Bay to move a win and percentage clear at the top of the table. Has one hand on the minor premiership).

2. Norwood

(11-5: Held off a late charge from Central to win its seventh consecutive game to move into the top three. Plays finals-type football and looms as a big premiership threat after starting the season 2-4).

3. Adelaide

(11-5: Took a big step towards earning the double chance in the finals with a dominant second half against the Eagles. Veteran Crows midfielder Matt Crouch was again outstanding at state league level, having 42 disposals and eight clearances).

4. Glenelg

(11-5: Fell from second to fourth after a disappointing performance at home against North which has left its top three hopes hanging by a thread. Faces a massive game against Norwood at The Parade on Friday night).

5. Sturt

(10-6: Blew Port away with a powerful first half at Unley in what coach Martin Mattner described as some of the club’s best football of the season. One win in its last two minor round games against the Eagles and North will sew up a finals spot).

6. Woodville-West Torrens

(8-8: The Eagles’ hopes of a premiership three-peat are in tatters after they were smashed in the second half by the Crows. Must beat Sturt at home on Saturday to stay in contention).

7. South Adelaide

(7-9: Another game, another close result, another loss. The Panthers have been the SANFL’s cardiac kids this season and officially fell out of the finals race after losing to West by five points after leading by 21 at the last change).

8. Central District

(4-12: Came hard at Norwood in the final quarter after trailing by 18 points but kicked an inaccurate 2.5 from the game’s final seven scoring shots to fall one point short. Is building nicely for next year).

9. Port Adelaide

(4-12: Was no match for Sturt when the heat was on early, falling 51 points behind at halftime, before fighting back to win the second half by 20 points. It’s been a tough year for the injury-riddled Pies).

10. West Adelaide

(2-14: Showed great heart to kick five goals to one in the final quarter against South to record its second win from its past three games after losing its previous 26 matches. The victories will give the Bloods something to build on going into the off-season).

Tempers boil over between North Adelaide’s Keanu Miller and Glenelg’s, from left, Toby Pink, Alex Martini and Lewis Rayson at the Bay on Sunday. Picture: Morgan Sette

NUMBERS GAME

(Top 12 Champion Data ranking points)

Campbell Combe (North) 164

Nik Rokahr (Norwood) 154

Harry Boyd (Norwood) 148

Matt Crouch (Adelaide) 141

Jackson Mead (Port) 139

Hamish Hartlett (West) 135

Lachlan Sholl (Adelaide) 132

Matthew Wright (Adelaide) 128

Riley Knight (Eagles) 127

Keegan Brooksby (South) 125

Joey Haines (South) 124

James Battersby (Sturt) 124

THE STAT

Tackles for North midfielder Campbell Combe against Glenelg.

The 2020 Magarey Medallist was at his ferocious best in the Roosters’ emphatic 51-point win at the Bay, which gave his side sole possession of top spot.

North excitement machine Nigel Lockyer Jnr celebrates one of his four goals against Glenelg. Picture: Morgan Sette

FLYING HIGH

(Mark of the week)

Rhett Montgomerie (Central)

The Bulldogs key defender flew high over Norwood forward Connor McLean in the fourth quarter at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday as the home side mounted a comeback.

Montgomerie has been a standout performer for the Bulldogs this season and showcased his athleticism on the outer wing.

SAY WHAT

(Quotes of the week)

“We really set ourselves for this game, it was a real test and we wanted to make sure that we passed the test, which we did. Glenelg was second on the ladder for a reason and we know the importance of finishing near the top of the table heading into the finals and this is a good step towards that. I thought we were ruthless from the start of the game to the end of the game, that we were at Glenelg all day and that our pressure and speed was first class.’’

North coach Jacob Surjan.

“Anyone who’s been watching this competition would realise Central has been a really strong performing team over the past six weeks. Their last three (at Elizabeth) have all come down to under a kick and the last 30 seconds has generally been at their end. We didn’t play at full capacity but you can only do what the opposition allows and they really stressed us a few times. I’m just really pleased from where we were at 2-4 earlier in the year to now put ourselves in a position to really launch into some finals footy.”

Norwood coach Jade Rawlings.

“It’s some of the best football we’ve played. I thought out first half was very good in all facets. We defended really well, our offence was good and we moved the ball well.”

Sturt coach Martin Mattner.

“Braveness is what really came in the last quarter. The players believed they could still win. We have been competitive in a lot of games and feel we have been building. I’m glad the players are getting reward for that.’’

West coach Brad Gotch.

“We’ll try and look at the silver lining, we had 19 debutants this year which is the most in club history. We have been in every game and should have won another five games. But we were not good enough to finish off our work and only have ourselves to blame”.

South coach Jarrad Wright.

“It was definitely an opportunity lost. We addressed some stuff at halftime and we executed what we wanted to do much better in the second half. To score 2.6 in the last quarter is disappointing but I’m still so proud of our guys to hang in there and embrace the challenge against a strong opponent.”

Central coach Paul Thomas.