SANFL Round 19: North’s 33-year wait over, Sturt issues warning
Adelaide blew the minor premiership, handing it to the Roosters for the first time in 33 years, while the Bloods farewelled a retiring star in style. Here’s all you need to know from Round 19.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Adelaide blew the minor premiership, North Adelaide dodged a bullet and West Adelaide continued its end-of-season renaissance as the SANFL home-and-away season wound up on the weekend.
In a remarkable finish to an incredibly even year, three games were decided by three points or fewer, with the Crows’ shock loss to arch rival Port Adelaide having the biggest impact on the makeup of the finals, which start on Sunday.
Adelaide’s three-point defeat cost it the minor premiership, instead handing it to the Roosters for the first time since 1989, while Norwood held on to third spot despite being upset by the Bloods, who gave retiring star Logan Hill a winning send-off in his 200th and last SANFL game.
ROUND 19 SCOREBOARD
West Adelaide 8.9 (57) d Norwood 7.14 (56)
South Adelaide 9.18 (72) d Woodville-West Torrens 7.9 (51)
Glenelg 12.8 (80) d Central District 11.12 (78)
Sturt 11.11 (77) d North Adelaide 8.7 (55)
Port Adelaide 11.9 (75) d Adelaide 10.12 (72)
POWER RANKINGS
1. North Adelaide
(13-5: After being upset by Sturt, the Roosters dodged a bullet when the Crows lost to Port, handing them the minor premiership and a week’s break in the finals. It is North’s first minor premiership since 1989).
2. Norwood
(12-6: Lost to West but didn’t lose an all-important top three spot because of a solid percentage of 53.7 – 2.3 per cent higher than fourth-placed Glenelg. Is sweating on the fitness of key men Matthew Nunn and Matt Panos for the finals).
3. Adelaide
(12-6: Wasted a golden opportunity to claim the minor premiership when it was shockingly upset by Port after leading at three-quarter time and having more scoring shots. Can call on only 15 AFL-listed players for the finals because of qualification rules and injuries).
4. Sturt
(11-7: Appeared to be struggling a month ago after losing four or five games and being hit by injuries to key players. But Tom Lewis’s stunning return from a serious spleen injury has reignited the engine room and – after upsetting North on the weekend – it will take plenty of confidence into the elimination final).
5. Glenelg
(12-6: Got out of jail against Central with three late goals, including the final two from Lachie Hosie, to win by two points after trailing by 23 late in the third quarter. Form line is questionable leading into the finals but does possess some matchwinners).
6-10 Based on finishing positions
6. South Adelaide
(9-9: Terrific finish to the season when it outplayed the Eagles at Noarlunga. Incredibly, the Panthers – who endured a horror injury run this year – featured in 12 games that were decided by two goals or less, winning six and losing six).
7. Woodville-West Torrens
(9-9: Fell from back-to-back premier to missing the finals after an injury-riddled year where it lost Magarey Medallist James Tsitas and Jack Oatey Medallist Jack Hayes to AFL clubs in the pre-season supplemental period).
8. Port Adelaide
(5-13: Saved its best win until last, pulling off a massive upset against the Crows to deny them the minor premiership. Port’s season was ruined by injuries at AFL level which filtered down to its SANFL team).
9. Central District
(4-14: The Bulldogs’ improvement was masked by their 4-14 win-loss record. They lost four games by less than two goals – against South and finals combatants Sturt, Norwood and Glenelg – and will head into the off-season with plenty of optimism about next year).
10. West Adelaide
(3-15: After losing 26 consecutive games over two seasons, the Bloods finished the year strongly, winning three of their last five games and losing by a kick to minor premier North. Like Central, has something to build on for next season).
NUMBERS GAME
(Top 12 Champion Data ranking points)
Harry Boyd (Norwood) 213
Matt Crouch (Adelaide) 180
Billy Frampton (Adelaide) 168
Tom Lewis (Sturt) 156
Liam McBean (Glenelg) 150
Mitch O’Neill (South) 146
Billy McCormack (Central) 145
Guy Page (Sturt) 142
Casey Voss (Sturt) 142
Kieran Strachan (Adelaide) 140
Justin Hoskin (Central) 135
Travis Schiller (Central) 135
THE STAT
213
Champion Data ranking points for Norwood ruckman Harry Boyd.
The agile big man roamed all over Richmond Oval on Saturday, finishing with 25 disposals, 11 clearances and 37 hit-outs while laying six tackles in a lion-hearted performance.
Boyd has enjoyed a stunning season, leading the competition in hit-outs with 643, and will have a big say in the finals.
FLYING HIGH
(Mark of the week)
Matthew Broadbent (South)
The 32-year-old former Power AFL player took to the airways to pull in a screamer against the Eagles on Saturday.
Defying his years, Broadbent jumped on the back of Eagle Jake Comitogianni in the second quarter before landing heavily and momentarily having the wind taken out of his sails.
SAY WHAT
(Quotes of the week)
“We have been building and building and to win like that was just terrific for everyone involved. The players are starting to believe. They just willed themselves. We have debuted 21 players this season and have a lot of players developing well.’’
West coach Brad Gotch
“The season has been huge for our group in terms of building on what we needed to from last year. We lost to South by five points, to Sturt by four, Norwood by one, Glenelg by two. Last year we were not giving ourselves a chance to win.”
Central coach Paul Thomas
“It’s always nice to finish on a positive note. I thought the boys were superb and attacked the game really well. It was probably our best four quarter performance of the year. I’m delighted that we could win for Jake (Summerton), in his 100th game, because he is a great club man and leader for us. We’ve had a tough year for various reasons, there’s been a fair bit of adversity, but we played 23 debutants, which is an unbelievable amount, and that’s a real positive and will help us down the track.’’
South coach Jarrad Wright
“We knew the scenario, that we win and we were in and we didn’t want to rely on other results. It was a really solid four-quarter performance. The boys played really well and honestly. It was one of those days where we could’ve had 22 players in the best.’’
Sturt coach Martin Mattner
“It (finals) is another season. The top five, six, seven teams have been really close. Even Central and West have challenged all the top sides. It is an even comp, so it is about who brings their game on the day.”
Glenelg coach Brett Hand
INSIDE WORD
Football or cricket?
That is the big question for 17-year-old excitement machine Patrick Weckert, who made his league debut for the Eagles against South on Saturday.
The powerful forward joined the “first kick, first goal’’ club with a second quarter major against the Panthers and did not look out of place on the big stage.
“He’s going to be a really good player,’’ Eagles dual premiership coach Jade Sheedy said.
But Weckert is also one of South Australia’s most promising young fast bowlers, giving him a big decision to make in the next 12 months.
CASUALTY WARD
(Key injuries)
Jake Patmore (North)
Hamstring (TBC)
Chris Hall (Adelaide)
Calf (TBC)
Jed Spence (Norwood)
Knee (TBC)
Riley Knight (Eagles)
Hamstring (season)
TEAM OF THE WEEK
F: Brynn Teakle (Port), Lachie Hosie (Glenelg), Tyson Brazel (North)
HF: Hamish Hartlett (West), Elliott Himmelberg (Adelaide), Patrick Fairlie (West)
C: James Battersby (Sturt), Tom Lewis (Sturt), Hayden Sampson (South)
HB: Justin Hoskin (Central), Rhett Montgomerie (Central), Dylan Williams (Port)
B: Max Proud (Glenelg), Billy Frampton (Adelaide), Guy Page (Sturt)
R: Harry Boyd (Norwood), Cam Sutcliffe (Port), Matt Crouch (Adelaide)
INT: Mitch O’Neill (South), Billy McCormack (Central), Liam McBean (Glenelg), Matthew Snook (Glenelg)
UP NEXT
Elimination final:
Glenelg v Sturt (Adelaide Oval), Sun, 12.15pm
Qualifying final:
Adelaide v Norwood (Adelaide Oval), Sun, 3.15pm
‘Like a second home’: Local footy club legend calls time
A Southern Football League great has called time on his dazzling career ahead of season 2025 after winning a fourth A Grade premiership with his beloved local club in 2024.
‘Gone up a notch’: Local footy club makes major additions for season 2025
A recently relegated Adelaide Footy League club has welcomed back a number of big names for 2025 including a former Crows gun and dual league medallist as it prepares for instant division two success.