SANFL Round 9: Glenelg new flag favourite as Redlegs break drought and Crow makes medal move

Andrew Capel rounds up who’s hot, who’s not, player of year votes and all the inside info from a season-shaping Round 9 of the SANFL.

South Adelaide’s Liam Fitt gets his kick away under pressure from Norwood’s Jack Heard at Noarlunga Oval on Monday. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Glenelg is the new premiership favourite after a 105-point thrashing of previously unbeaten Sturt while reigning premier Norwood finally broke through for its first win of the season.

They headlined the storylines from an action-packed round in the SANFL as dynamic Crows midfielder Harry Schoenberg made a big medal move.

Here’s all you need to know from Round 9.

Glenelg captain Max Proud marks strongly in his side’s 105-point thrashing of Sturt on Monday. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz

Tigers ruckman Cam McGree is congratulated by teammate Jonty Scharenberg after kicking a long goal against the Double Blues. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz

ROUND 9 SCOREBOARD

Adelaide 13.17 (95) d Woodville-West Torrens 11.6 (72)

West Adelaide 10.8 (68) d North Adelaide 5.9 (39)

Port Adelaide 13.14 (92) d Central District 10.9 (69)

Glenelg 23.12 (150) d Sturt 6.9 (45)

Norwood 12.7 (79) d South Adelaide 8.8 (56)

POWER RANKINGS

1. Glenelg:

(8-1: Has rocketed to clear flag favouritism after thrashing previously unbeaten Sturt by 105 points at the Bay. Has now won eight on the trot under new coach Darren Reeves).

2. Adelaide:

(6-3: Took a long time to shrug off a determined Eagles side but 13 more scoring shots told the story of its dominance. Looms as a genuine premiership contender).

3. Sturt:

(8-1: Was hurt by the late withdrawal of star midfielder Tom Lewis with an ankle injury but no-one saw a 100-point flogging coming. “It was one of those games where nothing goes right,’’ coach Martin Mattner lamented of his side’s first loss of the season).

4. Woodville-West Torrens:

(4-5: Lost no admirers by pushing a strong Crows side for three quarters at Adelaide Oval. Is slowly finding its best form).

5. Port Adelaide:

(4-5: Has won four of its past six games to emerge as a finals dark horse. Has benefited from the SANFL availability of Port’s AFL captain Tom Jonas while mid-season draft recruit Quinton Narkle has produced consecutive best-afield displays).

6. Central District:

(4-5: Found a strong Port side too tough at Alberton but continues to churn out highly-competitive performances).

7. North Adelaide:

(4-5: Kicked the first two goals against West but then managed only three more for the rest of the game. Is in a real hole, having lost four of its past five games and needs to rediscover some missing spark).

8. West Adelaide:

(3-6: Huge performance in beating North by 29 points and keeping last year’s beaten grand finalist goalless in the second half. Has already won as many games as did in the entire 2022 season).

9. South Adelaide:

(3-6: Was bitterly disappointing in losing to previously winless Norwood at home. Has a host of key injuries, including Magarey Medallist Bryce Gibbs and key off-season recruits Zach Sproule and Ely Smith, which is severely denting its finals hopes).

10. Norwood:

(1-8: The drought is over. Last year's reigning premier finally broke its season duck with a resounding win on the road against South, which was sparked by a devastating six-goal blitz in 12 minutes in the third quarter).

Glenelg star Matthew Allen celebrates one of his six goals against Sturt. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz

NUMBERS GAME

(Top 12 Champion Data ranking points)

Matthew Allen (Glenelg) 189

Corey Lyons (Glenelg) 153

Harry Schoenberg (Adelaide)

Keegan Brooksby (South)

Tom Morrish (West) 142

Elliott Himmelberg (Adelaide) 139

Campbell Combe (North) 137

Oliver Davis (South) 136

Sam McInerney (North) 135

Tom Jonas (Port) 133

Frank Szekely (North) 129

Mitch O’Neill (South) 127

THE STAT

105

Stunning margin of Glenelg’s victory against Sturt.

FLYING HIGH

Mark of the week

Shane McAdam (Adelaide)

The exciting Crows forward returned from injury to take a spectacular mark on the shoulders of Woodville-West Torrens’ Nathan Studham in the second quarter of the SANFL clash at Adelaide Oval.

SAY WHAT

Quotes of the week

“It was a big game because it separates us and Sturt from the rest of the pack really, so it was a huge game for us in that respect. Now there is the opportunity to freshen up mentally and hit the second half of the season running.’’

Glenelg coach Darren Reeves

“Credit to Glenelg, they were very good. It’s probably the best I’ve seen a team in a long, long time.”

Sturt coach Martin Mattner

“It’s a big deal (to win) for us and great for Matty (Nunn in his 100th game) because we are big on milestones and I felt the group captured what the day was for Nunny and the journey he’s been on. From a big picture point of view, given our results this year, to get a win away from home in tough conditions against a team which knocked over North Adelaide last week, it’s full of merit and very satisfying. When we were challenged hard in that last quarter, I loved the fact we went back and kicked the next two goals.’’

Norwood coach Jade Rawlings

“It’s such a pleasing result and a sense of relief to win a game like this. We got our defensive system going, forced North to go wide and slow, and were able to force turnovers and kick a winning score on the back of that. To keep North goalless after half-time is a massive effort and took a total team effort and I’m just so happy for the players to get some reward for the effort they’ve put in.’’

West coach Adam Hartlett

“I felt we were dominating periods of the game ... (but) the first half looked worse on the scoreboard. They (Eagles) took all their opportunities that they got given and it was a matter of (us) staying in the process. (After half-time) we executed better and were more composed.’’

Adelaide coach Michael Godden

“I was super proud of the boys’ efforts. Win, lose or draw, you want to see a game plan come together and take it to a real strong opposition and we did all that today. They had a lot of AFL-experienced players and it was a great experience for our young group. I think in the end our young legs got a bit tired.”

Eagles coach Jade Sheedy

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

ROUND 9

EAGLES v CROWS

Steve Barrett’s votes

3 – Harry Schoenberg (Adel)

2 – James Rowe (WWT)

1 – Matt Crouch (Adel)

BLOODS v ROOSTERS

Andrew Capel’s votes

3 – Dylan Bramich (WA)

2 – Joel Stevens (WA)

1 – Josh Ryan (WA)

MAGPIES v BULLDOGS

Luke Marchioro’s votes

3 – Quinton Narkle (PA)

2 – Orazio Fantasia (PA)

1 – Harry Grant (CD)

TIGERS v DOUBLE BLUES

Warren Partland’s votes

3 – Matthew Allen (Glen)

2 – Max Proud (Glen)

1 – Luke Partington (Glen)

PANTHERS v REDLEGS

Andrew Capel’s votes

3 – Matthew Ling (Norw)

2 – Mitch O’Neill (South)

1 – Cory Stockdale (Norw)

Adelaide’s Hugh Haysman breaks clear in the Crows’ 23-point win against Woodville-West Torrens at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Peter Argent

LEADERBOARD

12 – Harry Schoenberg (Adel)

11 – Tom Lewis (Sturt)

9 – James Battersby (Sturt)

8 – Liam McBean (Glen)

8 – James Rowe (WWT)

7 – Campbell Combe (NA)

7 – Mitch Hardie (WWT)

6 – Matthew Allen (Glen)

6 – Patrick Wilson (Sturt)

6 – Jackson Hately (Adel)

6 – Lachie Hosie (Glen)

6 – Jez McLennan (CD)

6 – Mitch O’Neill (SA)

6 – Luke Partington (Glen)

6 – Harry Grant (CD)

6 – Quinton Narkle (PA)

5 – Corey Lyons (Glen)

5 – Jarrod Schiller (CD)

5 – Callum Park (WA)

4 – Harrison Wigg (NA)

4 – Hugh Jackson (PA)

4 – Andrew McPherson (Adel)

4 – Joseph Sinor (WWT)

4 – Noah Casalini (NA)

4 – Keegan Brooksby (SA)

4 – Max Proud (Glen)

4 – Matt Crouch (Adel)

3 – Trent Dumont (PA)

3 – Sam Skinner (SA)

3 – Steven Slimming (Sturt)

3 – Luke Redfern (WA)

3 – Billy McCormack (CD)

3 – Kobe Ryan (WA)

3 – Nick Moore (PA)

3 – Aaron Young (NA)

3 – Riley Knight (WWT)

3 – Matthew Ling (Norw)

3 – Dylan Bramich (WA)

SHARPSHOOTERS

Leading goalkickers

27 – Lachie Hosie (Glen)

23 – Josh Hone (Sturt)

21 – Zach Sproule (SA)

21 – Liam McBean (Glen)

17 – Connor Ballenden (WWT)

17 – Luke Reynolds (Glen)

15 – Noah Casalini (NA)

15 – Keenan Ramsey (NA)

15 – Tariek Newchurch (Adel)

15 – Damon Freitag (SA)

UP NEXT

Round 10

Central District v Woodville-West Torrens (X Convenience Oval), Sat, June 17, 2.10pm

Norwood v Port Adelaide (Coopers Stadium), Sun, June 18, 2.10pm

Sturt v North Adelaide (Wigan Oval), Sun, June 18, 2.10pm

West Adelaide v Glenelg (Hisense Stadium), Sat, June 24, 2.10pm

South Adelaide v Adelaide (Flinders University Stadium), Sat, June 24, 2.10pm