South Adelaide, North Adelaide set for finals shaping battle in last SANFL minor round match
SANFL finals aspirants South Adelaide and North Adelaide are on a last round collision course after Thursday’s fixture release. SEE YOUR ROUND 11 TEAMS HERE
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SOUTH Adelaide will host North Adelaide in a crucial round 14 clash to decide the make-up of this year’s SANFL finals.
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In the final fixture released for a revamped, 14-round season, the third-placed Panthers will complete the minor round with a home clash against the second-placed Roosters on Sunday, September 27.
The traditional Saturday afternoon timeslot will play host to four of the final eight minor round matches, with two on Friday nights, a twilight Saturday clash and one on Sunday.
ROUND 13
Friday, September 18
West Adelaide v Woodville-West Torrens (Hisense Stadium) 7.20pm
Saturday, September 19
South Adelaide v Norwood (Flinders University Stadium) 2.10pm
Sturt v North Adelaide (Peter Motley Oval) 2.10pm
Glenelg v Central District (ACH Group Stadium) 4.10pm
ROUND 14
Friday, September 25
Norwood v West Adelaide (Coopers Stadium) 7.40pm
Saturday, September 26
Sturt v Glenelg (Peter Motley Oval) 2.10pm
Central District v Woodville-West Torrens (X Convenience Oval) 2.10pm
Sunday, September 27
South Adelaide v North Adelaide (Flinders University Oval) 2.10pm
DUVAL’S SHOT AT THE BIG TIME
A defender who was playing second division in the Adelaide Footy League last year is the shock selection in the South Australian AFL Draft Combine to be held at the end of the month.
West Adelaide 23-year-old Mitch Duval is one of 20 SANFL men picked to test themselves physically and mentally in front of AFL recruiters as the annual combine goes completely State-based for the first time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tough backman Duval, 188cm, joined the Bloods from the Unley Mercedes Jets at the end of last season and has shone across half-back, averaging 13 disposals and five marks while blanketing some of the competition’s most dangerous forwards.
“Mitch is a fantastic story,’’ West coach Gavin Colville said.
“He didn’t play a lot of junior football and then at 17 or 18 he decided to put a bit into it before having a knee reconstruction which set him back. He then had a fantastic year for Unley last year.
“We heard about him through one of our past players., Daniel Caire, who played with him last season and he suggested he could play league football, so we invited him to pre-season training.
“He’s been a fantastic addition to our club and while he was a bit raw at the start, once he found his feet his assets really came to the fore, his marking, intercept marking and rebounding.’’
The AFL will host combines in each State and Territory for a total of 96 male and 82 female players.
The SA camps will be held on Wednesday, September 30.
Duval has been joined in the elite squad by fellow mature-age SANFL recruit Tom Highmore from South Adelaide.
The 22-year-old rebounding defender from Canberra starred in the opening six rounds before suffering a knee injury against Norwood.
The 18 teenagers are headlined by potential No. 1 pick Riley Thilthorpe from West.
Crows father-son prospect Luke Edwards and Next Generation Academy candidates James Borlase (Sturt) and Tariek Newchurch (North Adelaide) also have been invited to the combine, along with Port Adelaide NGA hope Lachlan Jones (Eagles) and Power father-son prospect Taj Schofield.
2020 SANFL AFL DRAFT COMBINE
Boys squad: Corey Durdin (Central District), Kaine Baldwin. Luke Edwards, Luke Pedlar, Xavier Robbins (Glenelg), Tariek Newchurch (North Adelaide), Brayden Cook, Zac Dumesny, Tom Highmore, Phoenix Spicer (South Adelaide), James Borlase, Malachy Carruthers, Tom Powell (Sturt), Mitchell Duval, Jye Sinderberry, Riley Thilthorpe (West Adelaide), Lachlan Jones, Caleb Poulter, Taj Schofield, Henry Smith (Woodville-West Torrens).
Girls squad: Amber Ward, Ashleigh Woodland (North Adelaide), Teah Charlton, Indy Tahau (South Adelaide).
HUNTER IN THE LIMELIGHT
Paul Hunter is relishing being the main man.
After four years at Adelaide stuck behind Sam Jacobs and Reilly O’Brien in the AFL ruck pecking order and sharing SANFL duties with a handful of other teammates, Hunter is loving his new responsibility of trying to lead South Adelaide to its first premiership since 1964.
“I love being handed a big challenge, it brings out the best in me,’’ said Hunter, who was cut by the Crows last year and joined the Panthers from the VFL mid-season.
“Jarrad Wright (South coach) has given me licence to show the way, to use my centre bounce expertise, and being the main man in the middle has been really beneficial for me.’’
The 27-year-old, 200cm powerhouse has been the SANFL’s dominant ruckman since debuting for third-placed South in round eight.
Hunter started his second sojourn in the SANFL by starring against top-of-the-table Woodville-West Torrens, with 24 disposals, nine marks, nine clearances and 22 hit-outs.
He followed with a strong display against premier Glenelg and was brilliant against Central District last Saturday.
In his three games he has averaged 18 disposals, six marks, six clearances and 28 hit-outs.
“It’s been a good start, I’ve been getting better each week and have been given a new lease of life at South,’’ Hunter said.
“Hopefully I can help the club break that long premiership drought.’’
Born in Newcastle, Hunter was selected as a mature-age pick-up by Adelaide at pick 13 at the 2015 rookie draft from Queensland NEAFL club Redland.
But he failed to play an AFL game in four years on the list – serious ankle and foot injuries which required surgery in his last two years hurt his chances – before he was delisted.
He laments his lack of opportunities at West Lakes.
“It was frustrating,’’ Hunter said.
“I’m a very competitive person and not getting a run in the ones was tough. I felt I was improving every year but didn’t get an opportunity to show it, which was disappointing because my history is that every time I’ve been thrown a challenge I’ve risen to it.
“But there’s no hard feelings because the club was a big part of my life and I have some lifelong mates there now.’’
Hunter had offers from several SANFL clubs when he was cut by the Crows but, feeling “gutted’’, he wanted out of Adelaide and a chance to “test myself’’ against AFL ruckmen in the VFL.
He joined Williamstown but never played a game after the VFL season was cancelled because of COVID-19.
Then South, which tried to sign Hunter before the Crows drafted him, made its season-shaping move.
“They had been tracking me for about seven years and the opportunity to come back and play here was too good to refuse,’’ said Hunter.
While a Panthers flag is now at the top of his wishlist, Hunter hasn’t given up on his AFL dream.
“I’ve made a lot of sacrifices in my life to play AFL and I don’t want to be left on zero games,’’ he said.
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BORLASE SHINES IN SANFL DEBUT
Sturt coach Nathan Grima has hailed the league debut of much-hyped Crows academy prospect James Borlase, describing it as “great’’.
Unleashed for the first time on the big stage against West Adelaide at Richmond Oval on Friday night, the 18-year-old defender shone with 14 disposals, six marks and a crucial, late goal-saving tackle that would have had the Crows licking their lips.
“It was a great debut by the kid,’’ Grima said.
“James is a great lad and I was really pleased with the way he went about it, he didn’t get overawed by the situation and looked really self-assured at the level.’’
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This means Adelaide, which has access to multicultural players in its zone (including Sturt), can match any bid for him at this year’s draft.
Borlase is ineligible to join Port as a father-son selection because Darryl fell short of the required minimum of 200 games before the Power’s AFL entry in 1997, with 167.
The jury has been out on how high the well-built, 191cm, 88kg backman will go in the draft.
But Grima said his standing would have been enhanced by his polished league debut where he showcased his ability to play on both talls and smalls as Sturt stormed back from a 27-point deficit to win by seven points.
TOP 30: SA’S HOTTEST AFL DRAFT PROSPECTS FOR 2020
“We wanted to play him earlier in the year but he was sore after a school game (for Prince Alfred College), so he had to wait a little longer for an opportunity,’’ Grima said.
“He’s going to be a top kid, he’s worked very hard this year to improve his game and intercept marking and it was great that his first possession against West was an intercept mark,
where he had the confidence to come off his man and float across the pack.
“James marked the ball well when he should have and he played on some key and small forwards because they played a small forward line, which is good for his development.
“He would have shown recruiters he’s more than capable of sizing up and down, which is great.’’
Grima described Borlase as “not overly tall for a key defender’’ but said he had “long arms and great wingspan’’.
“He’s a quiet and respectful kid but you can tell he’s got a bit of inner confidence by the way he plays and comes off his man,’’ he said.
“That big tackle he laid in the last minute to slow West up was really important.’’
Borlase has elite sporting pedigree, with his mum, Jenny, being a triple Netball World Cup winner for Australia and 1998 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
“Obviously he comes from a really good sporting background, with his mum and dad, they are lovely people and don’t impose too much on his stuff at Sturt,’’ Grima said.
“They sit back and let him be a kid, enjoy his footy and listen to his coaches.
“Being an Adelaide Crows NGA player they’ll get first crack at him and hopefully he gets an opportunity there because he could become a really good key defender in the AFL.’’
GOOD REDLEGS STILL IN THE HUNT
Just when some pundits were ready to hand the premiership cup to Woodville-West Torrens this season, a re-energised Norwood made a big statement at The Parade.
The Redlegs upset 40-point win against the Eagles on Friday night was super impressive and not only keeps their finals hopes alive but illustrated they could be a serious player in the finals.
But supporters could well be asking which is the true Norwood?
After lacklustre games against Glenelg and North Adelaide when they were beaten by a combined 85 points, the Redlegs struggled early against the top-of-the-table Eagles, conceding the first three goals, before hitting top gear.
They kicked 7.2 to 1.2 in the second term to seemingly come from nowhere before winning easily.
Usual suspects Richard Douglas, Ryan Bastinac, Brad McKenzie and Matt Panos – all former AFL players – had big games but the subtle change in use of Nik Rokahr from defender to the midfield proved telling as Rokahr chalked up a season-high 34 disposals.
He also used the ball superbly and boasts a remarkable 91.2 per cent disposal efficiency for the year.
Could this move be the one that finally brings consistency to Jarrod Cotton’s outfit?
HUNTER KEEPS PANTHERS ON THE PROWL
Former Adelaide Crows ruckman Paul Hunter’s mid-season signing by South Adelaide from the VFL might prove to be one of the recruiting coups of the year.
After losing high quality big man Keegan Brooksby late in the pre-season to Hawthorn, Hunter’s arrival from Williamstown after the VFL season was cancelled because of Victoria's COVID-19 crisis has already proved a masterstroke by the Panthers.
And it could pay even bigger dividends in the finals in October.
In the win against a spirited Central District at Noarlunga Oval on Saturday, Hunter had an impressive 19 disposals, six marks, 30 hit-outs, seven clearances, eight inside-50s and kicked a goal.
But it’s not just his raw stats that have stood out but his presence and physicality.
He made an immediate impact in his first game in Panther colours against the Eagles in round eight to be best on ground and has been a standout ever since, inspiring his smaller teammates.
WEAVER’S REMARKABLE LONG BOMB
Central didn’t have much joy in the last quarter against South but Dylan’s Weaver booming 75-metre goal was a big highlight.
After receiving a handball from teammate Murray Stephenson on the grandstand side of the Noarlunga Oval centre square, Weaver let fly with the wind and his kick cleared the forward line pack and bounced twice times before crossing the goalline.
Bulldogs coach Jeff Andrews described it as “definitely the longest goal I have seen kicked’’.
“I think he (Weaver) was just trying to get the ball moving to our forwards but it just went on and on and on,’’ Andrews said.
“Dylan’s been a young lad who has worked his way into the league side and has done well. I think he might get a bit of a razzing about the goal at training this week.’’
TIGER CUB SHOWS HIS CLAWS
Former Sturt forward Tom Condon might prove to be an astute pick up by Glenelg.
In an off-season signing which largely flew under the radar, the 23-year-old mid-sized forward impressed in his debut for the Tigers in their thrilling two-point upset win against North at Prospect Oval on Sunday.
Condon, who kicked seven goals in six games for the Double Blues last year, gave Glenelg a much-needed spark by kicking goals with his first two kicks in his new colours in the first quarter.
He finished with 15 disposals and two majors in an impressive first-up display for a team which has been looking for another forward option.
Condon earned promotion after kicking eight goals in the reserves against South Adelaide the previous week.
SCOREBOARDS
STURT 3.0 3.0 7.1 10.1 (61)
WEST 2.1 5.2 7.5 8.6 (54)
BEST – Sturt: Battersby, Slimming, Evans, Colquhoun, Davis, Kirkwood. West: Boyle, Stevens, Waite, Anderson, Turner, Morrish.
GOALS – Sturt: Evans 3, Johnson 2, Battersby, Crocker, M. Lochowiak, McEntee, Henderson.
West: Ellem 2, Keough, Koster, Morrish, Boyle, Hupfeld, Waite.
UMPIRES – Bennett, Harris, Scott.
CROWD – 1505 at Richmond Oval.
NORWOOD 1.2 8.4 10.8 12.12 (84)
EAGLES 3.3 4.5 4.6 6.8 (44)
BEST – Norwood: Rokahr, Douglas, Bastinac, McKenzie, Panos, Grigg, Ball, Shenton. Eagles: Poole, Sinor, McNeil, Foote, Redden.
GOALS – Norwood: Pinyon 3, Panos, Douglas, Wilson 2, Barry, Grigg, Bampton. Eagles: Redden 2, Rowe, Poole, N. Hayes, Carcuro.
UMPIRES – Bowen, Bryce, Morgan.
CROWD – 2068 at Norwood Oval.
SOUTH 5.7 6.10 10.16 14.19 (103)
CENTRAL 2.1 6.4 8.4 10.6 (66)
BEST – South: Heaslip, Haines, Hunter, McKinnon, Schwarz, Cross, Andrews. Central: Boyd, J. Schiller, Habel, Butcher, Hoskin.
GOALS – South: Wilkinson 3, Andrews, Fitt, Heaslip 2, Brown, Hunter, Overall, McCreery, Cross. Central: Barreau, Kelly 2, McLean, Butcher, Olsson, Hoskin, O’Brien, Weaver.
INJURIES – South: Loneragan (back), Juckers (corked thigh).
UMPIRES – Beyer, Hundertmark, Sobieraj.
CROWD – 1034 at Noarlunga Oval.
GLENELG 3.7 6.7 10.10 10.11 (71)
NORTH 2.0 4.4 6.7 10.9 (69)
BEST – Glenelg: Partington, Snook, Parks, Nicholson, Park, Allen, Bailey, Reynolds. North: Allmond, Wigg, Hender, Moore, Jarman, Spina.
GOALS – Glenelg: Bailey 3, McBean, Condon 2, Reynolds, Kuller, Allen. North: Hender 3, Young, Ramsey, Allmond, Moore, Davies, Spina, Miller.
INJURIES – Glenelg: Motlop, Agnew (ankles).
UMPIRES – Burke, Lewis, Crosby.
CROWD – 1977 at Prospect Oval.