Five things we learnt from SANFL Round 5: Crow Chayce Jones makes his mark in defence

Adelaide has thrown first-round pick Chayce Jones into defence to try and help him regain form. Read that and more in our Round 5 SANFL wrap.

Chayce Jones is hoping a new role in defence can help him break back into the Crows’ AFL line-up. Picture: Sarah Reed

Crows SANFL coach Michael Godden has hailed Chayce Jones the defender, saying he took “a big step forward’’ in his development against Sturt on Sunday.

Recruited as a midfielder by Adelaide with pick nine at the 2018 national draft, Jones is being trialled as a half-back flanker after a tough start to the year in his customary on-ball role and he played his best game of the season in the one-point loss to the Double Blues.

Handed kick-in duties, Jones had a season-high 20 disposals, including a team-best 15 in the first half.

“I really liked Chayce’s game,’’ Godden said after Sturt forward Ash Johnson won the game at Unley Oval with a late goal.

“It’s a new area for him, playing down back, but he was really good, it was a big step forward for Chayce.’’

Crows SANFL coach Michael Godden. Picture: Sarah Reed

Tasmanian Jones, who was controversially taken before Port Adelaide dynamos Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma in the first round of the 2018 “Superdraft’’, had averaged just 12 disposals in his previous four SANFL games this season, prompting the club to try a new position.

“In the midfield it just wasn’t quite working for him,’’ Godden said.

“So we thought we’d give him an opportunity off halfback where you can get a good look at the game.

“You think back to all the great halfbacks, even at our footy club in the era of Mark Ricciuto, Mark Bickley, Andrew McLeod and Simon Goodwin, going from midfield to halfback is a pretty easy change for some guys.

“It’s really good for them to get that confidence back and see the game played in front of them and Chayce took his opportunities.

“To see him get some handball receives and short 45s, that’s what we want to see from Chayce.

“Sturt looked after him a bit more in the second half but you could see what we can see.

“That is that he can read the ball pretty well, he’s tough over the footy and he uses it well.’’

Jones, who had been given plenty od midfield opportunities in the opening month of the season, did not attend one centre bounce against Sturt.

Most impressive against the Double Blues was the 21-year-old’s willingness to run and carry the ball from the back half.

Jones, who has played 24 AFL games but only one this year, has managed to record double-figure disposals in just 10 of those matches, with a career-high of 18 against the Western Bulldogs in round 23, 2019.

But there were promising signs of better days ahead in his new role on the weekend.

Patrick Wilson in action for Sturt. Picture: Sarah Reed

Star sturt recruit gone for year

Sturt has been dealt a major blow, with star recruit Patrick Wilson ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

The former Crows midfielder, who was the Double Blues’ prized off-season recruit, is to have the shoulder reconstructed after having it pop out of its socket twice – in the pre-season and against West Adelaide in round three.

The 2019 Magarey Medal runner-up with Adelaide and 2017 Sturt premiership player, on-ball powerhouse Wilson played less than half a game of the 2021 home-and-away season with the Double Blues.

The 26-year-old injured his shoulder for the second time in a matter of weeks early in the second term against the Bloods, where he had illustrated his quality with 14 disposals, four clearances and a goal in just over a quarter.

“We’ve made the call to put Wilson in for surgery,’’ Sturt coach Martin Mattner said after his side's thrilling one-point win against Adelaide at Unley Oval on Sunday.

“It's not worth the risk of him continually popping that shoulder out, so we'll just get him right for next year.

“He’ll get the surgery done in the next few weeks and be right for pre-season next year.

“It will be a full reco, which is disappointing for him and the club, but it will provide a great opportunity for some of our kids to play more game time.’’

McBean's spin move or the last 2 goals of the Sturt v Adelaide match... 🔥

1️⃣ Liam McBean (@GlenelgFC)
2️⃣ Mitch Marini (@Adelaide_FC)
3️⃣ Ash Johnson (@SturtFC)

We're torn for the @Ch7Adelaide Goal of the Week so it's up to you to decide. Vote now ➡️ https://t.co/SW9XuZo0V2 ⬅️ pic.twitter.com/VqJFMqyZnY

— SANFL (@SANFL) May 3, 2021

Mattner said Wilson, who has a history of shoulder problems and would have been in SA’s State team to play WA at Adelaide Oval this month if he was fit, would still have an important role to play at the club.

“He’ll help in the coaches box, with a focus on the midfield,’’ he said.

“We want to keep him around the club and keep him involved because he’s such an experienced player and a really important part of the group.’’

Dual Sturt premiership coach Mattner, who has returned to the club this year after losing his assistant coach’s job at the Crows during last year’s COVID-19 cutbacks, is rebuilding the team with youth after it lost a host of experienced players at the end of last season.

The Blues have a 2-3 win-loss record but have been hit by injuries to key players.

While Wilson is the big loss, The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year key defender Sam Wundke has been sidelined with a rib injury and dual premiership player Matthew Crocker missed the Crows clash with concussion.

Two talls were also injured in the thrilling win against Adelaide, with key forward-ruckman Daniel Fahey-Sparks suffering a hamstring injury and tall defender OIiver Grivell a knee injury, which the club hopes is minor.

“We’re getting better each week but we’re a young side so it’s going to take time,’’ Mattner said.

“We need to give our younger group game time but they are getting better and understanding what it takes. They just need to do the basics and fundamentals for longer in games.’’

Norwood’s Harry Boyd sends the ball deep into attack against South Adelaide on Friday night. Picture: Dean Martin

Rawlings makes his mark

Norwood coach Jade Rawlings made an immediate impact in his first season in the job when the Redlegs conquered Port Adelaide in the SANFL season opener at The Parade.

Last Thursday, he had the competition talking again when he made the bombshell call to drop dual Magarey Medallist Mitch Grigg for the home clash against South Adelaide the following night.

“Griggy’’ is a hero among the Redlegs faithful and it was a brave decision in the early days of Rawlings’ new role.

Rawlings said he won’t discriminate among the players, whether it be age or history in the game.

No-one is off limits and he noted last week that experienced midfield speedster Dom Barry was also sent back to the reserves after some indifferent form, which saw Norwood drop consecutive matches after winning its first two.

“I’m going to keep picking a team that is the right one based on performances, behaviours and ability to play your part,” Rawlings said.

Unconventional but effective strategy on the mark here, Michael 😧

Despite the commentary we'd love to see it again 🥰@GlenelgFCpic.twitter.com/yEUNeNUWVh

— SANFL (@SANFL) May 3, 2021

“We have had good conversations about what we need from Mitch. Give him his dues, it wasn’t a flippant decision, but his acceptance, clearly he was disappointed and let’s be frank, he did not like it.

“But the way he treated me and the way he went about it, performed and invested into the team tonight (Friday) was really pleasing.”

There is no time line for a return to league action for Grigg.

“It might be one week, might be three, nothing is set,” Rawlings said.

“Go back, recapture your form and play where I need you to play.”

The Redlegs reserves line-up included Grigg, Barry, Zac Richards, Peter Bampton and Michael Talia and they lost to the previously winless Panthers.

Rawlings is backing his youngsters and Jack Heard, Cameron Ball, Isaac Saywell and Jacob Collins had roles in defence which quietened the Panthers’ attack.

Then there was Xavier Tranfa kicking a goal in his league debut.

West Adelaide’s Connor Fairlie breaks away from the Central District pack at Richmond Oval on Saturday. Picture: Dean Martin

Forward thinking

West Adelaide on Saturday claimed consecutive wins for the first time since rounds 13 and 14 in 2018 with a hard-fought 24-point victory against Central District at home.

A key aspect of the Bloods’ revival after three losses to start the season has been the strong form of skipper Tom Keough after his move from defence into attack.

Keough had been a staple of the West backline, but coach Brad Gotch says the 29-year-old was now shaping to be a big part of the club’s forward plans this season.

“It seems to be his best position, he just steadies us up there,” Gotch said.

“We kicked 13 goals and we usually average nine. Tom is that physical presence up forward that can actually kick a goal himself and make the other guys walk taller.’’

Keough sparked the Bloods on Saturday, booting four goals as they overcame a 17-point third quarter deficit.

“He had a phenomenal second half, he kicked three goals and took a few strong grabs,” Gotch said.

“He helped bring the ball to ground for our smalls and got others involved and really led from the front.”

Keough adds more potency to an emerging Bloods forward line, featuring veteran Jono Beech, reigning best and fairest Isaac Johnson and former Gold Coast Suns academy prospect Josh Gore.

Gore played his best game for West against the Bulldogs, racking up 22 disposals and two goals.

“He’s a beauty, he’s got great fitness and he knows where the goals are, which is really

important,” Gotch said.

Eagles premiership coach Jade Sheedy lays down the law to his charges during the 10-goal defeat to Port Adelaide. Picture: Matt Loxton

Eagles’ attacking woes

Reigning premier Woodville-West Torrens will be keen to see the return of a few goalkicking options against South Adelaide this week after struggling to have any scoreboard impact against Port Adelaide on Sunday.

The Eagles – shockingly smashed by the Magpies by 10 goals at Alberton Oval – could only manage 4.4 after quarter-time when the game appeared evenly poised.

This was a far cry from the 24.11 they kicked against Adelaide just two weeks ago when they had 11 goalkickers.

However, the premiers went into the game without a trio of key forwards – Daniel Menzel, Clay Cameron and Jack Hayes – through injury.

They contributed 20 goals between them in the first four rounds.

While Troy Menzel’s three was easily the best of the day for the losers, his second came from a free kick and his third deep in fourth quarter junk time when Port was 10 goals up.

He may not have scored a goal himself, but small forward excitement machine Tyson Stengle, who had 16 disposals, was at least creative and set up a few majors with some silky assists.

His deft pass to Cooper Sharman was perhaps the sharpest pass inside 50 of the day.

With Glenelg now 5-0 and a game clear on top of the ladder, the premiers have some work to do.