Glenelg tipped to snap seven-year finals drought in 2019 SANFL season predictions
Glenelg fans have had to endure an impatient for finals action, but is this the year of the Tigers? Our SANFL writers make their predictions for season 2019.
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Glenelg supporters have had a little extra spring in the step this summer and there is a definite optimism hanging over the Tigers.
Fans from every club, every season, harbour hopes this could be the year and those wearing the black and gold scarf are no different. But there has been more frustration for the Tigers’ faithful than most.
The Bays haven’t been in the finals since 2011. It has been 33 years since a Glenelg flag. But, just maybe, the premiership drought could finally be snapped.
The Tigers claimed their final six games last season with their victims including eventual premier North Adelaide, reigning premier Sturt and finalist South Adelaide.
They were the hottest team for the second half of the season and if there is such a thing as a bandwagon, the numbers jumping on it are continuing to grow.
Recruiting has been impressive with Cory Gregson and Luke Partington signing and Liam McBean and Brad Agnew returning.
The Roosters enter the opening round as reigning premiers after a stunning run to the flag.
But, and this is a big but, can North defend the title after being forced to start the season two games behind the field as penalty for having an extra player on the field in the preliminary final?
It adds a hurdle to the challenge already made tougher by the loss of a raft of key personnel in the draft.
Norwood and Woodville-Torrens will enter the season angry.
The 2018 premiership was the Redlegs’ for the taking, the red-hot favourites before being derailed by the Roosters in the grand final.
The Eagles were fuming after being denied a grand final berth by the Roosters. They had the game on toast, leading by 47 points in the second quarter.
And then there was the extra Rooster on the ground to start the final quarter.
After back-to-back flags, Sturt was seriously hurt by injuries to big names come finals time last year.
The Double Blues have a new coach in Nathan Grima and will rely on those big names being healthy.
South Adelaide conquered the Roosters in both minor round games last season, only to get stage fright in the final quarter of the elimination final.
West Adelaide has recruited well, Central District is something of an unknown factor and then there are the two AFL clubs.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide were smashed by injuries last year.
They will be dangerous if their AFL lists can avoid the same fate this season.
WARREN PARTLAND
1: Eagles
2: Norwood
3: Sturt
4: Adelaide
5: Glenelg
6: Port Adelaide
7: West Adelaide
8: South Adelaide
9: North Adelaide
10: Central District
“Woodville-West Torrens has brought in some very handy recruits and while Sam Lonergan is just a young coach, he has an outstanding reputation.
“The Eagles have the list to end the frustration for fans. And long-suffering Glenelg supporters should be optimistic of finally getting some major round action.
“However, it does appear an extremely open race for the flag.”
PATRICK KEAM
1: Norwood
2: Eagles
3: Sturt
4: Glenelg
5: West Adelaide
6: Adelaide
7: North Adelaide
8: South Adelaide
9: Port Adelaide
10: Central District
“Norwood should once again lead the pack and to go one better than last year’s grand final loss. The Eagles are the Redlegs’ main challengers but it’s an open field after that.
“Sturt is a bit of an unknown under Nathan Grima, Glenelg looks better but still needs to prove itself and Westies have the capability to make the five in Gavin Colville’s second year at the helm.
“I’m predicting a tight battle at the bottom of the ladder. The side taking home the wooden spoon will be unlucky.”
DANIELA ABBRACCIAVENTO
1: Sturt
2: Norwood
3: Glenelg
4: Eagles
5: Port Adelaide
6: North Adelaide
7: West Adelaide
8: South Adelaide
9: Central District
10: Adelaide
“I think the competition will be much stronger overall this year with the amount of recruiting most clubs have done and because of that, predicting where they would finish was extremely tough for me.
“Glenelg is my smoky for the year. The Tigers haven’t made finals since 2011, so it’s been a long time coming.
“I watched a fair few of their games last year and liked the way Mark Stone coached.
“He’s recruited well and the team won the last six games of 2018, so I reckon the Tigers will build on that momentum.”
MATT TURNER
1: Eagles
2: Norwood
3: Sturt
4: West Adelaide
5: South Adelaide
6: North Adelaide
7: Adelaide
8: Central District
9: Glenelg
10: Port Adelaide
“Ladder predictions are never easy and we have been made to look like fools before – safe to say West Adelaide and North Adelaide’s premierships were major surprises to us all.
“But I feel Woodville-West Torrens is well placed to win a premiership in Sam Lonergan’s first year after recruiting well on paper and I expect Norwood and Sturt to be around the mark again.
“North, starting two wins back from everyone else, will fall just short of the finals.
“I reckon West may rise into the top five after adding plenty of talent but I am not as high on Glenelg as my colleagues. Picking the wooden spooner is always difficult – I went with Port, believing injuries will severely test its depth.”
ROB GREENWOOD
1: Norwood
2: Sturt
3: Eagles
4: Glenelg
5: Port
6: North Adelaide
7: West Adelaide
8: Adelaide
9: South Adelaide
10: Central District
“The pain of last season’s grand final defeat has burned all summer for Norwood and will spur it on to its 31st premiership.
“Coach Jarrod Cotton’s Redlegs have depth and talent in spades, and led by the outstanding Mitch Grigg, will be the team to beat.
“North Adelaide’s point deduction will make an already tricky flag defence more challenging, but expect it to still be in finals contention.
“Glenelg will be the big improvers, while it might be a long campaign ahead for Central District.”
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