Glenelg hits top of SANFL ladder after dealing Sturt 61-point thrashing
GLENELG showed its shock round-one win over Port Adelaide was no fluke with a 61-point thrashing of reigning premier Sturt on Friday.
GLENELG showed its shock round-one win over Port Adelaide was no fluke with a 61-point thrashing of reigning premier Sturt on Friday.
The Tigers shot to the top of the SANFL ladder after the 20.11 (131) to 11.4 (70) victory played out in front of a healthy Good Friday crowd at Glenelg Oval.
The hosts trailed by as much as 20 points late in the second quarter, but stormed back thanks to an eight-goal-to-one third term.
A 31-point advantage at the final break turned into a 10-goal winning margin as Glenelg ran riot with a further six fourth-term majors to leave Sturt searching for answers.
Half-forward Josh Scott, big man Liam McBean and off-season recruit Dom Barry booted three goals each as the Tigers swamped the Double Blues with pinpoint kicking and dogged pressure on the ball after the main break.
Ben Sawford (31 disposals) was relentless for Glenelg, while Carl Nicholson (29 disposals, two goals) and Matthew Snook (25 disposals, one goals) were strong in an impressive all-round team display.
Sturt, which looked in control at halftime, faded badly and remained winless following last Sunday’s two-point loss to Adelaide.
Kory Beard booted five goals and Sam Colquhoun (33 disposals) worked hard for the Double Blues on a day to forget for coach Marty Mattner’s side.
Glenelg was without defender Rhys O’Keefe who picked up a hamstring injury in the rousing win over the Magpies.
But it more than matched Sturt in a free-flowing opening term that finished all square as the sides went goal-for-goal.
Tom Read and Scott McMahon goaled early to give the Double Blues a buffer.
The high-flying Scott took a commanding contested mark and kicked truly from a tight angle to register the Tigers’ first score.
Forward Beard grabbed two goals for Sturt, one with a booming kick from 50m, either side of a slick pick-up and dribbled major from the lively Ian Milera.
Glenelg grew as the quarter wore on and drew level late in the term thanks to big McBean and another by Scott.
The visitors flexed their muscle in a four-goal second term on the back of cleaner marking and superior accuracy in front of goal.
Beard, Byron Sumner and ruckman Jack Osborn kicked truly, but Nicholson goaled for the Tigers in time on to reduce the margin to 10 points at the main break.
Glenelg turned the tables in the third term as two goals in two minutes by Ziggy Vitkunas put the Tigers in front for the first time.
Teenager Alex Martini and Barry got in on the act before Scott took an early contender for mark of the year and kicked confidently from 45m.
Barry won a free kick and kept his nerve after the siren to hand Glenelg a 31-point advantage which was never threatened in a dominant final term.