SANFL 2016: Glenelg pull off 19-point win over Crows in Round 16

TIM Sumner and Terry Milera lit up SANFL Indigenous Round as Glenelg shocked Adelaide at the Bay Sunday.

Terry Milera takes a screamer in the second quarter. Picture: Mark Brake.

TIM Sumner and Terry Milera lit up SANFL Indigenous Round as Glenelg shocked Adelaide at the Bay Sunday.

The former AFL pair illustrated their freakish talent around goal to keep the Tigers’ slim finals hopes alive and put a major dent in the Crows’ top-three aspirations.

Milera and Sumner, who played at St Kilda and Gold Coast respectively, kicked four goals each as improved and spirited Glenelg surpassed its win total of last year.

The 19-point victory was the Bays’ fifth of the season after they won just four and had a draw last season.

Coach Matthew Lokan hailed it as the best win in his two years in charge and heaped praise on his indigenous trio Sumner, Milera and Willie Rioli, who was quieter yesterday but has enjoyed a standout campaign.

“They are unbelievable,’’ Lokan said of Milera and Sumner. “Their ability to be able to cover the ground is outstanding, that’s their strength, but they’ve also got the ability to take marks in a contest as well.

“Tim’s going to cause some headaches in some forward lines when we can get him fitter and Terry bobbed up with four (goals) as well.

“They are a big strength of ours and we know we need to get as much out of Terry and Tim as we can for us to be a good side and I thought Willie, while he didn’t have the impact offensively with the ball, his pressure was really good.

“Our indigenous boys are an important part of our team and I suppose the barometer of where we’re at.’’

Glenelg, which upset another top-three contender, South Adelaide, last week, fought back from a three-goal second-quarter deficit to dominate the second half against a side fielding 15 AFL-listed players. It took control of the centre square, winning centre clearances 17-9 and total clearances 36-24, despite the Crows getting big games from classy midfielders Mitch Grigg (28 disposals and three goals) and Magarey Medal contender Cam Ellis-Yolmen (32 disposals).

Riley McFarlane, hard-running Jake Johansen, Lachie Earl and Matthew Snook all had a big influence while Christian Howard was superb across half-back, with 28 of his 30 disposals hitting the target.

Key forward Josh Scott again performed at a high level, taking seven strong marks and kicking two goals.

Adelaide coach Heath Younie described the defeat as a “wake-up call’’ for his side.

“Glenelg came to play, put some great pressure on us, a lot of numbers around the ball and out-hunted us around the contest,’’ he said.

“On this (small) ground that gives you field position and it’s really hard to score out of your back half. It was lost at the contest and then they got us on the outside.”

SCOREBOARD

GLENELG 1.5 7.6 12.10 15.11 (101)

ADELAIDE 4.3 8.7 9.8 12.10 (82)

BEST — Glenelg: Howard, Johansen, Sumner, Milera, McFarlane, Scott, Earl, Redden. Adelaide: Grigg, Ellis-Yolmen, Wigg, O’Brien, Kelly, Beech.

GOALS — Glenelg: Sumner, Milera 4, Scott, Vitkunas 2, Reinbrecht, McGinty, Scharenberg. Adelaide: Grigg, Beech 3, O’Brien 2, Greenwood, Milera, Ramsey, Hunter.

INJURIES — Adelaide: Carey (ankle).

UMPIRES — A. Crosby, A. Bennett, T. Medlin.

CROWD — 2849

5 SANFL STANDOUTS

MITCH GRIGG

Adelaide’s most influential player with 28 disposals and an equal team-high three goals. Also had five clearances to round off a terrific day’s work.

CAM ELLIS-YOLMEN

Continued his outstanding SANFL season with a game-high 32 disposals, seven marks and seven clearances. Can’t do much more to earn an AFL recall but might have to wait for an injury to get a look in.

HARRISON WIGG

Playmaking half-back continues to show why Adelaide used a second-round draft pick on him. Had 27 disposals and as usual used the ball well with his classy left-foot kick.

REILLY O’BRIEN

Strong performance in the ruck, which included 20 of the Crows’ 33 hit-outs. Also kicked two goals and appears to have a bright future.

JAKE KELLY

With dad Craig watching from the sidelines, Kelly was solid in the back half and was one of the Adelaide defenders who helped quell Willie Rioli’s influence. Also had 20 disposals.