Monday Recovery: Our wrap of Round 7 action in the SANFL
KEEGAN Brooksby stands tall for South Adelaide, Port reserves’ nightmare week, and AFL clubs holding up the ladder in the SANFL as we reflect on Round Seven in our Monday Recovery.
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- Sweet revenge for Bloods
- Redlegs raise the bar
- Sturt’s McAdam impresses against Central
- Tigers’ tackling frenzy sets up win
- Panthers upset high-flying Roosters
KEEGAN Brooksby stands tall for South Adelaide, Port reserves’ nightmare week, and AFL clubs holding up the ladder in the SANFL as we reflect on Round Seven in our Monday Recovery.
BROOKSBY ON TOP
THERE were a few eyebrows raised down Noarlunga way when ruckman Keegan Brooksby was overlooked for the state team contest against the WAFL.
Central District’s Darcy Fort was the preferred option in the ruck with North Adelaide’s Alex Barns his sidekick.
So the Panthers got to test their beliefs when they took on the Roosters at Prospect Oval on Saturday. And it was Brooksby who emerged as the winner, named in his side’s best performers as the Panthers enjoyed a 37-point win.
PORT BLEEDING POINTS
WEST Adelaide reserves has won its past two games by a combined 271 points, and Port Adelaide has been the victim both times.
Last week, the Bloods had a 136-point victory and then beat Port by 135 at Alberton Oval on Sunday.
It is a strange twist in the draw, the two teams being programmed to meet in successive weeks.
The same scenario occurred for the Bloods’ women’s team when it took on North Adelaide two weeks in a row, while their under 18 outfit met Glenelg in consecutive week.
By the way, Port league coach Matthew Lokan was the runner for the reserves team in the first meeting against the Bloods.
Here is my theory. Port don’t want an SANFL reserves team and the SANFL don’t want Port to have a reserves team. But neither want to be first to blink and make the call.
CATCH TOBIAS!
WOODVILLE-WEST Torrens defender Paul Stewart realised his mistake too late when he let go the handball early in the contest against Norwood.
The only person standing on the wing capable of receiving the pass was umpire Tobias Medlin, known as Toby in his previous life as a runner.
Obviously Stewart had caught a glimpse of someone in his peripheral vision and thought it was a teammate.
He started in defence, but Stewart got to spend time on the ball running with the Redlegs’ in-form Mitch Grigg.
WHITE INJURY
JESSE White must be in some doubt for the battle against Sturt at Unley Oval on Saturday after being concussed in the second quarter of the win over Adelaide at the Bay on the weekend.
The ruckman/forward copped an accidental knock, but was feeling much better on Sunday morning.
White has been forced to leave the ground a few times in his debut season with the Tigers because of injury concerns.
. @GlenelgFC Jesse White being stretchered off at the Bay v @Adelaide_FC . Copped a head/shoulder knock. pic.twitter.com/Cd1GE7UHqM
— Andrew Capel (@andrewcapel) May 19, 2018
ONLY WAY IS UP
So after Round Seven, the AFL reserves sides are at the bottom of the ladder.
Port opened with two wins, only to draw with the Eagles then drop its next three games. The big difference, there were 14 AFL-listed players in the side against the Bloods at Alberton Oval on Sunday.
In the opening round against Adelaide there were 17 AFL boys in the line-up.
As for the Crows, it is probably quicker to name those players not on the injury list and not surprisingly, they have dropped all seven games.
ON THE BANDWAGON
It was a big Saturday for Norwood. First the Redlegs showed off their capabilities with the impressive win over the Eagles at Woodville Oval, then they celebrated the elevation of five club Legends.
OFF THE BANDWAGON
Maybe the loss is a good thing for Eagles coach Micky Godden because it gave him a little snapshot of what has been happening in the finals in recent years. There are some common factors.
LADDER
1 North Adelaide 10 55.10%
2 Eagles 9 54.32
3 Sturt 8 54.72
4 South Adelaide 8 52.90
5 Norwood 8 52.41
6 Central District 6 53.86
7 Glenelg 6 51.47
8 West Adelaide 6 41.54
9 Port Adelaide 5 51.01
10 Adelaide 0 32.36
RANKINGS
1: Norwood: The Redlegs were always going to put together a performance like the one at Woodville Oval after adding more big names over the summer. They seem to have the Eagles measure, winning the past four contests.
2: West Adelaide: It had been five years since the Bloods got a win at Alberton Oval and they did it in style. The Noble boys are establishing themselves as handy league players, John at the Bloods and Mark at South Adelaide.
3: South Adelaide: The loss of Sam Overall failed to halt the Panthers and they got the job done against in-form North Adelaide at Prospect Oval.
4: Sturt: Overcame a sloppy first quarter to get the win over Central District in Elizabeth, again without Aidan Riley.
5: Glenelg: With Adelaide depleted because of injury, there was no surprises at the Bay when the Tigers got the chocolates.
6: Central District: Had a great first quarter, as has been the case all season, and showed fight in the final term. But too much inconsistency in between.
7: Port Adelaide: Down on AFL personnel, but challenged the Bloods in the third quarter.
8: North Adelaide: Had been on a roll and looked okay early against the Panthers.
9: Adelaide: Just do not have the personnel to win at this level with so many injuries at the club.
10: Eagles: Took it to the Redlegs early, but once the visitors got on top, especially in the midfield, the fat lady started to sing early. Are we allowed to say fat lady?
THIS WEEK
Friday
Norwood v Central District (Coopers Stadium, Norwood, 7.20pm)
Saturday
Port Adelaide v North Adelaide (Alberton Oval, 2.10pm)
South Adelaide v Eagles (Hickinbotham Oval, Noarlunga, 2.10pm)
Sturt v Glenelg (Peter Motley Oval, Unley, 2.10pm)
West Adelaide v Adelaide (City Mazda Stadium, Richmond, 2.40pm)
Download your Norwood or Glenelg Grand Final team posters
The stage is set for an epic battle between two of the traditional SANFL clubs. Download your Grand Final posters here.
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