North Adelaide primed to defend its SANFL crown despite two-game penalty

North Adelaide will start the season two games behind the field as penalty for the 19th man drama, but there are plenty of reasons for Roosters’ fans to be excited about 2019.

Five reasons for North Adelaide fans to get excited about the 2019 SANFL season.

1 THIS is the obvious reason for fans to be excited, the Roosters are coming off a sensational finals series which culminated in the stunning grand final triumph over Norwood. How can fans not be excited after watching the fun brand of football produced in their charge to the flag? It had been 27 years since the Roosters’ faithful were able to celebrate a premiership and the team did it in style. The Roosters were the entertainment machine in the finals with their attacking action. The premiership flag will likely be raised at the first home game when the Roosters host West Adelaide in the second round.

2 AS soon as the draw was revealed, Roosters fans should have been excited about turning up to the first game of the season. The Roosters will open their title defence against Woodville-West Torrens at Woodville and everyone knows the history between the two clubs after the 19th man drama in the preliminary final. The Roosters rescued a 47-point deficit after the Eagles ran riot early. Unfortunately, the extra man fiasco robbed the game of praise for being such an entertaining contest. The Roosters will host Norwood at Prospect Oval in round five in the traditional Anzac Day game between the grand finalists.

North Adelaide coach Josh Carr celebrates as the siren sounds to end the 2018 SANFL grand final. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Martin

3 JOSH Carr will be having a far more relaxed summer and he can prepare his charges with confidence in his gameplans and ability. The Roosters had just eight wins combined in Carr’s first two seasons and finished wooden spooner in 2017. So he took the club from bottom to top, got a deserved contract extension, and the pressure is off. The former Port Adelaide champ is a players’ coach, they give him their full support and he has been able to get the best out of the likes of Lewis Hender.

4 ROBBIE Young was a key factor in the Roosters’ charge to premiership glory and he has been lost to St Kilda in the draft. But in steps Jake Neade, who has joined the club after six seasons and 66 AFL games with Port Adelaide, to take his role. Neade kicked 55 goals so he can be a dangerous weapon deep in attack as a small forward. What he also does well is apply defensive pressure and that will be a terrific asset for the side. His lively presence in attack will be appreciated by the fans. Plus he can spend time in the midfield.

5 THE national draft robbed the Roosters of some outstanding talent with five players having their name called out. Plus there have been the usual retirements, including Leigh Ryswyk. There is no reason for panic, however. There is plenty of depth at Prospect Oval, as evident by the reserves winning the grand final. Plus the league side had a heap of young talent. Josh Carr has done a tremendous job improving players and there is no reason they cannot have an even bigger impact. And captain Max Thring will be an even bigger pest now he has a premiership medallion.