North Adelaide deserves first premiership since 1991 after beating Norwood
NORTH Adelaide is a worthy SANFL champion and the manner in which the Roosters approach games deserves praise. They are fun to watch and coach Josh Carr timed their run perfectly, writes Warren Partland.
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NORTH Adelaide fully deserved its first premiership since 1991.
And the Roosters should be able to bath in all the glory deserving of the state league champion and drink the sweet champagne from the premiership cup without cheap shots about the triumph being tainted.
There were more than 40,000 fans at Adelaide Oval on Sunday and they witnessed an incredible spectacle which harms those critics who keep harping on about the SANFL not being relevant.
There would not be one person leaving the ground who did not believe the Roosters deserved their win. Coach Josh Carr timed their run perfectly and they challenged Norwood with a game built on terrific pressure around the contest and fast-flowing movement with the ball.
Forget the 19-man furore in the preliminary final. Yes, it was a bad look for the state league. But when the rules were adopted the Roosters were cleared to play.
There is no denying the rules need to be changed, and they will be.
Let’s not overlook the amazing comeback by the Roosters against the Eagles though. In fact, they have had to overcome plenty this season to reign supreme.
The elimination final, first semi-final, preliminary final and grand final were all a glowing endorsement of the SANFL competition. What is the common factor? The Roosters.
They play an attractive and fearless brand of football and make the game fun to watch, they are entertainers. They back themselves and take the game on.
The Redlegs’ role in the title decider should not be down played either. They play a similar style to the Roosters and want to be attacking.
Not since Central District tallied 113 points to win the flag in 2008 had a side scored more than 100 points in the grand final. There were 34 goals kicked on Sunday and both teams went beyond the century.
Two more things. The Roosters won by 19, unbelievable. And Mitch Grigg deserves a phone call from an AFL club.