Roosters and Eagles to clash in opening round of 2019 SANFL season after last clash ended in controversy

The SANFL will release its draw for the 2019 season on Thursday and the league has programmed a massive clash between bitter rivals in the opening round.

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The soured rivalry between this year’s SANFL premier North Adelaide and Woodville-West Torrens will showcase the opening round of the 2019 SANFL season.

In a rematch of the controversial preliminary final when the 19th man drama took the focus off an extraordinary contest, the two fierce rivals will do battle at Woodville Oval on March 31.

The draw for next season will be released on Thursday, but the clash between this year’s champions and a consistent powerhouse will be the headline act for the first weekend. It will be the only game on the Sunday in a wise programming move by the league.

“What happened in the preliminary final will make it an interesting first round,” Roosters football manager Darryl Wintle said. “A strong rivalry has been built over the past few years and both teams will be up and ready for it.”

The Roosters beat the Eagles at Woodville Oval in round five last season, while the result was reversed at Prospect Oval nine rounds later when the Eagles claimed a 63-point victory.

But it was the season’s penultimate battle which has added plenty of spice to the already spirited relationship. The Eagles coughed up a 47-point lead early in the third quarter of the preliminary final when the Roosters took control with an incredible onslaught.

It was revealed the Roosters had 19 players on the field for the first four minutes of the final quarter, prompting an angered Eagles to seek legal advice and the league to take the matter to the tribunal where the result was upheld.

The Roosters then upset hot favourite Norwood in a highly entertaining grand final in front of more than 40,000 fans at Adelaide Oval to snap a 27-year premiership drought.

Eagles fans gather ahead of the SANFL’s decision on the 19th man case in September. Picture: Matt Loxton

However, the Roosters will start the season four premiership points behind the other nine clubs as part of their penalty.

The Eagles will have a new coach after Sam Lonergan was named as the replacement for Michael Godden, who has taken on an assistant’s role with Adelaide after nine years at Woodville Oval.

The season will kick off on Friday night, March 29, with the grand final at Adelaide Oval on September 22.

A reward for winning the flag is hosting rights for the traditional Anzac Day game between the grand finalists from the previous season and the Roosters will take on the Redlegs at Prospect Oval on April 25.