SANFL Round 1: Eagles make early statement, Wilson lives up to medal billing, winners, losers
Who’s hot, who’s not, player votes and all you need to know from Round 1. We take you behind the scenes of Australia’s best state league competition.
SANFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from SANFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Jade Sheedy’s Woodville-West Torrens sent an ominous warning to its rivals as Magarey Medal favourite Patrick Wilson blew Glenelg away at Unley.
They were the early storylines as the 2023 SANFL season kicked off on the weekend.
Here’s all you need to know about an action-packed round 1.
ROUND 1 SCOREBOARD
Woodville-West Torrens 14.7 (91) d Norwood 6.9 (45)
North Adelaide 10.19 (79) d West Adelaide 9.9 (63)
South Adelaide 10.12 (72) d Central District 7.4 (46)
Sturt 12.8 (80) d Glenelg 7.7 (49)
Adelaide 19.10 (124) d Port Adelaide 6.10 (46)
POWER RANKINGS
1. Woodville-West Torrens:
(1-0: Sent a message to the rest of the competition with a dismantling of the reigning premier on the road).
2. Sturt:
(1-0: Big home win against a fellow finals contender on the day the new, rebuilt Jack Oatey Grandstand was unveiled).
3. Adelaide:
(1-0: Couldn’t have been more impressive in smashing arch-rival Port in the SANFL Showdown).
4. South Adelaide:
(1-0: Solid home win where key recruits Sam Skinner and Zach Sproule showed just how much influence they could have on the Panthers’ season).
5. North Adelaide:
(1-0: Got the job done at home against last year’s wooden spooner, despite kicking only 10 goals from 29 scoring shots).
6. Norwood:
(0-1: Poor start for the minor premier on the night it unfurled its premiership flag. Has early-season injury concerns).
7. Glenelg:
(0-1: Tough start for new coach Darren Reeves but playing Sturt at Unley will be one of this season's toughest assignments).
8. Central District:
(0-1: Battled hard, as always, but still appears to lack matchwinners).
9. West Adelaide:
(0-1: Lost coach Adam Hartlett before the game as his wife Sarah gave birth to the couple’s third child but battled valiantly against the flag favourite).
10. Port Adelaide:
(0-1: Blown away by the Crows in the round’s most lopsided contest).
NUMBERS GAME
(Top 10 Champion Data ranking points)
Mitch Hardie (Eagles) 189
Patrick Wilson (Sturt) 159
Harrison Wigg (North) 149
James Rowe (Eagles) 148
Justin Hoskin (Central) 147
James Battersby (Sturt) 142
Tom Lewis (Sturt) 140
Dylan Williams (Port) 140
Zane Williams (Eagles) 140
Keegan Brooksby (South) 138
THE STAT
13
Tackles on debut by tough Eagles teenager Adam D’Aloia, who was one of the 2022 AFL draft’s hard-luck stories.
FLYING HIGH
Mark of the week
Zane Williams (Eagles)
The Eagles small forward kicked four goals on his return to the club after a half-a-season stint with AFL club Geelong last year (he was picked up in the mid-season draft) to help inspire his side to a convincing upset win against reigning premier Norwood.
While he was brilliant in the Eagles’ attacking 50, Williams showed his versatility by taking the mark of the round in the back half over Redleg Josh Richards.
SAY WHAT
Quotes of the week
“Adam (coach Adam Hartlett) and his wife had their third baby girl this morning (on game day), so no father-sons at Westies but hopefully we will see some father-daughters. Uncle Hamish (Hartlett) might have to get a father-son going for us.’’
– West assistant coach Ryan Anderson after Adam Hartlett was unable to take charge of his first game as Bloods league coach when his wife Sarah went into labour on Saturday.
“I don’t think I have ever seen anyone do as big a pre-season as Mitch Hardie. He is a great human and cares about this footy club.’’
– Eagles coach Jade Sheedy.
“I was really happy with Matt (Crouch). I wasn’t thinking he was going to play and was surprised that he got up for this game. To come in, have that (leg) fracture and fight his way through that, it’s a credit to him. He was really unlucky to cop that injury but I thought he worked into the game really strongly.”
– Adelaide coach Michael Godden on star midfielder Matt Crouch.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
REDLEGS v EAGLES
Warren Partland’s votes
3 – Mitch Hardie (WWT)
2 – James Rowe (WWT)
1 – Luke Thompson (WWT)
ROOSTERS v BLOODS
Warren Partland’s votes
3 – Campbell Combe (NA)
2 – Harrison Wigg (NA)
1 – Alex Spina (NA)
PANTHERS v BULLDOGS
Andrew Capel’s votes
3 – Sam Skinner (SA)
2 – Mitch O’Neill (SA)
1 – Zach Sproule (SA)
BLUES v TIGERS
Gordon Armstrong’s votes
3 – Patrick Wilson (Sturt)
2 – James Battersby (Sturt)
1 – Matthew Snook (Glen)
MAGPIES v CROWS
Steve Barrett’s votes
3 – Harry Schoenberg (Adel)
2 – Tariek Newchurch (Adel)
1 – Andrew McPherson (Adel)
LEADERBOARD
3 – Mitch Hardie (WWT)
3 – Campbell Combe (NA)
3 – Sam Skinner (SA)
3 – Patrick Wilson (Sturt)
3 – Harry Schoenberg (Adel)
2 – James Rowe (WWT)
2 – Harrison Wigg (NA)
2 – Mitch O’Neill (SA)
2 – James Battersby (Sturt)
2 – Tariek Newchurch (Adel)
SHARPSHOOTERS
(Leading goalkickers)
4 – Josh Gore (WA)
4 – Tariek Newchurch (Adel)
4 – Zane Williams (WWT)
3 – Elliott Himmelberg (Adel)
3 – Keenan Ramsey (NA)
3 – Harry Schoenberg (Adel)
3 – Zach Sproule (SA)
3 – Patrick Wilson (Sturt)
UP NEXT
(Round 2 games)
Norwood v Sturt (Coopers Stadium), Thurs, 7.40pm
West v Adelaide (Hisense Stadium), Fri, 2.10pm
Central v North (X Convenience Oval), Fri, 2.10pm
South v Eagles (Flinders University Stadium), Fri, 2.10pm
Glenelg v Port (Stratarama Stadium), Fri, 4.40pm
Blockbusters galore: Download your 2025 SANFL fixture poster
The 2025 SANFL and SANFLW fixtures have been released and they are stacked with massive games. Download your poster of the full schedule.
SA footy legend fears coaches are playing down concussion
A former Port Adelaide chief executive and Norwood playing great says some amateur footy coaches are risking players’ health with their handling of concussion.