SANFL Round 2 ratings: Nobody saw that coming from North Adelaide at Prospect Oval
THE second round of SANFL action coughed up some interesting results with North Adelaide stunning, Norwood and Woodville-West Torrens turning up the heat and Port Adelaide fighting off a gutsy Glenelg.
SANFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from SANFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Eagles rock with new game plan
- Double Blues in show of force
- Legs turn up heat to conquer Panthers
- North trounces West in fitting tribute
- Bone’s favourite SANFL players
THE second round of SANFL action coughed up some interesting results with North Adelaide stunning, Norwood and Woodville-West Torrens turning up the heat and Port Adelaide fighting off a gutsy Glenelg.
WARREN PARTLAND AND MARK SODERSTROM COUNT DOWN THE SANFL’S TOP 50 PLAYERS AT ADVERTISER.COM.AU FROM 4PM ON MONDAY
BAILEY MISSING
Glenelg’s Darcy Bailey had his foot in a moon boot at the Bay game against Port on Friday night.
The young bloke will be out of action for a month while an ankle sprain, a legacy of the loss to South Adelaide in the season opener on Good Friday, mends.
GLENN AT THE LEGS
Norwood’s decision to sign Josh Glenn has certainly been a debated topic.
Apart from his off-field dramas, the question for the classy midfielder is what has changed since the end of last season.
Midway through the 2017 season, he had to be talked into staying at Central District. After the Bulldogs dropped out of the finals, he told the club he did not want to commit to the work necessary at league level.
So he signed with Willaston, who then let him go. Now he has agreed to play at The Parade, a 27km drive from his home just one kilometre from Elizabeth Oval.
Keep in mind, he also quit Gold Coast Suns at the end of the 2015 season.
@TheTiserSport @SANFL Josh Glenn (green boots) makes debut for @NorwoodFC in reserves v @southadelaidefc at The Parade. pic.twitter.com/mFkRwhhdTl
— Warren Partland (@warren_partland) April 8, 2018
SUMNER’S ISSUES
Byron Summer was wise not to test his striking charges at the SANFL tribunal.
The three striking charges from the trial against West Adelaide cost him nine weeks. But an early guilty plea for each charge cut that to six.
Sumner already had eight games of suspension beside his name, that is now 14.
Another two weeks suspension will take him to the dreaded 16-game mark and result in him being deregistered. That will stand for 12 months before he could apply to be re-registered.
For that to happen, he would have to show he was rehabilitated and remorseful for his actions. Should a player be re-registered and then cop another suspension, that is the end of their career.
PORT RESSIES
An SANFL coach told me before the season the Port reserves will get beaten by 100 points each week. So far he is on the money.
The side had a bye in the first week, then lost to Glenelg by 127 points at the Bay on Friday night. It could have been even uglier considering the Tigers had 19 behinds and Port kicked five straight.
Port won’t want to cop any injuries to its AFL-listed players.
MINUTE’S SILENCE
The North Adelaide and West Adelaide players observed a minute’s silence before the Prospect Oval clash and wore black armbands in memory of Roosters trainer Vaughan Taylor, who collapsed and passed away soon after the game at Elizabeth Oval.
The hosts wasted no time in honouring their loyal servant, racing to a commanding 49-point quarter-time lead on the back of a blistering opening-term display. North went on to thrash the Bloods by a whopping 138 points.
UNWANTED RECORD AVOIDED
The Bloods narrowly avoided altering their record books on a dark day for the club.
Their 2.14 just eclipsed the lowest score in their 126-year history, that being 1.10 they managed in 1915. They also registered 2.4 in 1920.
There is only one way for the Bloods this season and that is up.
REDLEGS DEPTH
Redlegs coach Jarrod Cotton will have an interesting time at the selection table this week for the battle against Glenelg at the Bay.
Apart from getting the 47-point win over South Adelaide, the Redlegs also had Brad McKenzie and Josh Glenn in the reserves and both pushed their claims for promotion.
McKenzie made his first appearance for the season after minor surgery to clean out his knee, while Glenn made his debut for the club and picked up plenty of touches.
WEEK’S RANKINGS
1: North Adelaide. Who would have thought the Roosters would deserve top spot in the weekly rankings after the first-round shocker against Central District. But a 138-point win earns them the honour.
2: Norwood. It was hot at The Parade and the Redlegs turned up the heat in the second half to beat South Adelaide by 47 points. They are very impressive when the skills click.
3. Port Adelaide. They had to fight to overcome a plucky Glenelg but they got the points at the Bay, not an easy task. Upped the ante after halftime, especially around the ball.
4. Glenelg. Bounced back from the sloppy effort against the Panthers in the opening round with an impressive performance. The Tigers’ pressure was outstanding and only a terrific Jake Neade snap late in the game denied them the points.
5. Eagles. Had the game sown up at halftime against Central at home in a performance which shows they will be right in the thick of the action again.
6. Sturt. Had trouble against Adelaide early in the Unley game, but once the Double Blues clicked into gear they got the job done comfortably. Mark Evans and Josh Hone were again handy for the home side up forward.
7. Central District. Struggled against the Eagles until halftime, then ate into a 47-point deficit to shows some good signs in the second half.
8. South Adelaide. The Panthers put 1.7 on the board in the second quarter which hurt. After halftime were outworked by the Redlegs, especially around the stoppages.
9. Adelaide. Took the fight to the Double Blues early to lead at quarter-time, before being overpowered.
10. West Adelaide. The less said the better.
LADDER
P W L D For Against % Pts
1 Port Adelaide 2 2 0 0 220 122 64.33 4
2 Eagles 2 2 0 176 115 60.48 4
3 Sturt 2 2 0 0 187 126 59.74 4
4 North Adelaide 2 1 1 0 219 142 60.66 2
5 Norwood 2 1 1 0 185 149 55.39 2
6 Central District 2 1 1 0 179 145 55.25 2
7 South Adelaide 2 1 1 0 172 182 48.59 2
8 Glenelg 2 0 2 0 143 184 43.73 0
9 Adelaide 2 0 2 0 102 246 29.31 0
10 West Adelaide 2 0 2 0 78 250 23.78 0
THIS WEEK
ROUND 3
Saturday
Central District v West Adelaide, My Money House Oval, Elizabeth, 2.10pm
Port Adelaide v Eagles, Alberton Oval, 2.10pm
South Adelaide v Adelaide, Hickinbotham Oval, Noarlunga, 2.10pm
Glenelg v Norwood, Gliderol Stadium, Glenelg, 4.10pm
Sunday
Sturt v North Adelaide, Peter Motley Oval, Unley, 2.10pm
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.
Comeback ‘King’ to play SANFL grand final after shattering injury
Norwood legend Matt Panos will complete a fairytale – and miraculous – comeback from a career-threatening knee injury and play in Sunday’s SANFL grand final against Glenelg.