SANFL Round 3: Who’s hot, who’s not and big numbers highlight team of the week

Who’s hot, who’s not and all you need to know from Round 3 as Tigers run riot. The Advertiser takes you behind the scenes of Australia’s best State League competition.

Andrew Capel

@andrewcapel

4 min read

April 19, 2022 - 6:00AM

SANFL

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Glenelg reaffirmed its reputation as the SANFL comeback kings as a new Rooster took flight - not once but three times - to help North Adelaide to its own come-from-behind win in a thrilling round three.

Four of the five games were decided by three goals or fewer as the Tigers staked their claim for early flag favouritism and Sturt was the big mover in power rankings.

Here’s all you need to know about Round 3.

ROUND THREE SCOREBOARD

Sturt 13.7 (85) d South Adelaide 9.13 (67)

North Adelaide 16.14 (110) d Central District 10.7 (67)

Woodville-West Torrens 8.15 (63) d West Adelaide 7.8 (50)

Glenelg 15.12 (102) d Adelaide 13.9 (87)

Norwood 11.9 (75) d Port Adelaide 8.11 (59)

POWER RANKINGS

1. Glenelg

(3-0: Illustrated class and fighting qualities to win from 41 points behind against Adelaide just a week after reeling in a 34-point deficit against Sturt).

2. Adelaide

(2-1: Fielding 17 AFL-listed players, the Crows had Glenelg on toast at half-time but couldn’t deliver the knockout punch).

3. Sturt

(2-1: Big win against South at Noarlunga and living up to pre-season hype. Very well drilled).

4. South

(2-1: Continues to be dogged by poor goalkicking, losing to Sturt by three goals despite having two more scoring shots and 20 more inside 50s).

5. North

(2-1: One of the season’s early surprise packets, with recruits Jacob Bauer, Jake Patmore, Reed van Huisstede, Lachlan Grubb and Nigel Lockyer Jnr making an early impact).

6. Eagles

(2-1: The team that has won the past two premierships has yet to hit its straps but still posts a healthy 2-1 win-loss record).

7. Norwood

(1-2: Finally chalked up its first win of the campaign after hard-fought losses to last year’s grand finalists Glenelg and the Eagles in the opening two rounds).

8. Central

(1-2: Fell away after quarter-time against North but has found a quality ruckman in VFL recruit Billy McCormack and looks better than last year).

9. Port Adelaide

(0-3: Fought valiantly against arch-rival Norwood at The Parade despite fielding only eight AFL-listed players).

10. West Adelaide

(0-3: Was super competitive against the Eagles on the road but lacks the class of the better teams and remains a work in progress).

Adelaide midfielder Wayne Milera breaks clear against Glenelg at the Bay on Saturday. Picture: Brenton Edwards.

NUMBERS GAME

(Top 12 Champion Data ranking points)

Brett Turner (Glenelg) 182

Josh Carmichael (West) 162

Mitch O’Neill (South) 159

Luke Partington (Glenelg) 159

Aaron Young (North) 158

Harrison Wigg (North) 149

Will Combe (North) 147

Matthew Nunn (Norwood) 146

Darcy Bailey (Glenelg) 138

Patrick Wilson (Sturt) 138

Kyle Presbury (Central) 135

Rhett Montgomerie (Central) 135

THE STAT

Disposals for Glenelg Magarey Medallist Luke Partington against Adelaide.

Central District teenager Adam Deakin celebrates his first league goal against North Adelaide at Prospect Oval. Picture: Brenton Edwards.

FLYING HIGH

(Mark of the week)

Jacob Bauer (North Adelaide)

The exciting Roosters flying machine wins it not for one standout mark but three strong contested marks against Central District.

The recruit from the Sydney Swans Academy has been a SANFL revelation, kicking five goals in each of his two games for North - against Adelaide and the Bulldogs.

SAY WHAT

(Quotes of the week)

“The boys now understand we are good enough and I’m ecstatic with where we are at. The past 12 months we have built belief we can beat anyone in this competition.’’

Sturt coach Martin Mattner.

“We are doing a lot right. It is execution issues in front of goal which have been costly. We kicked 9.13 and 10 out on the full (against Sturt).’’

South coach Jarrad Wright.

“I think that’s the youngest side I’ve coached in my five years here and that’s two weeks in a row that we’ve actually played some decent footy.’’

Port coach Matthew Lokan.

“The SANFL is the best quality product outside of the AFL at the moment.”

South Magarey Medallist Bryce Gibbs.

Glenelg coach Brett Hand addresses his players during their comeback from 41 points down to beat Adelaide at the Bay on Saturday. Picture: Brenton Edwards.

INSIDE WORD

North Adelaide coach Jacob Surjan has endured a tough couple of weeks.

He missed the Roosters’ round two loss to Adelaide under the league’s Covid health and safety protocols and after getting out of isolation last Friday he lasted less than a quarter of the clash with Central before feeling unwell and going home.

His assistant, reserves and development coach Darren Reeves filled in admirably, leading North back from a 20-point quarter-time deficit to a commanding 43-point win.

“Surj was here pre-game, felt ill about 10 minutes into the first quarter and went home,’’ said Reeves.

“He had just recovered from Covid and wasn’t feeling great but importantly he’s okay now and fortunately our coaching group adapted and we got a great result in the end.’’

Norwood last week inducted four more members into its prestigious Hall of Fame.

Honoured for their “commitment and service’’ to the club were former captain-coach Thomas Woodroofe (1930-39), triple premiership player Mervyn Roberts (1946-56), former coach and dual premiership player Neil Craig (1973-79 and 1991-95) and ex-captain and premiership player James Gallagher (1999-2012).

CASUALTY WARD

(Key injuries)

Luke Reynolds (Glenelg)

Jaw/teeth (TBC)

Reece Slape (South)

Chest (TBC)

TEAM OF THE WEEK

F: Jacob Bauer (North), Liam McBean (Glenelg), Cam Taheny (Norwood)

HF: Will Combe (North), Riley Thilthorpe (Adelaide), Aaron Young (North)

C: Harrison Wigg (North), Luke Partington (Glenelg), Mitch O’Neill (South)

HB: Casey Voss (Sturt), Henry Carey (Sturt), Kyle Presbury (Central)

B: Darcy Bailey (Glenelg), Max Proud (Glenelg), Rhett Montgomerie (Central)

R: Billy McCormack (Central), Brett Turner (Glenelg), Josh Carmichael (West)

INT: Patrick Wilson (Sturt), Matthew Nunn (Norwood), Nik Rokahr (Norwood),

Kieran Strachan (Adelaide).

Woodville-West Torrens’ Sam Rowland marks strongly in front of West Adelaide’s Nick Steele in the Eagles’ hard-fought 13-point win at Woodville on Saturday. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz.