SANFL Round 6: Injuries, suspension hit state squad; Blues, Tigers make flag push
Friday’s state league interstate clash against WA has been marred by three midfield players ruled out – find out all you need to know from SANFL Round 6.
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South Australia’s midfield has taken a big hit for Friday’s state league interstate clash against Western Australia at Adelaide Oval, with Harrison Wigg and Mitch O’Neill ruled out through injury and Magarey Medal fancy Patrick Wilson facing suspension.
Wigg (ankle) and O’Neill (shoulder) withdrew from the 32-man squad on Monday morning while Wilson has been slapped with a three-match ban, which can be reduced to two with an early guilty plea, for striking Adelaide ruckman Kieran Strachan at Unley Oval on Saturday.
The incident left the Crows big man entering concussion protocols and ruled out of AFL selection for this week.
Wilson has until 10am on Tuesday to accept his penalty or mount a challenge at the tribunal.
His likely absence from the SA team also comes on the back of 2020 Magarey Medallist Campbell Combe making himself unavailable for state selection and veteran pair Bryce Gibbs (South Adelaide) and Sam Mayes (North Adelaide) ruled out with broken hands.
SA however is confident it has picked a strong, in-form squad that can win its fourth consecutive Haydn Bunton Junior Cup.
“The side looks good,’’ new SA chairman of selectors Tim Ginever said.
“We have picked a team of blokes who are in good form and have the right attitude, so we’re looking forward to a good performance.’’
All eight standalone SANFL clubs have a representative in the trimmed 26-man squad, which will be cut to 23 by game time.
Unbeaten, top-of-the-table Sturt has the most representatives with seven.
The squad will train at Norwood Oval on Tuesday and Adelaide Oval on Thursday in preparation for Friday's 3.10pm clash, which will be the curtain-raiser to the Port Adelaide-Melbourne AFL match.
The squad, coached by Norwood premiership mentor Jade Rawlings, is: Jez McLennan (Central District); Matthew Allen, Darcy Bailey, Lachie Hosie, Liam McBean, Max Proud, Brett Turner (Glenelg); Cameron Craig, Mitch Harvey, Harrison Magor, Keenan Ramsey, Frank Szekely (North Adelaide); Harry Boyd (Norwood); Eamon Wilkinson (South Adelaide);
Will Coomblas, Martin Frederick, Josh Hone, Tom Lewis, Connor McFadyen, Casey Voss, Patrick Wilson (Sturt); Josh Ryan (West Adelaide); Connor Ballenden, Mitch Hardie, James Rowe, Joseph Sinor (Woodville-West Torrens).
ROUND 6 SCOREBOARD
Woodville-West Torrens 10.7 (67) d Central District 6.7 (43)
Glenelg 16.14 (110) d North Adelaide 8.5 (53)
West Adelaide 11.8 (74) d Norwood 8.14 (62)
Sturt 10.6 (66) d Adelaide 8.8 (56)
Port Adelaide 15.12 (102) d South Adelaide 11.8 (74)
POWER RANKINGS
1. Sturt:
(6-0: There can be no more doubting the Double Blues after they proved their premiership credentials with a grinding, hard-fought win against the Crows to remain unbeaten after six rounds).
2. Glenelg:
(5-1: Impressive was how Glenelg coach Darren Reeves described his side's 57-point demolition of North and he was on the money. The Tigers blew last year’s grand finalist away with nine unanswered goals in the first half to claim their fifth consecutive win).
3. Adelaide:
(4-2: Lost a thriller against Sturt but didn't lose any admirers. Unless injuries strike the Crows’ AFL squad will be right in the thick of the action all year).
4. North Adelaide:
(3-3: Has some work to do after being brushed aside by Glenelg in the first half, prompting coach Jacob Surjan to have a long meeting with his team leaders after the game. A broken hand to star midfielder Sam Mayes has added to the Roosters’ concerns).
5. Central District:
(3-3: Struggled to get going against the Eagles in a tight affair at Woodville, where it managed only six goals. Has won all three games at home and lost all three on the road).
6. Port Adelaide:
(3-3: Three wins on the trot for Port has seen it surge up the power rankings. Its young AFL-listed players are shining and some SANFL top-ups are providing great support, lifting the Magpies to within percentage of the top five).
7. Woodville-West Torrens:
(2-4: Made a big selection call by dropping last year’s Ken Farmer Medallist Daniel Menzel to the reserves and then ground out a much-needed win against Central to snap a four-game losing streak).
8. West Adelaide:
(2-4: Most people’s tip for the wooden spoon has been super competitive under new coach Adam Hartlett and overcame an early three-goal deficit to upset Norwood in Port Lincoln. Is playing with great spirit).
9. South Adelaide:
(2-4: After a bright 2-0 start to the season, the Panthers have lost four straight and face unbeaten Sturt in round seven. Coach Jarrad Wright lamented his side’s inability to “stand up in big moments’’).
10. Norwood:
(0-6: The reigning premier is, incredibly, off to its worst start to a season since 1913 and will need a miracle just to play finals, nevertheless win the flag. Dominated inside 50s 63-39 against West and still lost, highlighting its wastefulness).
NUMBERS GAME
(Top 12 Champion Data ranking points)
Joseph Sinor (Eagles) 170
Mitch Hardie (Eagles) 167
Harry Boyd (Norwood) 166
Kobe Ryan (West) 151
Harry Grant (Central) 147
Nick Moore (Port) 142
Liam McBean (Glenelg) 141
Josh Worrell (Adelaide) 141
Corey Lyons (Glenelg) 136
Campbell Combe (North) 131
Luke Beecken (Eagles) 127
Matthew Nunn (Norwood) 126
THE STAT
6
Consecutive losses by Norwood to start the season – its worst start since 1913.
FLYING HIGH
Mark of the week
Ben Jarvis (Norwood)
The Redlegs premiership forward used West’s Owen Mulady as a stepladder to take a spectacular mark in the second quarter of the clash at Port Lincoln.
SAY WHAT
Quotes of the week
“They (the Crows) have a very strong list but all our players just stepped up. We wanted a contest in tight and we got that. There were moments in the game where both sides had chances but we took ours at the right time.’’
Sturt coach Martin Mattner
“That was really impressive. We’ve been threatening to do that, having played some really good footy in quarters this season, but this was the first time we’ve played close to four quarters of the way we want to play. We were able to play some really exciting footy while keeping North to 53 points, so defensively we were again strong.’’
Glenelg coach Darren Reeves
“I’m happy with 2-4 and just proud of this young group. After the Crows game (in round two), the guys were so despondent and in our review I asked ‘how many of you guys have played less than 10 games’ and 12 of those lads put their hands up. The fact we’ve been able to compete and stay in contests against good sides for the vast majority of games, and even play on our terms at stages, has been really pleasing. When Norwood did get some territory from defensive-50, we were well structured behind it. We understand we’ve still got a lot to work on but that was more the style of game that we want to be known for.’’
West coach Adam Hartlett
“We had dominance in the forward half with plus-24 inside-50s (63-39) and more scoring shots but didn’t take our chances. We had 16-7 inside-50s in the last quarter for 0.4 and two out-on-the-full – that shows there are parts of our game that lack quality. We weren’t able to finish the work that was created further upfield. Very disappointing.”
Norwood coach Jade Rawlings
“Joey stepped up into the midfield today with Riley (Knight) out and he led from the front. He did a really good job in galvanising the group and he showed that on the field by leading from the front.”
Eagles coach Jade Sheedy on the performance of captain Joseph Sinor
“The only way is to keep working on it and the only way we can keep working on it is keep playing games and learning. If we can’t learn we will keep promoting our reserves, keep promoting youth and find players who can stand up in moments.”
South coach Jarrad Wright
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ROUND 6
REDLEGS v BLOODS
Steve Barrett’s votes
3 – Kobe Ryan (WA)
2 – Harry Boyd (Norw)
1 – Matthew Nunn (Norw)
EAGLES v BULLDOGS
Luke Marchioro’s votes
3 – Joseph Sinor (WWT)
2 – David Brinker-Ritchie (WWT)
1 – Luke Thompson (WWT)
TIGERS v ROOSTERS
Andrew Capel’s votes
3 – Liam McBean (Glen)
2- Corey Lyons (Glen)
1 – Cam McGree (Glen)
DOUBLE BLUES v CROWS
Gordon Armstrong’s votes
3 – Tom Lewis (Sturt)
2- Matt Crouch (Adel)
1 – Brayden Cook (Adel)
MAGPIES v PANTHERS
Warren Partland’s votes
3 – Nick Moore (PA)
2 – Cody Szust (PA)
1 – Keegan Brooksby (SA)
LEADERBOARD
8 – Tom Lewis (Sturt)
7 – Campbell Combe (NA)
7 – Mitch Hardie (WWT)
6 – James Battersby (Sturt)
6 – Patrick Wilson (Sturt)
6 – Jackson Hately (Adel)
6 – Lachie Hosie (Glen)
6 – Jez McLennan (CD)
5 – Liam McBean (Glen)
5 – Corey Lyons (Glen)
4 – Harry Schoenberg (Adel)
4 – Harrison Wigg (NA)
4 – Callum Park (WA)
4 – Hugh Jackson (PA)
4 – Andrew McPherson (Adel)
3 – Trent Dumont (PA)
3 – Sam Skinner (SA)
3 – Steven Slimming (Sturt)
3 – James Rowe (WWT)
3 – Harry Grant (CD)
3 – Noah Casalini (NA)
3 – Luke Redfern (WA)
3 – Matthew Allen (Glen)
3 – Billy McCormack (CD)
3 – Matt Crouch (Adel)
3 – Joseph Sinor (WWT)
3 – Kobe Ryan (WA)
3 – Nick Moore (PA)
SHARPSHOOTERS
Leading goalkickers
20 – Lachie Hosie (Glen)
15 – Zach Sproule (SA)
14 – Keenan Ramsey (NA)
14 – Josh Hone (Sturt)
14 – Connor Ballenden (WWT)
13- Luke Reynolds (Glen)
12 – Jono Beech (WA)
12 – Liam McBean (Glen)
11 – Tariek Newchurch (Adel)
10 – Liam Delahunty (WA)
10 – Noah Casalini (NA)
10 – Josh Gore (WA)
UP NEXT
State game
South Australia v Western Australia (Adelaide Oval), Fri, May 19, 3.10pm
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