SANFL Round 6: Wilson out as State team named, Garthwaite's courageous grab, winners, losers

He’s a Magarey Medal fancy but injury has cost Patrick Wilson a State guernsey, a young Blood shines on debut, team of the week and all you need to know from Round 6.

Andrew Capel

@andrewcapel

6 min read

May 10, 2022 - 6:00AM

SANFL

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SOUTH Australia has been dealt a savage injury blow for its state league clash against Western Australia in Perth on Sunday, with Magarey Medal fancy Patrick Wilson ruled out with a shoulder injury.

Former Crow Wilson, who has been in dominant form for top-of-the-table Sturt, reported a sore shoulder following Sunday’s crushing 98-point win against Central District, when he had his quietest game of the season, finishing with 17 disposals and a goal.

He ruled himself out of the state clash on Monday.

Woodville-West Torrens key defender Rory Lehmann has also been forced to withdraw from the team after injuring his hamstring in the Eagles’ win against Port Adelaide, where he was opposed to Port powerhouse Charlie Dixon.

Key Glenelg pair Luke Partington and Max Proud have been named in the 23-man side despite suffering head knocks in the loss to North Adelaide on Sunday.

They will undergo more medical tests but coach Jade Sheedy is hopeful they will be cleared to play.

They squad, which will train at Thebarton Oval on Tuesday and Thursday evenings before flying to Perth on Saturday, is: Matthew Allen, Sam Durdin, Liam McBean, Luke Partington, Max Proud (Glenelg); Campbell Combe, Keenan Ramsey, Alex Spina, Harrison Wigg (North Adelaide); Harry Boyd, Matthew Nunn, Nik Rokahr (Norwood); Jye Menzie, Mitch O’Neill, Clay Sampson (South Adelaide); Will Coomblas, Casey Voss (Sturt); Kaiden Brand (West Adelaide); Connor Ballenden, Riley Knight, Daniel Menzel, Jo Sinor, Zane Williams (Woodville-West Torrens).

Sturt’s Patrick Wilson (right) wins the ball under pressure from Port Adelaide’s Taj Schofield. Picture: Matt Loxton.

Sheedy said that while the injuries were disappointing he is happy with the strength and balance of the squad.

“It’s disappointing to lose those guys (Wilson and Lehmann) because they’ve been in very good form and Wilson would have given us a point of difference in the midfield, being a big body,’’ he said.

“But we have some great midfielders in our competition and in our team and we’re trying to build that real contested brand around the footy and feel that each of the blokes we play through the midfield will be able to bring some real intensity and heat on the footy.’’

Sheedy said the team had a nice blend of experience and youth and inside and outside ball winning ability.

“All 38 players that were in the initial squad have been invested in the program, which is one of the great things about the SANFL, that state footy is well and truly alive,’’ he said.

“We have picked a good squad and a squad that is in form at the moment, which is what our philosophy has been.

“You then need to have a nice inside-outside mix and we feel that we have that in this team.’’

ROUND SIX SCOREBOARD

Adelaide 19.11 (125) d West Adelaide 11.5 (71)

South Adelaide 8.9 (57) d Norwood 7.9 (51)

Woodville-West Torrens 11.7 (73) d Port Adelaide 7.5 (47)

North Adelaide 15.7 (97) d Glenelg 14.11 (95)

Sturt 20.15 (135) d Central District 5.7 (37)

POWER RANKINGS

1. Sturt

(5-1: Powerful defensive team made an attacking statement by kicking 20 goals against Central in a clinical performance coach Martin Mattner described as “a complete game’’).

2. North Adelaide

(5-1: Came from 27 points behind against last year’s grand finalist Glenelg to win a thriller by two points to celebrate the 100th anniversary of playing at Prospect Oval in fine style).

3. Adelaide

(5-1: With few injuries at AFL level, the Crows continue to be a SANFL force. They ripped West apart at Richmond with All-Australian Matt Crouch dominating in the centre square).

4. Glenelg

(4-2: Has lost two minor round games in a row (by less than a goal) for the first time in the Brett Hand coaching era. Was belted 44-24 in clearances by the Roosters).

5. Woodville-West Torrens

(4-2: Has overcome a rough ride with injuries and Covid to sit just one win from top spot. Key recruits Connor Ballenden and Dylan Clarke are starting to make their presence felt).

6. South Adelaide

(3-3: Stayed in touch with the top five with a courageous, thrilling six-point win against Norwood at The Parade after trailing at every change and by three goals at the long break).

7. Norwood

(2-4: Suddenly in finals trouble after losing a game to the Panthers it appeared to be in control of. Young side that is struggling to win the close games).

8. Port Adelaide

(1-5: Injuries and Covid played havoc with its team on the weekend and despite the addition of star key forward Charlie Dixon from its AFL squad it lacked the depth to match the reigning premier).

9. Central District

(1-5: Kicked the first two goals against Sturt before being blown out of the water at Unley. Needs more young players to quickly take the next step in their development).

10. West Adelaide

(0-6: Coach Brad Gotch needs the experienced, classy trio of Hamish Hartlett, Jono Beech and Josh Ryan back in his side from injury ASAP).

Glenelg's Matthew Snook has eyes only for the ball during last Sunday’s titanic clash against North Adelaide at Prospect Oval. Picture: Tom Huntley.

NUMBERS GAME

(Top 12 Champion Data ranking points)

Guy Page (Sturt) 177

Matthew Nunn (Norwood) 161

Jarrod Schiller (Central) 161

Jake Soligo (Adelaide) 158

Matt Crouch (Adelaide) 157

Josh Carmichael (West) 155

Harry Boyd (Norwood) 152

Casey Voss (Sturt) 151

Kieran Strachan (Adelaide) 148

Dylan Clarke (Eagles) 142

Harrison Wigg (North) 139

Aaron Young (North) 136

THE STAT

Disposals for North’s Harrison Wigg against Glenelg - the most by a Roosters player since James Allan had 45 in round 13, 2011, also against the Tigers.

Eagle Luke Beecken evades the tackle of Port Adelaide’s Charlie Dixon at Alberton Oval on Saturday. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe.

FLYING HIGH

(Mark of the week)

Ryan Garthwaite (South)

The former Richmond AFL player took a remarkable “slips catch’’ in the crucial, six-point win against Norwood at The Parade.

Displaying great courage in running back with the flight of the ball close to goal, Garthwaite had eyes only for the footy, despite an oncoming pack of players, and thrust out his arms to pull the ball in.

He goaled with his set shot early in the third quarter as the Panthers stormed home to win after trailing by 19 points in a tight, low-scoring affair.

SAY WHAT

(Quotes of the week)

“I thought out forwards were really strong and our defenders hardly conceded any contested marks. We won the contest, won the aerial, won uncontested - it was a really complete game. We’ve been playing some really good footy and this (top spot) is a reward for our first six weeks of the year.’’

Sturt coach Martin Mattner.

“We were challenged many times during the game by Glenelg. Their intensity early was above where we needed to be. A win like that is more about the character of the group, more so than the win. During pre-season we executed a few things that we had worked on. I could not be more proud of the guys against a very good side. To go into the break with five wins and one loss is a great result and not what many people may have predicted.’’

North coach Jacob Surjan.

“We are doing a lot right and had a very good start. But we went into our shell in the second quarter and conceded six goals, which wasn’t good enough. They got us out the back. We responded in the third and from there but didn’t take the chances when we should have. We have played six very good sides but we need to do better.’’

Glenelg coach Brett Hand.

“The ladder tells us we are a bit off the pace at the moment, but we have got a young group which is coachable and they are learning what it takes to be a consistent team in this competition, which is very even and tough.”

Norwood coach Jade Rawlings.

Crow Matt Crouch is gang-tackled at Richmond Oval on his way to 36 disposals in the 54-point win against West Adelaide. Picture: Russell Millard.

INSIDE WORD

High-end SA draft prospect Kobe Ryan made an impressive league debut for West against Adelaide, having 22 disposals, taking six marks and kicking two goals, delighting coach Brad Gotch.

“Kobe’s debut was pretty special,’’ Gotch said.