SANFL Round 7: South’s injury crisis, Crow’s monster game, team of week

Who’s hot, who’s not, team of the week and all you need to know from Round 7. The Advertiser takes you behind the scenes of Australia’s best state league competition.

Andrew Capel

@andrewcapel

6 min read

May 24, 2022 - 6:00AM

SANFL

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South Adelaide’s hopes of breaking its long premiership drought are in tatters, with Magarey Medallist Bryce Gibbs expected to be sidelined for three months following shoulder surgery.

The 2006 AFL No. 1 draft pick underwent surgery on Monday to repair a torn labrum after he reported soreness following the Panthers’ round six win against Norwood at The Parade, forcing him to miss last Saturday’s loss to Glenelg.

The devastating blow has left injury-riddled South - sitting seventh with a 3-4 win-loss record - reeling.

Star off-season recruit Oscar Brownless is out for the season and has returned to Melbourne following a knee reconstruction while captain Matt Rose (hamstring/calf), forwards Liam Fitt (shoulder), Eamon Wilkinson (hamstring) and Sam Overall (hand) and ruckman Bailey Griffiths (knee) also have been sidelined for lengthy periods, leaving coach Jarrad Wright with a massive headache.

“Having Bryce go down is a big loss for us,’’ Wright said of the Panthers’ latest cruel blow.

“His shoulder didn’t dislocate, he copped a stinger against Norwood and didn't feel it too much during the game but woke up sore.

“It’s left us without some of our best starting mids and three of our best forwards.’’

Wright said South's mounting injury list - and early-season Covid issues - had seen it hand Panther debuts to 17 players this season.

Glenelg’s Alex Martini takes a tumble under pressure from South Adelaide opponent Jye Menzie at the Bay. Picture: Matt Loxton.

Tiger Lachie Hosie juggles a mark in his side's convincing win against South Adelaide at Glenelg Oval on Saturday. Picture: Matt Loxton.

“Having so many of our best 22 not playing is going to cause us some pressure and it’s been like that all year really,’’ said Wright, who has steered South to consecutive preliminary finals as it chases its first men’s league premiership since 1964.

“We’ve been able to maintain some reasonable form but with Bryce out now it’s put a bit more strain on our mids, leaving our mids (against Glenelg) all being 20 or 21 years old.

“Our kids had a crack for three quarters but we just couldn’t sustain it.

“We went in with a certain method and executed for three quarters with really high intensity but their mature-age, experienced players pushed a button in the last quarter and our young, developing side couldn’t go with them.’’

In a hotly-contested SANFL season where only one win separates first-placed Adelaide from the fourth-placed Tigers and reigning premier Woodville-West Torrens sits fifth with a 4-3 record, South - given its longest injury list - finds itself with a tough contract just to make the finals.

“It’s been tough, no doubt about that, because every week we’ve had to make four or five changes, so there's been no consistency (with selection),’’ Wright said.

“But we don’t want to make excuses and will continue to field a team every week and expect quality results.

“We’ve found some positive things with our kids and will continue to strive to improve.’’

ROUND SEVEN SCOREBOARD

Adelaide 15.16 (106) d Woodville-West Torrens 11.7 (73)

Norwood 10.14 (74) d Central District 8.5 (53)

Glenelg 12.19 (91) d South Adelaide 8.9 (57)

North Adelaide 17.8 (110) d Sturt 10.4 (64)

Port Adelaide 15.15 (105) d West Adelaide 12.9 (81)

POWER RANKINGS

1. Adelaide

(6-1: Led by AFL club champions Reilly O’Brien and Matt Crouch, the Crows made a statement against back-to-back reigning premier Woodville-West Torrens with a commanding 33-point win at Woodville Oval).

2. North Adelaide

(6-1: The Roosters - widely tipped to miss the finals this year after losing a host of premiership players in the off-season - proved they are the real deal with a 46-point dismantling of the Double Blues).

3. Sturt

(5-2: Losing to North wasn't a surprise but the hefty margin was. Badly missed tough midfielder Tom Lewis, who is sidelined with a ruptured spleen).

4. Glenelg

(5-2: Facing a third consecutive defeat when trailing South by nine points entering time-on in the third quarter, the Tigers responded in style, kicking 7.8 to 1.1 for the rest of the game).

5. Woodville-West Torrens

(4-3: Overrun by a star-studded Crows outfit, the Eagles are losing touch with the top two sides and face a huge game against the Double Blues at Unley on Saturday).

6. Norwood

(3-4: Had to fight hard to hold off a feisty Bulldogs side at The Parade last Friday night where ruckman Harry Boyd continued his outstanding season by collecting 31 disposals and 14 clearances and recording a massive 223 Champion Data ranking points).

7. South Adelaide

(3-4: The serious injury to Magarey Medallist Bryce Gibbs was a setback the injury-riddled Panthers didn’t need. Is always super competitive but is down on key personnel at the moment).

8. Port Adelaide

(2-5: Led by star AFL key forward Charlie Dixon, Port kicked four goals in the blink of an eye to start the game and then, after losing Jackson Lee and Sam Skinner to injury, had to fight hard to hold off a dogged West).

9. Central District

(1-6: Much better performance in pushing Norwood all the way at The Parade after coach Paul Thomas admitted that his “young, immature group’’ was “a bit beat up before the bye’’).

10. West Adelaide

(0-7: With key man Hamish Hartlett, Josh Ryan and Jono Beech back from injury, the Bloods were far more competitive against Port and looked a winning chance at times in the second half).

Port Adelaide’s Xavier Duursma proudly shows off the medal he won as best afield in the Russell Ebert tribute match. Picture: Peter Argent.

NUMBERS GAME

(Top 12 Champion Data ranking points)

Reilly O’Brien (Adelaide) 255

Harry Boyd (Norwood) 223

Matthew Allen (Glenelg) 151

Campbell Combe (North) 144

Corey Lyons (Glenelg) 138

Aaron Young (North) 137

Jackson Mead (Port) 135

Jo Sinor (Eagles) 133

Nik Rokahr (Norwood) 131

Josh Richards (Norwood) 129

Mitch Harvey (North) 128

Sam Mayes (Port) 127

THE STAT

255

Champion Data ranking points for Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien against the Eagles.

O’Brien had a stunning 37 disposals, 11 marks, 13 clearances, 42 hit-outs and kicked a goal to lead the Crows to a strong 33-point win against the reigning premier.

North Adelaide’s Cameron Hewett beats Sturt’s Guy Page to the ball in the Roosters' convincing win at Prospect Oval. Picture: Matt Loxton.

FLYING HIGH

(Mark of the week)

Nigel Lockyer jnr (North)

Brilliant forward showcased his athleticism and skill by taking a high-leaping mark in front of Sturt opponent Rory Illman in the second quarter at Prospect Oval on Saturday.

He then unleashed a booming kick from 60 metres out that sailed through for a goal to ignite the Roosters’ second term surge that saw them topple the ladder leader.

Lockyer jnr wins mark and goal of the week for his spectacular performance.

SAY WHAT

(Quotes of the week)

“That is one of the best wins since I have been at Norwood. We were challenged and it was a tough Friday night game at The Parade. It was a big night for the club, with the 2012 premiership reunion, so it was a very significant win.”

Norwood coach Jade Rawlings.

“The whole day, to honour Russell Ebert, playing in the Riverland, it was really special. Russell was a champion, not only of our footy club but of the sport. And for X (Xavier Duursma) to win the medal, wearing Russell’s No.7, was very fitting.”

Port coach Matthew Lokan.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the boys and the way they executed and stuck to our plans and we were able to do that to a high standard.’’

North coach Jacob Surjan.

Port Adelaide’s Charlie Dixon in action against West Adelaide at Loxton Oval. Picture: Peter Argent.

INSIDE WORD

Adelaide is zeroing in on Glenelg midfielder Brett Turner in the AFL mid-season rookie draft.

Currently sidelined with a foot injury, Turner is understood to have met with the Crows but his selection could be determined by whether they take one or two picks in the June 1 draft.

One spot has become available following the season-ending knee injury to captain Rory Sloane while the club is yet to make a call on whether wingman Paul Seedsman, who is battling concussion symptoms, will play again this year.

Turner caught the eye of Adelaide’s recruiting department with a standout 38-disposal, four-goal, six-clearance display against their SANFL side in round three.