South Adelaide’s Ben Heaslip says mid-season slump the catalyst for Panthers’ rise to SANFL finals
South Adelaide’s Ben Heaslip knows the exact moment which has sparked the Panthers’ quest to end their SANFL premiership drought. SEE YOUR FINALS TEAMS HERE
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Ben Heaslip described it as a line in the sand moment.
With South Adelaide hitting a mid-season brick wall and crashing to three consecutive defeats in August, coach Jarrad Wright put the heat on each player to lift while clearly defining their roles in the team.
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“My form was a bit reflective of how the team was going, I was in a bit of a slump,’’ tough midfielder Heaslip, 24, said.
“We had a good, honest chat about where I was at.’’
Heaslip emerged from the meeting with greater responsibility. It turned out to be the making of him.
After averaging a modest 16 disposals in the three-game losing streak, Heaslip was given the giant task of nullifying Glenelg Jack Oatey Medallist and 2020 Magarey Medal fancy Matthew Snook at the Bay in round nine.
He carried out the job superbly, restricting Snook to only five first half disposals, while finishing the game with 18 himself, a goal and laying a game-high 13 bone-crunching tackles as the Panthers won by 41 points to stunningly turn their season around.
Heaslip and South haven’t looked back since to storm into Sunday’s knockout first semi-final against premier Glenelg at Adelaide Oval as arguably the form team of the competition.
The Panthers won five of their last six minor round games by an average of 51 points, with Heaslip starring as a midfield wrecking ball.
Strong and well built at 190cm and 91kg, he averaged 23 disposals, one goal, six tackles and five clearances while blanketing a host of big names, including Norwood’s Ryan Bastinac and Central District’s Travis Schiller.
“That meeting helped turn things around for me and the team,’’ said Heaslip, who had played 58 league games in five seasons prior to this year after debuting against the Tigers in round one, 2015.
“I’ve always been an inside mid but being given that starting point of trying to limit the opposition’s best stoppage player has really worked well for me.
“I go in with the focus of trying to nullify them and then use my pace to get on the outside and win my share of the footy.
“Clearly it’s helped with my concentration, while knowing I’ve been able to do a job on some of the better players has been good for my confidence.’’
Wright praised Heaslip – a product of South’s junior program who lives in Victor Harbor – for his role in the club’s late-season revival.
“He’s gained a lot of self belief in the past six weeks,’’ said Wright, whose club is chasing its first flag since 1964.
“He’s a strong bull, a contested animal in the middle who’s really fast and has good running power.
“He still has some work to do with his finishing but when he’s at the top of his game – and that comes from knowing his role to attack the contest at 100 miles an hour – he’s hard to stop.
“Now the biggest test comes, to execute in a final.’’
Snook will again have a target on his back.
TIGER BRADLEY OUT OF PANTHERS CLASH
Reigning premier Glenelg has been dealt an injury blow for Sunday’s knockout first semi-final against South Adelaide, with former captain Andrew Bradley ruled out with a fractured cheekbone.
Bradley – a premiership player last year – had been training in the hope of proving his fitness after being injured against Woodville-West Torrens in round 12.
But he has been ruled out on medical advice.
“The final’s a week too early for him,’’ Glenelg head of football Paul Sandercock said.
“Andrew wanted to play but he wasn’t cleared by his surgeon, who thought the risk was too great.
“He should be available next week if we progress.’’
The Tigers did bring back several big guns for the cutthroat clash, with Magarey Medallist Luke Partington recovering from knee soreness and captain Max Proud and star goalkicker Luke Reynolds returning after being rested from last week’s final home-and-away season game against Sturt.
The Panthers – chasing their first flag since 1964 – brought back a host of players who were rested against North Adelaide last week, led by exciting forward Beau McCreery and top 2021 draft prospect Jason Horne.
Key defender James Loneragan has also been named after being sidelined for a month with a fractured back.
Minor premier the Eagles lost hard-running wingman Chris Hall with a torn pectoral muscle, the same injury that will sideline star North Adelaide full back Cameron Craig, for the second semi-final.
But they were boosted by the return of gun key forward Jack Hayes, defenders Lachlan Jones and Rhyan Mansell and smart utility Matthew Goldsworthy, who have managed minor injuries in recent weeks.
The Roosters regained leadership trio Alex Spina, Andrew Moore and Tom Schwarz from hamstring strains, along with defender Tanner Smith, for the double-chance final where the winner will progress straight to the grand final.
1ST SEMI-FINAL
2ND SEMI-FINAL
SCARS OF 19TH MAN SAGA REMAINS
It is a final that has been two years in the making.
After almost 750 days after North Adelaide controversially beat Woodville-West Torrens in a preliminary final remembered for the infamous 19th man controversy, the two clubs – and now bitter rivals – will again go head-to-head for a spot in theSANFL grand final.
And while opposition coaches Jade Sheedy (Eagles) and Jacob Surjan (Roosters) are new to their positions and have tried toput the past to bed, they understand Sunday’s second semi-final showdown at Adelaide Oval might have some extra spice.
“I think there might be a bit of dislike among a couple of players,’’ said Sheedy, who has brilliantly led the Eagles to theminor premiership in his first season in charge.
“It adds to the build up of the game.’’
Surjan, who was an assistant to Josh Carr at North in 2018, said the Eagles supporters, in particular, had long memories.
The two meetings between the top two teams this year – both won by the Eagles – have been fiery.
“I heard Jimmy Toumpas (Eagles midfielder) do an interview when we played them early in the year and it (the 19th man saga) got brought up,’’ Surjan said.
“It was an unfortunate thing that happened two years ago but as a team we’ve just got to focus on what he can control thisweek, try to bring our A-game and get the win.’’
North stormed back from 47 points down in the third quarter of the 2018 preliminary final to win by five points and then beat hot favourite Norwood in the grand final.
Soon after the drama-filled game finished it was revealed the Roosters scored eight points, 1.2, while having an extra playeron the field in the opening five minutes of the final term.
The Eagles wanted the result overturned and the matter was referred to the SA Football Commission and then the tribunal, whichdeemed the result would stand while fining North $10,000 and docking it four premiership points in 2019.
“I wasn’t there but you hear it talked about around the club,’’ said Sheedy, a Sturt Magarey Medallist.
“We can’t change what happened two years ago. North was too good on the day and deservedly went on to win the premiership.’’
But the result adds more needle to this week’s double-chance final.
Both clubs were dealt injury blows yesterday when it was revealed they would be without key players in the finals.
The Roosters have lost star full back Cameron Craig and the Eagles will be without classy midfielder Chris Hall after both tore pectoral muscles on the weekend.
North is sweating on the fitness of star midfielder Billy Hartung (ankle) but expects leadership trio, captain Alex Spina and vice-captains Andrew Moore and Tom Schwarz, to return to the side following hamstring strains.
Third-placed South Adelaide will carry the weight of a 56-year flag drought into the knockout semi-final against reigning premier Glenelg.
But the Panthers are arguably the form team of the competition, having finished the minor round with three strong wins and a 42-point thumping of North Adelaide last Sunday.
The Tigers are sweating on the fitness of former captain Andrew Bradley, who fractured a cheekbone against the Eagles in round 12.
AXED GRIMA WANTED TO STAY AT UNLEY
OUT of contract Sturt coach Nathan Grima made an impassioned plea to keep the job next year as a host of dumped AFL assistants come onto the market.
Grima led the Double Blues to the finals in his first season in charge last year, finishing fifth, but they slumped to sixth in a revamped eight-club competition this year with a 5-9 win-loss record.
Grima – a former North Melbourne and Essendon AFL player who played in a SANFL premiership with Central District in 2007 – has introduced plenty of kids this season and believes the future is bright at Unley.
But the Double Blues have opted not to renew Grima’s contract after two years in charge.
Sturt president Jason Kilic said it had been a difficult decision not to extend Grima’s contract.
“This year (2020), for obvious reasons, has been tough on everyone,’’ he said.
Grima said the club had put contract negotiations on hold until the end of the season as the SANFL works through the financial implications of a season damaged by COVID-19.
“Clearly I'd love to be at the club again next year,’’ Grima said.
“I’d like to see some reward for all the hard work we’ve put in this year.
“We’ve lost a lot of experience in the past 12-to-18 months and tried to rebuild a list in 14 games.
“We’ve played 40 players, introduced 17 new faces and have a really young group, playing an average of 11-to-12 guys aged 22 or under every week.
“We won’t see the fruits of that labour for another 12 months but we think the club is in a really good space, a great spot, and that this year has set us up for our next successful period.
“If we get back a few of our older guys from injury (notably dual Magarey Medallist Zane Kirkwood) and add some pieces to the puzzle with recruiting, we feel we will be a top four team next year.’’
Sturt lost three premiership players to retirement – Sam Colquhoun, Tom Harms and Byron Sumner – after its season-ending loss to premier Glenelg at Unley Oval last Saturday.
While Grima is waiting for a new deal, axed Adelaide assistant Martin Mattner looms large.
He coached Sturt to premierships in his first two years in charge in 2016 and 2017 and fourth in 2018 before joining the Crows.
Woodville-West Torrens premiership coach Michael Godden (Crows), former South Adelaide mentor Brad Gotch (Collingwood) and Port Adelaide AFL assistant coach Scott Thompson also are looking for jobs after losing their AFL gigs.
Of the four SANFL coaches who missed the finals this season, Grima is the only one out of contract.
Norwood coach Jarrod Cotton and West Adelaide mentor Gavin Colville have another year left on their deals while Central District coach Jeff Andrews was sacked after only one year into a three-year contract.
Andrews took nine games to record his first victory as Bulldogs coach after replacing the legendary Roy Laird but his team finished the season strongly, with three wins from its last six matches, including an after-the-siren victory against minor premier Woodville-West Torrens on Saturday.
Cotton, whose injury-riddled side finished a disappointing fifth with a 6-8 record – three wins behind fourth-placed Glenelg – said he expected to stay at The Parade.
“I am contracted for next season and good to go,’’ he said.
“We had an inconsistent season, up and down like a yoyo, but we have some promising young players coming through.’’
Colville’s West won the wooden spoon for the second consecutive year but finished with a strong away win against the Redlegs.
“I am contracted again for next season and the club has been very supportive of me,’’ Colville said.
“I think we clearly need more midfielders for us to go forward – and another key forward would be good – but I’m looking forward to the challenge.’’
MAGAREY MEDAL COUNT TO BE VIRTUAL
THE SANFL Magarey Medal count will be held as a virtual event this year.
In an unprecedented year of firsts because of COVID-19, there will be no official red carpet function, with the count to be broadcast live by Channel 7 on Tuesday, October 13.
In the interests of the health and wellbeing of players, officials and invited guests, the SANFL’s best and fairest will be awarded in a strictly made-for-television event.
The one-hour show will be hosted by Channel 7’s Mark Soderstrom, with John Casey to present the winner of the Magarey Medal at his SANFL club at the end of the night.
SANFL chief executive Jake Parkinson said the decision to adapt to a virtual event was in line with the current COVID climate, while still respecting the rich history of the SANFL’s highest individual accolade.
“The Magarey Medal awards the fairest and most brilliant player in the SANFL and while there won’t be any red carpet and the format of the event will look different this year, the anticipation and excitement of who will be crowned SANFL’s best and fairest will still remain,’’ Parkinson said.
2020 will mark the 116th year of the Magarey Medal, which has been presented every year of the SANFL competition since 1898, with the exception of 1900 and 1904 and the World War I and II years.
In keeping with tradition, the reserves Magarey Medal, U18s McCallum-Tomkins Medal and R.O Shearman Medal winners also will be announced on the night.
The Ken Farmer Medallist as league leading goalkicker will also be recognised.
There are dual winners this year, with last year’s winner Liam McBean from Glenelg tying with Woodville-West Torrens small forward James Rowe.
They both kicked 38 goals in the revamped 14-round home-and-away season.
There will be no South Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees this year because of COVID.
HOSKIN THE HERO
BULLDOGS coach Jeff Andrews called Central’s nailbiting, come-from-behind win against the Eagles to send premiership players Trent Goodrem and Kyle Jenner into retirement on a winning note as “almost a fairytale”.
With regular key forward John Butcher sidelined, the smaller Justin Hoskin proved to be the goalkicking hero with six majors in a dominant, 17-disposal, six-mark display.
And just like a fairytale, it ended perfectly for the number 20, who marked on the edge of the goalsquare in the dying seconds before kicking the winning goal after the final siren at Elizabeth Oval.
This sparked wild scenes among the Bulldogs’ faithful.
The classy Hoskin was superb in front of the sticks, kicking six goals without a miss, including a couple of superb shots on the run.
It was a terrific way to end a tough year for the powerhouse team of the 2000s.
A FIRST FOR SOUTHERN SUBURBS RIVALS
WITH all the rivalry between South Adelaide and Glenelg fans over the years, it seems bragging rights don’t extend to finals.
Amazingly, the Panthers and Tigers – southern suburbs rivals – have only met each other twice in a final since the Bays entered the competition in 1921 and never at Adelaide Oval.
South won the most recent encounter by 51 points in an elimination final in 2011 at Football Park, while the Bays saluted, also in an elimination final, at Football Park in 1992.
This week they meet for the third time in a final, in the knockout first semi at Adelaide Oval.
As in past finals clashes between the two clubs, there will be no second chance for the loser.
PREMIERSHIP CROW LENDS A HELPING HAND AT SOUTH
FORMER South Adelaide star and 1997 Adelaide Crows premiership player Clay Sampson kept a close eye on his son, Hayden, at Noarlunga Oval on Sunday.
He had a bird’s eye view from the scoreboard, acting as scoreboard attendant for the day, as Hayden helped himself to 18 disposals and a goal in the Panthers’ convincing 42-point win against fellow finals contender North Adelaide.
Clay watches most of Hayden’s games and helps the club out by occasionally volunteering as scoreboard attendant as South homes games.
ROUND 14 SCOREBOARDS
SOUTH 3.0 6.2 11.6 13.9 (87)
NORTH 2.2 5.3 5.4 6.9 (45)
BEST – South: Overall, Heaslip, Haines, Cross, Broadbent, Hunter, Highmore, Summerton, Schwarz. North: C. Combe, LeBois, Wigg, W. Combe, C. Craig, Szekely.
GOALS – South: Overall 4, Bogle 2, Heaslip, Hunter, Broadbent, Sampson, Biemans, Wilkinson, Andrews. North: Hender 2, W. Combe, Young, LeBois, Harvey.
INJURIES – South: Sawford (hamstring). North: Allmond (ankle).
UMPIRES – Morgan, Scott. Bowen.
CROWD – 1609 at Noarlunga Oval.
GLENELG 3.2 6.5 7.6 12.8 (80)
STURT 2.8 5.9 9.13 9.13 (67)
BEST – Glenelg: Bailey, Snook, Agnew, Motlop, Parks, Allen, McBean, Park. Sturt: Colquhoun, Fahey-Sparks, Harms, Davis, Battersby, Wundke, Henderson.
GOALS – Glenelg: McBean 4, Kluske, Motlop 2 Slade, Weir, Yates, Bailey. Sturt: Evans, Grivell, Colquhoun 2, Fahey-Sparks, Penfold, McEntee.
UMPIRES – Crosby, Sobieraj, Harris.
CROWD – 2435 at Unley Oval.
CENTRAL 2.3 5.4 7.8 13.10 (88)
EAGLES 4.1 7.2 11.4 13.6 (84)
BEST – Central: Hoskin, Presbury, T Schiller, Kelly, Stephenson, J. Schiller, Boyd, Toner, Olsson, Habel. Eagles: Toumpas, Tsitas, Pudney, Hayes, Comitogianni, Seymour, Foote, Von Bertouch, McNeil.
GOALS – Central: Hoskin 6, Barreau 2, Kelly, Toner, Olsson, Stephenson, Pisani. Eagles: Lowson, Hayes 3, Comitogianni 2, Redden, Toumpas, Tsitas, Rowe, Von Bertouch.
UMPIRES – Millar, Lewis, Schramm.
CROWD – 1671 at Elizabeth Oval.
WEST 0.2 2.5 5.6 8.9 (57)
NORWOOD 1.5 3.6 6.9 6.11 (47)
BEST – West: Stevens, Hupfeld, Duval, Johnson, Turner, Willsmore, Schiller.
Norwood: Nunn, Baulderstone, Shenton, McKenzie, Rokahr, Douglas.
GOALS -West: Johnson 3, Karpany 2, Keough, Duval, Chamberlain
Norwood: Shenton, Grigg, Barry, Bampton, Wilson, Gerloff
UMPIRES — Hundertmark, Burke, Bryce.
CROWD – 1421 at Norwood Oval.