The droughts broken, the 19th man and more – the decade of SANFL grand finals
From premiership droughts ending to the 19th man saga of 2018, we’ve ranked the SANFL grand finals of the decade.
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There has been plenty of drama, emotion, controversy and celebrations throughout this decade in the SANFL.
West Adelaide, North Adelaide and Glenelg ended sizeable premiership droughts, while Central District’s dominance finally concluded.
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Here are all the SANFL grand finals ranked from 1-10:
10. Norwood 10.12 (72) d North Adelaide 4.8 (32) – 2013
The Redlegs were far and away the standout side of 2013, winning the minor premiership by four games and easily making their way to the decider on their way to a second consecutive title.
The Roosters were the fairytale of the grand final, coming from fifth after beating Central District, Woodville-West Torrens and West Adelaide to remarkably make the grand final.
The Legs were rarely challenged throughout the game, leading by 21 points at halftime on their way to a 40-point victory.
Brett Zorzi would claim the Jack Oatey Medal in the last grand final at Football Park.
9. Norwood 12.7 (79) d West Adelaide 3.12 (30) – 2012
It had been 15 years since the Redlegs last lifted the premiership cup, but it was a dominant way to end the drought.
Norwood had finished the home and away season on top of the table by five games from Central District, which was knocked out in straight sets.
The Legs smashed the Bloods in the semi-final and held them to just two goals.
It was a similar result in the decider, with Norwood up by 47 points at three-quarter-time.
Dean Terlich took home the Jack Oatey Medal as Norwood won by 49 points.
8. Sturt 12.4 (76) d Woodville-West Torrens 7.7 (49) – 2016
After a tough start to the decade, the Double Blues had made their way into the grand final after a tough preliminary final win over Adelaide.
Sturt had finished the year in third, and knocked off South Adelaide first, before losing to the Eagles and then beating the Crows to make it to the grand final.
The Eagles finished as minor premier, and led by three points at quarter-time.
However, Jack Stephens and Magarey Medallist Zane Kirkwood were terrific, and Sturt took over in the third stanza before kicking four goals to two in the final quarter to win.
7. West Adelaide 11.12 (78) d Woodville-West Torrens 7.6 (48) – 2015
It had been over three decades since the Bloods found their colours atop the West End chimney at the end of September.
The Bloods had finished third and knocked off Port Adelaide in the qualifying final to get a shot at the minor premier, the Eagles.
After losing that, they belted Central District in the preliminary final to get another crack.
Westies led at every break before putting their foot down in the last quarter to get the monkey off the back.
Club legend Chris Schmidt was inspirational as he took home the Jack Oatey Medal, while Jason Porplyzia and Kaine Stevens were also great.
6. Central District 10.11 (71) d Norwood 9.11 (65) – 2010
It would be the Doggies’ last flag after their decade of dominance and it was a tough, hard-earned victory.
After leading by three goals at quarter-time, Central saw that lead disappear at the Redlegs booted six unanswered goals to take the advantage.
The Dogs would gain the lead again in the third stanza and held on in the final quarter for a memorable victory.
Ian Callinan cemented his status as a Dogs’ icon by claiming the Jack Oatey Medal.
5. Woodville-West Torrens 12.9 (81) d Central District 11.12 (78) – 2011
After they had won every flag from 2007-10, it looked as if the Bulldogs would be lifting a fifth-successive title after a dominant 2011 campaign.
They had finished on top of the table by three games and had belted Norwood by 44 points in the second-semi final.
The Eagles had the Dogs’ measure in the first quarter, leading by 19 points.
It gradually extended to 21 at halftime and four goals at three-quarter-time before Central came rampaging back.
Yet, the Dogs fell short, with Craig Parry taking home the Jack Oatey Medal.
4. Sturt 7.8 (50) d Port Adelaide 7.7 (49) – 2017
A grind of epic proportions, these two sides belted each other from pillar to post for four quarters.
The Double Blues took an early lead and held off the Magpies with everything possible, including a four-goal bombardment in the final quarter.
Fraser Evans and 2016 heroes Stephens and Kirkwood did the damage for Sturt, with the former taking out the Jack Oatey Medal.
3. Glenelg 11.7 (73) d Port Adelaide 6.9 (45) – 2019
33 painful years came to a massive end for the Tigers, beating fierce rival Port Adelaide in the process.
After dominating the home and away season, Glenelg was stunned by the Magpies in the second-semi final and had to defeat Adelaide in the preliminary final to make it.
Glenelg won the toss and kicked with a strong breeze, opening up a 22-point quarter-time lead and let it go.
Matt Snook dominated, while Josh Scott and former Port Adelaide AFL-listed player Marlon Motlop kicked three goals each.
2. Norwood 12.10 (82) d Port Adelaide 11.12 (78) – 2014
The biggest rivalry in the SANFL was made even more intense as the Magpies became the Power reserves for the first time in 2014, and then they made the grand final.
Just 24 hours after the Power had lost to Hawthorn in the AFL preliminary final, the Magpies took on the Redlegs at Adelaide Oval.
A 22-point quarter-time deficit crippled Port early, but it had cut it back to four by halftime.
Yet, the Redlegs held on to claim their third successive flag, with Matt Panos taking out the Jack Oatey Medal.
1. North Adelaide 19.10 (124) d Norwood 15.15 (105) – 2018
The highest scoring, entertaining and controversial grand final of the decade – 2018 had it all.
North Adelaide, led by Josh Carr, had guided his side to a finals berth, but had finished fifth.
The Roosters then knocked out South Adelaide and Sturt on their way to the preliminary final.
After coming back from 47 points down to defeat the Eagles by five points to book a grand final berth, it was discovered the Roosters had played with 19 men on the field during part of the final quarter.
After a length tribunal hearing on the Monday prior to the grand final, the Roosters’ win stood but they were fined $10,000 and docked four premiership points for the 2019 season.
In one of the most enthralling deciders in years, the Roosters opened up a five-point lead at quarter-time, despite having five less scoring shots.
They held that exact lead at halftime and three-quarter-time, before running away with the game in the final quarter.
Mitch Grigg was massive for the Redlegs with six goals and became the first player of a losing grand final side to win the Jack Oatey Medal.
It was also the highest scoring grand final in the SANFL since 1983, when West Adelaide (142) defeated Sturt (108) at Football Park.