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North Adelaide ends South Adelaide’s season and will face Sturt in first semi-final after Eagles bruise Double Blues
FINALS fever has hit Adelaide with two big games in the SANFL on Sunday. North has ended South Adelaide’s season and the Eagles have got one back on reigning premier Sturt and will face Norwood next week. Recap all the action from our live blog.
WOODVILLE-West Torrens got some finals redemption and will take on minor premier Norwood in the second semi-final next week after taking care of Sturt in a tough scrap at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The Eagles triumphed by 21 points in the second game of the SANFL finals double header with a strong defensive effort which kept the reigning premier to just 10 scoring shots. MAGAREY MEDAL: REDLEGS PAIR LEAD LIST OF CHANCES FINALS FLASHBACK: THE FLAG THAT UNITED MERGED EAGLES PANTHER PRIDE: BROOKSBY FOLLOWS IN FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS The bruised Double Blues will face North Adelaide in the first semi-final on Sunday after the Roosters ended South Adelaide’s season in an absorbing elimination final scrap. The Roosters ran out 20 point winners after wresting back momentum of the see-sawing affair from the Panthers in the last term. The failure of both Adelaide and Port Adelaide to qualify for finals action for the first time since 2011 means the SANFL will be front and centre throughout September. SANFL chief executive Jake Parkinson hopes the state league — the highest-scoring elite competition in the nation — could fill the hole left by the AFL clubs on Father’s Day on Sunday. “It’s a great opportunity,” Parkinson said. “Most people have two teams; they’ve got their AFL team and their SANFL team. For the Crows’ fans and the Port Adelaide fans, it’s a chance for them to see their SANFL club play. And all those regular SANFL supporters get the chance to get to Adelaide Oval. “Historically, there has been a rise in numbers if the AFL clubs haven’t performed.” Adding to the intrigue of the SANFL is the open nature of the finals. Norwood will go into September as the firm favourite, but Parkinson said a case could be made for others. “Norwood’s been the standout but Sturt has won the last two so they know how to play Adelaide Oval, the Eagles have been there on a regular basis and North Adelaide and South Adelaide add an X factor to it,” he said.