Ruckless Roosters overpower hapless Tigers
NORTH Adelaide played without a ruckman for three quarters against Glenelg on Saturday and still cruised to an 87-point victory.
NORTH Adelaide played without a ruckman for three quarters against Glenelg on Saturday and still cruised to an 87-point victory.
The loss of bigman James Craig to an ankle injury left Lewis Johnston, Nathan Gordon and Tom Langford taking turns against Tiger giant Lachlan Button and although Button finished with 61 hit outs and 15 clearances, the Roosters were never threatened.
"We'd discussed setting up to losing ruckmen and I think our guys did that pretty well today," North coach Josh Francou said.
"It was a good result. There's still that perception - and I think it's a hangover from previous years - that we lose games we're expected to win. To come here and get the job done was pleasing."
The Tigers - looking for a response after a 102 point loss to Norwood last week - hung in for three quarters but completely capitulated in an eight goal to one final term.
"Did the group give up? It appeared that way didn't it," Glenelg coach Kris Massie said.
"It appeared like we just completely lost our way in the last quarter. There was no real resistance to the opposition."
Johnston's effort to hurt Button around the ground was impressive while midfielders Nick Amato, Jay Shannon and Max Thring all won plenty of the ball - and importantly kicked goals.
"We had 11 goal scorers again," Francou said.
"That's been one of our strengths."
But the shining light was half forward Cohen Thiele whose skill level remained high despite the muddy conditions.
He had 25 disposals and four goals and gave Tigers youngster Matt Scharenberg an important lesson on his way to the AFL.
North is in a nice position - sitting second on the table with arguably the easiest run home of any of the top sides and with five first-choice players to bring back in before finals.
Skipper Greg Gallman is expected to return from a broken jaw next week, while Francou will also have to find room for George Thring, Luke Ivens, Joe Anderson and Daniel Stewart in the run home.
Glenelg's prospects couldn't be much worse.
The Tigers have lost their past three games by a total of 263 points - and while a trip to South Adelaide next weekend offers hope - the reality is Glenelg hardly has anyone in form.
Yesterday's joint 150 game milestones for Ty Allen and Ruory Kirkby were a sobering reminder of how far those two champions have fallen this year.
Kirkby, after kicking 171 goals from 2009-12, has just 12 from nine games this year.
Francou showed him respect by refusing to move Todd Miles into the ruck when Craig went down, but Kirkby finished with just six disposals.
Allen has been similarly ineffective, failing to rate in Glenelg's best players once this season after earning that recognition 10 times in 18 games last year.
"Ruory's obviously come back from a knee injury," Massie said.
"Ty openly admits he's been down on form. Both guys on their own standards have been disappointing and they'd be the first to admit that."
NORTH 4.2 8.7 13.8 21.11 (137)
GLENELG 2.3 4.4 6.7 7.8 (50)
Best - North: Thiele, Johnston, Campbell, Amato, Shannon, Thring, Miles. Glenelg: Button, Clurey, Tapp, Nicholson.
Goals - North: Thiele 4.0, Johnston 3.1, Thring 3.0, Amato, Langford 2.1, Shannon 2.0, Gordon 1.3, Ryswyk 1.1, O'Sullivan, Campbell, Thompson 1.0, Williams, Kangur, Gregg 0.1, rushed 0.1. Glenelg: Kirkby 2.1, Hitchcock 1.1, McFarlane, Allen, Tapp, Gill 1.0, Hayes 0.2, McNeil, Mules, Davenport 0.1, rushed 0.1.
Injuries/reports - North: Craig (ankle).
Umpires - Philp, Oates, Hundertmark