In an emotional day at Richmond Oval West Adelaide paid tribute to seriously injured defender Sam May with a major win

With a seriously injured defender in hospital, West Adelaide paid tribute to their teammate in the best way.

The Bloods did it for Sam.

In an emotional day at Richmond Oval on Saturday, a spirited West Adelaide paid tribute to seriously injured defender Sam May by producing a scintillating second half to thump South Adelaide by 67 points in the biggest win in the Adam Hartlett coaching era.

Five days after May was flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital after being badly hurt in a fall at a Port Lincoln Hotel following the Bloods’ SANFL loss to Norwood in the Eyre Peninsula, Hartlett’s gritty outfit responded with an inspirational win.

West Adelaide footballer Sam May is in a serious condition in Royal Adelaide Hospital after an incident at a Port Lincoln hotel. Picture: Supplied

South’ Sam Skinner spoils West’s Ned Stevens’ attempt to mark.. Picture: Dean Martin

“It’s been a tough, draining week and we would have loved Sam to have been with us and to have been able to celebrate this win with us, he was always back of mind,’’ Hartlett said after his players left the suburban ground to a standing ovation from their supporters.

“Early in the week - the Sunday and Monday - were a couple of the worst days of my life, but we started to get some positive news about Sam and his recovery, so once that information started filtering through on Tuesday, it certainly helped.

“He is such a strong and resilient young man, that’s Sammy to a tee, he’s just a fighter and is doing his best to come out the other side of it.

“We put it to the boys on Wednesday morning whether they wanted to play or not and everyone wanted to play, both for the club and for Sammy, which is a testament to this young group.’’

West’s Liam Delahunty confronted by South’s Elliot Duncin. Picture Dean Martin

May is understood to have awoken from his induced coma but remains in a serious but stable condition at the RAH after sustaining major head injuries.

Tears flowed as the West players celebrated their second win of the season with their 17.10 (112) to 6.9 (45) victory.

The victory followed the Bloods’ Round 2 win against Port Adelaide and was the first time the club had cracked 100 points in a game since Hartlett began his SANFL league coaching career last year.

After losing their reserves contest to the Panthers by five points, the Bloods began their league clash brilliantly to kick two goals in the opening four minutes.

But they trailed by a point at quarter-time and led by six points at halftime before bursting to life in the third term, kicking four goals in seven scintillating minutes to break to a decisive 30-point advantage.

West kicked right away in the final term on the way to booting 13 second half goals to winless South’s three.

Tough, inside midfielders Kobe Ryan (33 disposals, two goals) and Brady Searle (27 disposals, eight clearances) were outstanding for the Bloods, along with captain Isaac Johnson (21 disposals, two goals) and talls Will Patton (12 marks), Dylan Bramich and Riley Corbett.

Significantly, West shared the load, having 11 goalkickers.

“It’s nice being able to kick 100 points and having so many good players, it was a really even team effort,’’ Hartlett said.

WEST 3.3 4.6 10.8 17.10 (112)

SOUTH 3.4 3.6 4.7 6.9 (45)

BEST - West: K. Ryan, Patton, Bramich, Corbett, Johnson, Searle, Thackeray, Frost, Meline. South: McCarty, Davis, Skinner, Dunkin.

GOALS - West: Delahunty 3, N. Stevens, Redfern, K. Ryan, Johnson 2, Thackeray, Minchella, D. White, Laudato, Corbett, Maguire. South: Fitt 2, Freitag, Summerton, Howes, Rogers.

INJURIES - South: Megins (ankle).

UMPIRES - Millar, Bowen, Beyer.

CROWD - 1210 at Hisense Stadium, Richmond.