SANFL Round 15: Crows make statement, Bloods celebrate, team of week

Who’s hot, who’s not, team of the week and all you need to know from Round 15. We take you behind the scenes of Australia’s best state league competition.

Andrew Capel

@andrewcapel

5 min read

July 19, 2022 - 6:00AM

Replay: SANFL - Port Adelaide vs West Adelaide (League)

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West Adelaide snaps its long losing streak, Norwood and Sturt steal late wins and Woodville-West Torrens’ hopes of a three-peat are in serious jeopardy.

They were the big headlines out of an action-packed Round 15 of the SANFL where Adelaide upset North Adelaide in Whyalla to jump to the top of the premiership table.

Here’s all you need to know about Round 15, which has left only one win separating first from fifth.

Glenelg’s Jack Yates applies a strong tackle on Woodville-West Torrens’ Dylan Clarke in the Tigers’ convincing win at the Bay. Picture: Matt Loxton

Port Adelaide ruckman Sam Hayes jumps high to win the tap in the Magpies’ loss to West Adelaide. Picture: SANFL / David Mariuz

ROUND 15 SCOREBOARD

Glenelg 13.8 (86) d Woodville-West Torrens 9.7 (61)

Sturt 8.8 (56) d Central District 6.16 (52)

West Adelaide 12.9 (81) d Port Adelaide 7.12 (54)

Adelaide 10.15 (75) d North Adelaide 6.12 (48)

Norwood 6.11 (47) d South Adelaide 6.8 (44)

POWER RANKINGS

1. Adelaide

(10-4: Toppled previous ladder leader North at a windswept Bennett Oval in Whyalla to move top on percentage. The Crows, who have benefited from a lack of injuries at AFL level, have convincingly beaten the Roosters and Tigers in the past three weeks. But what team will they field in the finals?).

2. North Adelaide

10-4: Managed only two goals from nine scoring shots in the first quarter with the wind against Adelaide and paid a heavy price. Consecutive defeats has left coach Jacob Surjan vowing to make some selection moves. “We are going to have to make some changes and get some guys in who are hungry,’’ he said).

3. Glenelg

(10-4: Faced a crunch game against the Eagles and produced an outstanding first half at the Bay, kicking eight goals to nil to retain a top three spot. Is only percentage behind top position in an incredibly tight finals race).

4. Norwood

(9-5: Took a major step towards a finals spot and possibly pinching the double chance thanks to a late Connor McLean goal against South when the game looked to be slipping away. Has now won five consecutive matches and is the form team of the competition).

5. Sturt

(9-5: Desperately held on following a late charge from Central at Elizabeth to pinch a vital four-point victory which pushed it back into the top five. Is battling injuries to its prime midfielders but if it can get its best team on the park will be dangerous).

6. Woodville-West Torrens

(8-6: The Eagles’ hopes of a three-peat are in serious jeopardy after they were put to the sword by Glenelg in the first half at the Bay, being kept goalless. Have rarely been able to field their best team this season and are paying the price with inconsistent performances. Faces a battle just to make the finals).

7. South Adelaide

(6-8: Lost another close one against Norwood after seemingly being in control in the last quarter. The Panthers don’t lack for spirit or desire but injuries to key players, including joint Magarey Medallist Bryce Gibbs, and close losses will see them miss the finals).

8. Central District

(4-10: Second half of the season revival continued with a strong performance against Sturt, despite ultimately coming up short. The Bulldogs are making nice strides towards a finals push in 2023. “We are proud of our growth,’’ coach Paul Thomas said).

9. Port Adelaide

(3-11: Can’t get any continuity with selection because of injuries at AFL level and, despite winning inside 50s by 13, became West’s first victim of the season. “We discussed (with the players) if you can’t execute under pressure at league level you can’t win games of footy,’’ coach Matthew Lokan said).

10. West Adelaide

(1-13: What a day of celebration it was at Richmond. After 441 days - and 26 consecutive losses - the Bloods finally tasted victory when they upset Port at home. It was great reward for the players, coaching staff and officials who have worked tirelessly to turn things around at the club).

West Adelaide players celebrate a Riley Corbett final quarter goal that sealed the win against Port Adelaide at Richmond Oval on Saturday. Picture: SANFL / David Mariuz

NUMBERS GAME

(Top 12 Champion Data ranking points)

Hamish Hartlett (West) 157

Lachlan Sholl (Adelaide) 157

Matthew Snook (Glenelg) 155

Liam McBean (Glenelg) 150

Matthew Broadbent (South) 149

Casey Voss (Sturt) 148

Keegan Brooksby (South) 148

Sam Mayes (Port) 140

Guy Page (Sturt) 138

Zac Taylor (Adelaide) 133

Daniel Fahey-Sparks (Sturt) 131

Cam Sutcliffe (Port) 129

THE STAT

Goals kicked into the wind at the northern end of Whyalla’s Bennett Oval between Adelaide and North Adelaide.

Crows ruckman Kieran Strachan managed the only major against the wind - 22 minutes into the first quarter.

Eagle Joseph Sinor lays a crunching tackle on Tiger Cooper Horsnell at the Bay on Saturday. Picture: Matt Loxton

FLYING HIGH

(Mark of the week)

Joey Haines (South)

The veteran Panthers defender took two beauties in defence in 90 seconds in the second quarter against Norwood at Noarlunga.

The first was running back with the flight of the ball in front of Redlegs key forward Ben Jarvis and the second was a high leap over Norwood debutant Mitch Carroll, illustrating his athleticism.

SAY WHAT

(Quotes of the week)

“I’m a bit emotional now, it (a win) has been a long time coming. I feel really good for the boys, they showed what they can do. The players deserved that win, everyone did their bit.’’

West coach Brad Gotch.

“When you don’t have the game looking exactly how you want but find a way to get over the line, they’re some of the most precious wins you’ll have. We were under a heap of stress from quarter-time onwards. This group does believe.’’

Norwood coach Jade Rawlings.

“We got our noses in front and could have put them away but we coughed the ball up and fell over in critical moments. They took the moments that were there to be done and we didn’t. It’s the fifth (close) game we’ve lost this year. We need to continue to get better in those (tight) moments. We’re three wins out (of the top five) now and we need to win every game and need (other) results to go our way, so it (making finals) is going to be hard.”

South coach Jarrad Wright.

“We are going to have to make some changes and get some guys in who are hungry. We need to keep focusing on what we can control. We are happy with where we are at but we are going to have to adapt the team a bit.’’

North coach Jacob Surjan.

“(Finals) is not a focus of mine right now. The focus is on next week and how we can play better footy and get back to our Eagles brand, which is unsociable and contested. We haven’t been that consistently and we have to get back to that.’’

Eagles coach Jade Sheedy.

“We have been hard hit with injury and Covid and I thought did a good job, especially early with our starting midfield out. I thought we made the most of the wind early but in the end it

was just good to get the win. We will have players coming back soon so we are looking

good when they do.’’

Sturt coach Martin Mattner.