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- CDFC (SANFL), Port Melb (VFL)
Hi Footy fans...
While the minor premiership hadn't totally been decided prior to this past weekend, it'd be hard to believe that it won't end up heading to Unley now. The Blues look like they're on the cusp of something huge, but with that weighing on their minds will it prove to be their downfall? The last few years haven't ended well for Sturt, with straight sets exits sandwiching a Grand Final defeat. The only thing that could possibly have changed for other finals-bound sides would be the make up of the Qualifying Final, which wasn't set in stone as yet with the Bulldogs still in the hunt for a berth prior to this past weekend's action. In any case, the Dogs will contest September but their on-and-off form currently has them in a sudden death Elimination Final, of which a four-way battle is afoot to decide the other combatant -- the feathered foes along Port Road in the Magpies and the Eagles, plus the un-neighbourly duo of the Redlegs and the Roosters, with all four of them set to clash with one another over the final weeks of the minor round... stay tuned my fellow SA footy-heads.
Welcome to the Round 17 Wrap-Up for SANFL 2025.
The first match of the four Saturday afternoon games takes us to the inner north and into the Prospect Oval for the clash between the Roosters and the Tigers. The reigning premiers showed no mercy to the Roosters at Brighton Road back in Round 9, smashing them by 81 points. It was efficiency at its best, with 23 goals from 31 scoring shots, the Roosters kicked 9.11 with 3.5 of that in the second term alone. The Roosters' season is very much on life support, especially after their visit to the Ponderosa last week in a 45-point loss to Centrals, while the Tigers put the Eagles to the sword at Woodville. Despite looking back to their best against the Eagles, they haven't been totally dominating and early on, the Roosters' desperation was winning out. They would lead by a goal at quarter-time, having kicked three to two in the opening stanza along with three behinds each. North were then able to kick to a game-high three-goal advantage deep into second quarter added time after kicking four goals to two, only a last minute goal for the Bays brought that back down to 12 points going into the long break. The Tigers' third quarter was an improvement over their opening half efforts, however as much as they were all over the Roosters, their accuracy kept the door open. They kicked into the lead three minutes in, but then kicked a string of behinds before finding the big sticks again. Glenelg kicked 5.5 to 2.1, going into three quarter-time with a 10-point lead. The final term was a struggle and a half, the home side regaining the lead half-way through the period. But the Tigers would get the final word, a tackle on a Roosters' defender forcing the ball out to a last-touch call within the visitors' attacking zone, with the resulting goal stealing the win. That lone Glenelg major plus three behinds to North's earlier 2.2 would see the premiers victorious by five points. That goal was kicked by eventual Tigers' best on ground James Bell, who finished with 20 disposals, seven clearances and four marks. Cody Raak was named North's best with 22 disposals and 14 marks.
Next up we're heading only a few kilometers over to the Coopers Stadium in Norwood for the battle between east and west, the Redlegs taking on the Bloods. It was a horror afternoon at Richmond back in Round 8, the Redlegs hammering the Bloods to the tune of 104 points. That gap could have been in excess of 20 goals if not for inaccuracy, finishing up with a tally of 19.15. Norwood's finals chances were only slightly better than the Roosters, but their tilt at fifth was put on hold last week by the Crows in their 20-point loss. As for West, the fate they escaped last year looms once again after their loss to the Magpies at home. The Bloods would kick the first couple of goals before the 'Legs found their sticks, they would lead by four points mainly thanks to Norwood's spurned chances with the board reading 3.2 to 2.4. The Redlegs would remain in touch, but stayed behind only thanks to continued missed chances in the second term. Westies kicked four goals without a miss, the 'Legs kicking 3.3 as the home side's lead stretched to seven points going into the half-time break. The Bloods got out to a 13-point lead 11 minutes into the third quarter after kicking two goals to one, but soon enough the Redlegs started to wrest some control, kicking three of the last four goals. They would eventually take the lead just prior to the three quarter-time siren, albeit by only a point after their last shot went wide. The final term was an arm-wrestle, West regaining the lead only a minute in, Norwood again by a point 11 minutes in. Unfortunately, the Bloods just couldn't seal the deal. That one point gap would be the final result, both sides having scored 3.2 as the 'Legs emerged with the win. Nik Rokahr was best for Norwood, with 28 disposals, nine tackles and eight clearances. Caleb May was the Bloods' best afield with 18 disposals, five clearances and the bulk of their 54 hitouts.
The third match for the weekend takes us out to the mid-western suburbs and into the Maughan Thiem Kia Oval in Woodville where the Eagles hosted the Double Blues. It was an afternoon to forget back in Round 11 for the Eagles, the Blues destroying them by little more than 20 goals at Oxford Terrace. In fact, the Blues were more than 100 points up by half-time! This was part one of Sturt's history making run of wins, which equalled Port Adelaide's early 20th century minor round streak of 24. Now they're up to 28 after last weekend, though that was a get out of jail moment after South mounted one hell of a challenge while the Eagles tumbled out of the five after a heavy defeat to the Tigers at home. Sorry to say folks, another early spoiler is coming. The Eagles' opening term was good, they would be a mere seven points adrift at the first change as the Blues kicked two late goals among their 5.3 to 4.2. After this, it was all to be downhill for the home team. The Blues could have been far more brutal on the scoreboard, but the effect was everything. They held the Eagles to just 1.1 and kicked 5.9 for themselves to go into the half-time break with a 39-point lead. The third quarter was another horror show for the Eagles, kept to a lowly three behinds. Sturt's goal-kicking radar was still on the fritz, but they still extended their lead to almost 10 goals with their additional 3.5. By afternoon's end, the streak would be at 29 straight minor round victories for the Blues, though they still skewed several shots it was to be another huge win and stitch up the minor premiership. They kicked 6.5 to 3.1 to finish off with a 81-point win. Angus Anderson was Sturt's best on ground with 26 disposals, six tackles and four each in marks, clearances and free kicks. Max Beattie was the Eagles' best with 21 disposals, six tackles and five marks.
The last of the Saturday games takes us down to the outer southern suburbs and into the Magain Stadium in Noarlunga where the Panthers faced the Crows. The Panthers well and truly let it go back in Round 9, going down by a point. They led by seven kicks at half-time having kept the Crows to just one goal for the whole second half. South didn't kick another goal for the rest of the game, Adelaide slowly but surely reeling them in with the final blow coming in the form of a minor score. The Panthers fell short of a huge upset last week, but much like their outing against the Crows, they couldn't maintain the rage at Unley. Adelaide's win at The Parade all but secured their spot in a Qualifying Final, only a disastrous showing would stuff all that up. It wasn't going to be the case today though, even with the Crows' opening term of 2.4. They kept the Panthers to a miserly three behinds to lead by 13 points at quarter-time. South brought it back to nine points early in the second term but despite Adelaide's continued inaccuracy in the period, that's as close as they got for the rest of the afternoon. By half-time the Crows had taken their advantage to five goals, having scored 4.6 to 2.1. The Bloods would no doubt be living in hope that the wooden spoon may not be theirs just yet. The Crows accuracy improved when play resumed, adding four goals to two in the third quarter to take their lead to 42 points by the final change. To the home side's credit, they finished well with a 4.3 to two goal end quarter, bringing the gap down to 27 points in the finish. Billy Dowling had quite the day out as Adelaide's standout with 41 disposals, eight marks and two goals, while the Panthers named Oliver Davis as their best with 33 dipsosals, nine clearances and five tackles.
The final match for the weekend would take place on the Sunday afternoon at the Alberton Oval where the Magpies took on the Bulldogs. All the way back in Round 4, the Bulldogs ripped the Magpies a new one in their 46-point win at Goodman Road. Port were held to just two goals for the whole first half, then were down by almost 10 goals by three quarter-time before they tried making the final gap a bit more respectable. Centrals were a whole different outfit then, recapturing that same intensity has been a problem since then. The Magpies' finals hopes have been thrown a life-line only thanks to the Eagles' misfortunes, their win against West putting them in fifth. The opening term was a bit of a feeling out period, the Dogs looked a bit lost before long though they were only adrift by a goal at quarter-time after Port kicked three goals to two. The Magpies put a few shots wide in the second term and were challenged during the middle minutes of the period as the Dogs kicked four goals to one, even taking the lead momentarily before the home side answered back with three of their own. Centrals all up kicked 5.2 to 4.4, Port leading by eight points at half-time. When play restarted for the second half, there were more wasted chances on goal by the 'Pies which allowed the Dogs to stay within strike of the lead, though they were coughing up a lot of soft turnovers. It was still to be a two-kick deficit going into the final change, the gap now at 11 points after a 2.4 to 2.1 third term. The Magpies didn't fully put it beyond doubt until deep into time-on, though they should have after kicking the first three goals of the final term. Centrals kept trying, even bringing it back to eight points before one final Magpies goal among their 5.1 to 4.4 sealed a 14-point win. Jeremy Finlayson was Port's best afield with 30 disposals, 17 clearances and four marks, while the Bulldogs named Beau Thomas as their best with 17 dipsosals, eight marks and clearances along with four frees.
FINAL SCORES -- Round 17
Saturday August 9
Glenelg 11.13 (79)
North Adelaide 11.8 (74)
1,707 @ Prospect Oval
Norwood 12.14 (86)
West Adelaide 13.7 (85)
1,498 @ Coopers Stadium, Norwood
Sturt 19.22 (136)
Woodville-West Torrens 8.7 (55)
1,530 @ Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville
Adelaide 12.11 (83)
South Adelaide 8.8 (56)
990 @ Magain Stadium, Noarlunga
Sunday August 10
Port Adelaide 14.10 (94)
Central District 12.8 (80)
1,635 @ Alberton Oval
REPORTS
South -- Dunkin, Ajang, Jefferies (umpire contact)
LEAGUE LADDER
-----------------------------------------------------
Sturt -- 32pts (16-0-0), 64.2%
Glenelg -- 26pts (13-3-0), 59.8%
Adelaide -- 26pts (13-3-0), 58.9%
Central -- 20pts (10-5-0), 53.5%
Port -- 14pts (7-9-0), 47.1%
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Norwood -- 12pts (6-10-0), 52.5%
W-WT -- 12pts (6-10-0), 42%
North -- 8pts (4-12-0), 41.5%
South -- 6pts (3-13-0), 42.8%
West -- 4pts (2-14-0) 36.8%
-----------------------------------------------------
CROWEATER GIRLS END NATIONALS ON A HIGH
The South Australian girls finished the 2025 Marsh AFL-W U-18 National Championships with a 2-2 record after accounting for Victoria Country at Thomas Farms Oval in Unley this past Sunday. They did quite well to do so after losing several key players in the previous weeks to injury, SA beginning with a three goal opening term and holding the visitors to a string of behinds but then the second term came and the Vics stormed back. They returned the first quarter favour and held SA to three minor scores while kicking 2.3 for themselves to bring the gap back to just four points at the long break. However, SA's third term was marvellous, holding the visitors scoreless while scoring 2.5 for themselves to set up a 21-point three quarter-time lead. Vic Country got back on the goal-scorers column in the final term, but the Croweaters would elude them with answers to all challenges. Both kicked three goals in the last quarter as SA finished up 20-point victors to end the national campaign in positive fashion. South Adelaide's Emma Charlton was best for the home side with 22 disposals, four clearances, eight tackles, five marks and a goal, while Eloise Mackareth kicked two goals and Lucy Way inflicted nine tackles. The overall MVP for the Croweaters is undecided at this time.
South Australia 8.10 (58) def. Victoria Country 5.8 (38)
Next weekend in Round 18...
Saturday August 16
South Adelaide vs. Woodville-West Torrens; Magain Stadium, Noarlunga @ 1:10pm
North Adelaide vs. Norwood; Prospect Oval @ 2:10pm
Glenelg vs. Port Adelaide; Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg @ 2:10pm
West Adelaide vs. Sturt; Hisense Stadium, Richmond @ 2:10pm
Central District vs. Adelaide; X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth @ 2:30pm
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
While the minor premiership hadn't totally been decided prior to this past weekend, it'd be hard to believe that it won't end up heading to Unley now. The Blues look like they're on the cusp of something huge, but with that weighing on their minds will it prove to be their downfall? The last few years haven't ended well for Sturt, with straight sets exits sandwiching a Grand Final defeat. The only thing that could possibly have changed for other finals-bound sides would be the make up of the Qualifying Final, which wasn't set in stone as yet with the Bulldogs still in the hunt for a berth prior to this past weekend's action. In any case, the Dogs will contest September but their on-and-off form currently has them in a sudden death Elimination Final, of which a four-way battle is afoot to decide the other combatant -- the feathered foes along Port Road in the Magpies and the Eagles, plus the un-neighbourly duo of the Redlegs and the Roosters, with all four of them set to clash with one another over the final weeks of the minor round... stay tuned my fellow SA footy-heads.
Welcome to the Round 17 Wrap-Up for SANFL 2025.
The first match of the four Saturday afternoon games takes us to the inner north and into the Prospect Oval for the clash between the Roosters and the Tigers. The reigning premiers showed no mercy to the Roosters at Brighton Road back in Round 9, smashing them by 81 points. It was efficiency at its best, with 23 goals from 31 scoring shots, the Roosters kicked 9.11 with 3.5 of that in the second term alone. The Roosters' season is very much on life support, especially after their visit to the Ponderosa last week in a 45-point loss to Centrals, while the Tigers put the Eagles to the sword at Woodville. Despite looking back to their best against the Eagles, they haven't been totally dominating and early on, the Roosters' desperation was winning out. They would lead by a goal at quarter-time, having kicked three to two in the opening stanza along with three behinds each. North were then able to kick to a game-high three-goal advantage deep into second quarter added time after kicking four goals to two, only a last minute goal for the Bays brought that back down to 12 points going into the long break. The Tigers' third quarter was an improvement over their opening half efforts, however as much as they were all over the Roosters, their accuracy kept the door open. They kicked into the lead three minutes in, but then kicked a string of behinds before finding the big sticks again. Glenelg kicked 5.5 to 2.1, going into three quarter-time with a 10-point lead. The final term was a struggle and a half, the home side regaining the lead half-way through the period. But the Tigers would get the final word, a tackle on a Roosters' defender forcing the ball out to a last-touch call within the visitors' attacking zone, with the resulting goal stealing the win. That lone Glenelg major plus three behinds to North's earlier 2.2 would see the premiers victorious by five points. That goal was kicked by eventual Tigers' best on ground James Bell, who finished with 20 disposals, seven clearances and four marks. Cody Raak was named North's best with 22 disposals and 14 marks.
Next up we're heading only a few kilometers over to the Coopers Stadium in Norwood for the battle between east and west, the Redlegs taking on the Bloods. It was a horror afternoon at Richmond back in Round 8, the Redlegs hammering the Bloods to the tune of 104 points. That gap could have been in excess of 20 goals if not for inaccuracy, finishing up with a tally of 19.15. Norwood's finals chances were only slightly better than the Roosters, but their tilt at fifth was put on hold last week by the Crows in their 20-point loss. As for West, the fate they escaped last year looms once again after their loss to the Magpies at home. The Bloods would kick the first couple of goals before the 'Legs found their sticks, they would lead by four points mainly thanks to Norwood's spurned chances with the board reading 3.2 to 2.4. The Redlegs would remain in touch, but stayed behind only thanks to continued missed chances in the second term. Westies kicked four goals without a miss, the 'Legs kicking 3.3 as the home side's lead stretched to seven points going into the half-time break. The Bloods got out to a 13-point lead 11 minutes into the third quarter after kicking two goals to one, but soon enough the Redlegs started to wrest some control, kicking three of the last four goals. They would eventually take the lead just prior to the three quarter-time siren, albeit by only a point after their last shot went wide. The final term was an arm-wrestle, West regaining the lead only a minute in, Norwood again by a point 11 minutes in. Unfortunately, the Bloods just couldn't seal the deal. That one point gap would be the final result, both sides having scored 3.2 as the 'Legs emerged with the win. Nik Rokahr was best for Norwood, with 28 disposals, nine tackles and eight clearances. Caleb May was the Bloods' best afield with 18 disposals, five clearances and the bulk of their 54 hitouts.
The third match for the weekend takes us out to the mid-western suburbs and into the Maughan Thiem Kia Oval in Woodville where the Eagles hosted the Double Blues. It was an afternoon to forget back in Round 11 for the Eagles, the Blues destroying them by little more than 20 goals at Oxford Terrace. In fact, the Blues were more than 100 points up by half-time! This was part one of Sturt's history making run of wins, which equalled Port Adelaide's early 20th century minor round streak of 24. Now they're up to 28 after last weekend, though that was a get out of jail moment after South mounted one hell of a challenge while the Eagles tumbled out of the five after a heavy defeat to the Tigers at home. Sorry to say folks, another early spoiler is coming. The Eagles' opening term was good, they would be a mere seven points adrift at the first change as the Blues kicked two late goals among their 5.3 to 4.2. After this, it was all to be downhill for the home team. The Blues could have been far more brutal on the scoreboard, but the effect was everything. They held the Eagles to just 1.1 and kicked 5.9 for themselves to go into the half-time break with a 39-point lead. The third quarter was another horror show for the Eagles, kept to a lowly three behinds. Sturt's goal-kicking radar was still on the fritz, but they still extended their lead to almost 10 goals with their additional 3.5. By afternoon's end, the streak would be at 29 straight minor round victories for the Blues, though they still skewed several shots it was to be another huge win and stitch up the minor premiership. They kicked 6.5 to 3.1 to finish off with a 81-point win. Angus Anderson was Sturt's best on ground with 26 disposals, six tackles and four each in marks, clearances and free kicks. Max Beattie was the Eagles' best with 21 disposals, six tackles and five marks.
The last of the Saturday games takes us down to the outer southern suburbs and into the Magain Stadium in Noarlunga where the Panthers faced the Crows. The Panthers well and truly let it go back in Round 9, going down by a point. They led by seven kicks at half-time having kept the Crows to just one goal for the whole second half. South didn't kick another goal for the rest of the game, Adelaide slowly but surely reeling them in with the final blow coming in the form of a minor score. The Panthers fell short of a huge upset last week, but much like their outing against the Crows, they couldn't maintain the rage at Unley. Adelaide's win at The Parade all but secured their spot in a Qualifying Final, only a disastrous showing would stuff all that up. It wasn't going to be the case today though, even with the Crows' opening term of 2.4. They kept the Panthers to a miserly three behinds to lead by 13 points at quarter-time. South brought it back to nine points early in the second term but despite Adelaide's continued inaccuracy in the period, that's as close as they got for the rest of the afternoon. By half-time the Crows had taken their advantage to five goals, having scored 4.6 to 2.1. The Bloods would no doubt be living in hope that the wooden spoon may not be theirs just yet. The Crows accuracy improved when play resumed, adding four goals to two in the third quarter to take their lead to 42 points by the final change. To the home side's credit, they finished well with a 4.3 to two goal end quarter, bringing the gap down to 27 points in the finish. Billy Dowling had quite the day out as Adelaide's standout with 41 disposals, eight marks and two goals, while the Panthers named Oliver Davis as their best with 33 dipsosals, nine clearances and five tackles.
The final match for the weekend would take place on the Sunday afternoon at the Alberton Oval where the Magpies took on the Bulldogs. All the way back in Round 4, the Bulldogs ripped the Magpies a new one in their 46-point win at Goodman Road. Port were held to just two goals for the whole first half, then were down by almost 10 goals by three quarter-time before they tried making the final gap a bit more respectable. Centrals were a whole different outfit then, recapturing that same intensity has been a problem since then. The Magpies' finals hopes have been thrown a life-line only thanks to the Eagles' misfortunes, their win against West putting them in fifth. The opening term was a bit of a feeling out period, the Dogs looked a bit lost before long though they were only adrift by a goal at quarter-time after Port kicked three goals to two. The Magpies put a few shots wide in the second term and were challenged during the middle minutes of the period as the Dogs kicked four goals to one, even taking the lead momentarily before the home side answered back with three of their own. Centrals all up kicked 5.2 to 4.4, Port leading by eight points at half-time. When play restarted for the second half, there were more wasted chances on goal by the 'Pies which allowed the Dogs to stay within strike of the lead, though they were coughing up a lot of soft turnovers. It was still to be a two-kick deficit going into the final change, the gap now at 11 points after a 2.4 to 2.1 third term. The Magpies didn't fully put it beyond doubt until deep into time-on, though they should have after kicking the first three goals of the final term. Centrals kept trying, even bringing it back to eight points before one final Magpies goal among their 5.1 to 4.4 sealed a 14-point win. Jeremy Finlayson was Port's best afield with 30 disposals, 17 clearances and four marks, while the Bulldogs named Beau Thomas as their best with 17 dipsosals, eight marks and clearances along with four frees.
FINAL SCORES -- Round 17
Saturday August 9
Glenelg 11.13 (79)
North Adelaide 11.8 (74)
1,707 @ Prospect Oval
Norwood 12.14 (86)
West Adelaide 13.7 (85)
1,498 @ Coopers Stadium, Norwood
Sturt 19.22 (136)
Woodville-West Torrens 8.7 (55)
1,530 @ Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville
Adelaide 12.11 (83)
South Adelaide 8.8 (56)
990 @ Magain Stadium, Noarlunga
Sunday August 10
Port Adelaide 14.10 (94)
Central District 12.8 (80)
1,635 @ Alberton Oval
REPORTS
South -- Dunkin, Ajang, Jefferies (umpire contact)
LEAGUE LADDER
-----------------------------------------------------
Sturt -- 32pts (16-0-0), 64.2%
Glenelg -- 26pts (13-3-0), 59.8%
Adelaide -- 26pts (13-3-0), 58.9%
Central -- 20pts (10-5-0), 53.5%
Port -- 14pts (7-9-0), 47.1%
-----------------------------------------------------
Norwood -- 12pts (6-10-0), 52.5%
W-WT -- 12pts (6-10-0), 42%
North -- 8pts (4-12-0), 41.5%
South -- 6pts (3-13-0), 42.8%
West -- 4pts (2-14-0) 36.8%
-----------------------------------------------------
CROWEATER GIRLS END NATIONALS ON A HIGH
The South Australian girls finished the 2025 Marsh AFL-W U-18 National Championships with a 2-2 record after accounting for Victoria Country at Thomas Farms Oval in Unley this past Sunday. They did quite well to do so after losing several key players in the previous weeks to injury, SA beginning with a three goal opening term and holding the visitors to a string of behinds but then the second term came and the Vics stormed back. They returned the first quarter favour and held SA to three minor scores while kicking 2.3 for themselves to bring the gap back to just four points at the long break. However, SA's third term was marvellous, holding the visitors scoreless while scoring 2.5 for themselves to set up a 21-point three quarter-time lead. Vic Country got back on the goal-scorers column in the final term, but the Croweaters would elude them with answers to all challenges. Both kicked three goals in the last quarter as SA finished up 20-point victors to end the national campaign in positive fashion. South Adelaide's Emma Charlton was best for the home side with 22 disposals, four clearances, eight tackles, five marks and a goal, while Eloise Mackareth kicked two goals and Lucy Way inflicted nine tackles. The overall MVP for the Croweaters is undecided at this time.
South Australia 8.10 (58) def. Victoria Country 5.8 (38)
Next weekend in Round 18...
Saturday August 16
South Adelaide vs. Woodville-West Torrens; Magain Stadium, Noarlunga @ 1:10pm
North Adelaide vs. Norwood; Prospect Oval @ 2:10pm
Glenelg vs. Port Adelaide; Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg @ 2:10pm
West Adelaide vs. Sturt; Hisense Stadium, Richmond @ 2:10pm
Central District vs. Adelaide; X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth @ 2:30pm
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
