- May 8, 2001
- 5,667
- 818
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
- Other Teams
- CDFC (SANFL), Port Melb (VFL)
Hi Footy fans...
This past weekend, South Australian football was in shock. We now mourn the passing of another true titan of the game. It has been just over half a year since we lost Russell Ebert to illness, now in tragic circumstances we have lost Neil Kerley. He was the embodiment of determination, whether it was on the field or as the teacher on both sides of the fence. Never one to take a backward step to anything or anyone, let alone to those on the other side of the border to the south-east. His battles against the Big V, especially his exchanges with Mr. Football Ted Whitten were the stuff of legend. He could very well have brought his qualities across the border to Victoria, but his love for home -- and football politics of the time -- kept him here. Because of this, he took four clubs to the promised land, dragging lowly teams up from the bottom of the ladder and delivering premierships. His original side West Adelaide on two occasions, the Panthers to their last flag in 1964 and what everyone thought would be the last Grand Final at the Adelaide Oval with the Tigers before the move to West Lakes. He was also one of the cogs behind the scenes in the formation of the Adelaide Football Club ahead of their 1991 debut season. His mark on SA football, indeed the game, will be forever remembered and celebrated. On behalf of all SA footy-heads... rest in peace Knuckles.
LONG LIVE THE KING.
Welcome to the Round 13 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.
This weekend in salute of our honoured deceased, all teams wore black armbands. The first match of four Saturday games takes us to the ACH Group Stadium in Glenelg where the Tigers would host the Crows. The last time these two sides met, the Crows were left to wonder what the hell happened when they dropped points in Round 3. They went from a point up at quarter-time to 40 points ahead at the long break after keeping the Tigers goal-less in the second term. But the Tigers repaid the favour in the third term, keeping Adelaide goal-less while scoring 10 goals for themselves. Glenelg ran out 15-point winners in the end in a shocking turnaround. Last weekend the Crows sent out a massive warning to the competition with a near 10-goal hammering of the Panthers, while the Tigers were victorious in their outing against the Magpies by 39 points at Alberton. Well, today was going to be a heavy reality check for the Tigers. The home side would score 2.3 while the Crows were far cleaner in goal, scoring 6.1 to take a 22-point lead come quarter-time. But then the real lesson came in the second term as the Crows asked some serious questions of the Tigers' premiership credentials. By the end of the second half, the Crows would take their lead out to 62 points, scoring a further 6.5 and keeping the Tigers to just one lousy behind. The Tigers did have plenty of opportunities, a great deal of the stats were in their favour by game's end. It was Adelaide's better movement that made the difference, turning what should have been a top-five contest into a near no-contest. The Tigers' outscoring of the Crows in the third quarter would come as mere cold comfort to the Glenelg faithful, scoring five goals without a miss to 2.2 to bring the gap back to 46 points come three quarter-time. But then the Crows threw one last grenade into the home camp, finishing off the game with a 5.4 to one goal final term to win by 74 points, sending out an even louder warning to the league than last week. Matt Crouch continues to bang on the door of the Crows selectors, notching up 41 disposals, 11 clearances and scoring two goals. Darcy Bailey was Glenelg's standout on a bleak afternoon, with 34 disposals and four tackles.
The next contest sends us to the northern suburbs for the longest away trip in SANFL footy as the Bulldogs took on the Panthers at the X-Convenience Oval in Elizabeth. These sides last met in the season opener down at Noarlunga, the Panthers fending off a plucky Dogs side to win by five points. The Dogs fought hard but couldn't hold onto a slender lead in the dying minutes, after coming back from a four-kick half-time gap. Both sides copped a quick return to earth after respective victories during the mid-year bye cycle, the Dogs going down to the Roosters by 38 points after their upset of the reigning premiers in the previous round, while the Panthers' win over North two weeks ago was a distant memory when the Crows smashed them by 59 points at Noarlunga last week. The Panthers had the bulk of the possession in the opening stanza, but didn't make the most of their chances and would keep the door well open for the Dogs. The Panthers would lead by eight points at quarter-time, though they could have been at least 20 up with the board reading 2.3 to 1.1. The Dogs hit back in the second term and would hit the front seven minutes in, they kept the Panthers to just 1.1 whilst scoring three goals for themselves to lead by three points at the half-time break. One thing that Centrals have not done this year is just give up and throw the towel in, its been their decision making going on the attack that has been the issue. While their loss to the Roosters was probably disappointing it wasn't too surprising, but their endeavour against a seemingly faltering reigning premier was unquestionable. The Panthers still seemed rattled by their heavy defeat to Adelaide. Their third term looked as though perhaps they found a bit of their form that they found against North two weeks ago, re-taking the lead twice and holding onto it going into the final term. South scored 4.1 to the Bulldogs' 2.2 to lead by eight points once more at three quarter-time. A further pair of majors in the first five minutes saw the visitors stretch that lead to 20 points and it looked as though Centrals were going to be overrun. But then the Doggies found their stride and halted the momentum, keeping South to just one more goal whilst scoring 4.2 for themselves to even it up deep into time-on. Then came the rapture that only a late behind can bring, the Bulldogs' last score coming just before the siren sounded to signal a one-point victory. Kyle Presbury was the hero that delivered that final blow, named best for Centrals with 30 disposals and five marks. For the Panthers, it was Hayden Sampson with 27 disposals, five marks and three goals.
Game number three would send us back toward town but with a stop at the inner northern suburbs and into the Prospect Oval where the Roosters clashed with the Magpies. In their last outing back in Round 8, the Roosters only had to put up with one quarter of resistance from the Magpies at Alberton, winning by 47 points. It was a four-goal gap at quarter-time, the Magpies bringing it back to 10 points at the long break before being held to just one goal for the rest of the game as the Roosters romped away with the win. The Roosters were the only one of these two sides to win last week, taking out the northern derby at Elizabeth by 38 points while the Magpies were far too inefficient in attack against Glenelg at home and copped a 39-point defeat. The Magpies would field probably their weakest side in history, with a number of top-up players coming in. This Port Adelaide outfit were about to walk into an ambush of biblical proportions, because the Roosters were about to get brutal. Perhaps in what could be considered a rebuttal of the Crows' hammering going on at Brighton Road, the Roosters put their foot on the throat of the Magpies and never took it off, running away to a 31-point quarter-time lead after kicking 6.2 to one behind. Port still wouldn't find the big sticks in the second term, managing just two behinds while the Roosters continued to pile it on with a further 5.1 to take their advantage out to an even 11 goals going into the sheds at the long break. There would be a good deal of North fans, especially in front of the Taj Mahal bar on the southern side of Prospect Oval, that would have been relishing this. In fact, when the Magpies finally found the goals in the third quarter, that would end up being the only goal they got. Circumstances are different, no doubt. But will the taunts of "one goal in mind" be a thing of the past? That goal, plus a behind against the home side's additional 6.6 saw the Roosters' advantage blow up to almost 16 goals by three quarter-time. Some inaccuracy in the final term probably went down like a lead balloon for a small group of fans, but such a dominant performance can't be dismissed even if the opposition wasn't very opposing. North finished off with a 4.7 to nothing final term to run out 21-goal victors. Andrew Moore was North's best afield with 36 disposals, 13 marks and four tackles. The Magpies named Cam Sutcliffe as their standout with 27 disposals and six tackles.
The last of the Saturday games now takes us through the city and to the inner southern suburb of Unley, the Double Blues and the Bloods fronting up at the Wigan Oval. The Blues really only needed one solid quarter of football to put away the Bloods back in Round 1 at Richmond, winning by 43 points. They opened the match kicking six goals to one, then despite their wayward shooting from there would have no trouble keeping the Bloods well away from any late upset. The Blues were wasteful in their third quarter against Norwood last week, they attempted a last term comeback but their wayward shooting put them 26 points short. The Bloods still can't buy a win, unable to repeat Centrals' upset of the Eagles the week before as they went down to the premiers by 20 points at home. The Blues didn't get away to a fast start this time around, only managing 2.3 in the opening term. But the Bloods would score one behind to start with, allowing the Blues to start the game with a 14-point quarter-time lead. Sturt would then have a stellar second quarter, keeping the lowly Bloods to four behinds whilst bagging 5.3 for themselves to go into the half-time break with a 43-point game-breaking lead. There really wasn't going to be any comeback from here, lets be honest. A win of any description was back in their premiership season of 2015, you have to look a little further for one at Oxford Terrace. The streak of defeats at Unley for the Bloods is nearly a decade long, their last win at the Blues' home deck coming back in 2013. Those victories seemed so far away today. To the Bloods' credit, they cut the gap down a little by the three quarter-time siren, but could have done so much better with their accuracy. They scored 3.2 to 1.1, reducing the deficit to five goals. If only they could have kept up the pressure in the final term, the bug biting again as Westies scored 1.4 as the home side added 3.2 to their tally to run out 40-point victors. Casey Voss continues to be one of Sturt's big contributors, taking best afield honours with 27 disposals and 13 marks. For the Bloods, Patrick Fairlie was again best on ground with 28 disposals, 14 tackles and 11 clearances.
The final game to close out the weekend's action took place on the Sunday afternoon at the Maughan Thiem Kia Oval in Woodville, where the Eagles clashed with the Redlegs. It came down to one last roll of the dice in the last stoush between these sides back in Round 2, a wasteful final term in front of goal and a smothered kick for goal allowed the defending premiers to escape with a two-point victory under the lights of The Parade. Earlier, it was the Eagles with the goal-kicking issues, scoring 4.7 to begin with but finished far cleaner for the rest of the game. Both sides came into this game as winners from last week, the Eagles overcame a slow start to continue the Bloods' 2022 pain, while the Redlegs were victorious against the Blues at home by 26. In the lead-up to the match, the Redlegs lost their current captain and the former captain, then their coach to quarantine protocols. But any idea that this would rattle the 'Legs would be thrown right out the window as they kept the Eagles to just two behinds whilst scoring 3.4 for themselves to lead by 20 points at quarter-time. That lead was extended to 32 points before the Eagles finally found the big sticks, they had cut the gap back to as low as 13 points before late pair of goals restored Norwood's earlier advantage and then some. A 4.1 to 3.2 second term saw the Redlegs back out to a 25-point advantage come half-time. In contrast to their first term, those four goals kicked were against the wind. The Redlegs continued to outwork the Eagles in the third term, but hit a rough patch in front of goal. They did keep the Eagles to just one goal, so were still able to add to the deficit despite the inaccuracy. They scored 2.5 to take their lead to six goals going into the final change. The gap would stretch to 41 points within 90 seconds of the restart, then the Eagles made a mid-term last ditch attempt to salvage some pride. They got within three straight kicks late in the quarter and with the term going as long as 30 minutes, probably wouldn't have been beyond their reach. Alas, the visitors would leave with a four-goal victory, after a final term score of 4.2 to the Eagles' 6.2. The Redlegs named Jay Rantall as their best afield, racking up 36 disposals, eight tackles and scoring three goals. The Eagles would vote in Riley Knight for another week running, with 35 disposals and 11 clearances.
FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 13 OF THE SANFL...
Saturday July 2
Adelaide 19.12 (126)
Glenelg 8.4 (52)
2,087 @ ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg
Central District 10.6 (66)
South Adelaide 10.5 (65)
1,113 @ X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth
North Adelaide 20.16 (136)
Port Adelaide 1.4 (10)
2,017 @ Prospect Oval
Sturt 11.9 (75)
West Adelaide 4.11 (35)
1,824 @ Wigan Oval, Unley
Sunday July 3
Norwood 13.12 (90)
Woodville-West Torrens 10.6 (66)
1,811 @ Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville
INJURIES
Sturt -- Wilson (shoulder), Thiele (hamstring)
REPORTS
West -- Gore, Sinderberry (rough conduct)
LEAGUE LADDER
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North -- 20pts (10-2-0), 60.2%
Adelaide -- 18pts (9-3-0), 58.6%
Glenelg -- 18pts (9-3-0), 53.9%
Norwood -- 14pts (7-5-0), 53.4%
Sturt -- 14pts (7-5-0), 51.9%
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W-WT -- 14pts (7-5-0), 51.3%
South -- 10pts (5-7-0), 47.5%
Central -- 6pts (3-9-0), 42.3%
Port -- 6pts (3-9-0), 41.2%
West -- 0pts (0-12-0), 38.9%
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JUNIOR CROWEATERS GIVEN THE SLIP IN THE WET
The South Australian U-16 side went down to Victoria Metro in their second match of their National Championship series at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast on Tuesday. The Croweaters started brightly in the first half, leading by five points at quarter-time and then extending that out to 19 points going into the sheds as the Vics had a horrid second term in front of their goal. But when the teams returned for the second half, they came out different outfits as the Metro kids kept SA to just three behinds and scored 5.5 for themselves to overturn the half-time gap in their favour. One of those behinds was from a set shot as the conditions got quite slippery. The Croweaters mounted a comeback in the final term, but despite keeping the Vics to just 1.2, their own inaccuracy issues would allow Metro to escape with a three-point win after conceding 3.6. An unlucky afternoon for SA, who had lost their captain in Sid Draper to injury in the match against Western Australia last week. Key forward Charlie West was best afield, kicking four goals. The junior Croweaters have one last assignment this coming Saturday against Victoria Country at the Thebarton Oval.
Victoria Metro 9.14 (68) def. South Australia 9.11 (65)
VALE JOHN ROBINSON
From the SANFL website, thanks to Peter Cornwall.
SANFL is mourning the passing of League Life Member and great of Glenelg John Robinson.
The long-serving player, coach and official died on July 2, aged 87. Robinson carved out an impressive playing career at Port Adelaide and Glenelg before serving the game he loved from the other side of the fence for the rest of his life. Awarded SANFL Life Membership in 2007, Robinson incredibly played in premierships in each of the four grades – including two league premierships – in the space of six years at Alberton. He captained Port’s junior colts premiership side in 1951, added a senior colts flag in ’52, played in the back pocket in league grand final wins against West in 1954 and Norwood in ’55 and in 1956 played in the Magpies’ seconds grand final win. Robinson was tallish for his era at 183cm but was wiry, weighing just 65kg to be one of the lightest men in SA footy. It was his pace and rebound that made him a formidable back pocket player. In the days before interchange players he would stand the ‘resting’ rovers and use his height against them to win the ball and explosive speed to dash clear.
Robinson’s association at Glenelg was over a remarkable 65 years. He played 46 league games for the Tigers between 1957-59, was junior colts coach (1960), senior colts coach (1961-62), selector (1967-70 and 1992-94), chairman of selectors (1978-80), committeeman for two decades from 1975-95, chairman for nine seasons from 1987-95, recruiter for many years and a member of the Hall of Fame selection committee from its inception in 2001 until this year. His phenomenal achievements elevated him to Greats of Glenelg status, one of just 18 people to have gained the highest honour the club can bestow on its players or officials. After helping the Tigers reach the preliminary final in 1959 he was keen to contribute in off-field roles, determined to give the players support he felt was not always prevalent at the Bay in the late ’50s. Robinson, a methodical, commonsense thinker who was respected by management, coaches, players and volunteers alike, helped supply the off-field strength needed for on-field success.
He also was a long-time contributor to the SANFL as a club delegate and director, while he made an outstanding contribution to the sport’s development as a member of the SANFL Football Development Foundation from 1995-2005. And he served on the South Australian School Football Association executive for a decade.
SANFL and the SA Football Commission extends its deepest sympathy to the Robinson family as it honours John’s outstanding service to the game in South Australia.
John Robinson -- Honours list
Port Adelaide (1954-56) 42 games
Glenelg (1957-59) 46 games, 3 goals
SANFL total: 88 games
Glenelg Football Club chairman 1987-95
Glenelg Life Member 1975
Great of Glenelg
SANFL League Life Member 2007
VALE NEIL KERLEY
He was a giant of the game and one of South Australia's real characters. Tough as nails, but always fair. In his time, he was the OG of SA football and its all-round hardest geezer. He was our king.
Born in Barmera in 1934, he made his way to Adelaide in the early 1950's to begin his football journey at West Adelaide as an 18-year old. His first taste of premiership success came in 1961, one of the SANFL's infamous premiership deciders labelled the "Turkish Bath" Grand Final against Norwood. A season later, to the dismay and anger of Bloods supporters, Westies showed him the door in the aftermath of a Grand Final loss to Port Adelaide. He ended up at South Adelaide in 1963, a year that also saw him captain the South Australian side to a famous victory against Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Panthers' premiership victory in 1964 would have gone down like a lead balloon with those Bloods fans that bayed for the WAFC board's heads, that flag still to this day South's last big hurrah. He further cemented his reputation as a miracle worker for lowly clubs after his playing days finished in 1969 after spending his last three years with Glenelg, He continued to coach the Tigers up to 1976, taking out the 1973 flag in what at the time was going to be the last SANFL decider to be played at the Adelaide Oval for over 40 years. His return to Richmond Oval in 1981 would bring him rewards only two years later, winning the 1983 premiership after 22 years in the wilderness. These are just his major accomplishments in the game. For more on the King, best have a look at the link posted below. He will be honoured with a state funeral, more details will be coming soon.
Neil Kerley -- Honours list
PLAYING RECORD
165 games and 87 goals with West Adelaide, 1952-1963
56 games with South Adelaide, 1964-1966
55 games and 36 goals with Glenelg, 1967-1969
32 games for South Australia, captain 1959-1962 and 1965-1966.
COACHING RECORD
182 with West Adelaide in three stints, 1961-1962, 1981-1984 and 1992-1993
66 with South Adelaide, 1964-1966
223 with Glenelg, 1967-1976
89 with West Torrens, 1977-1980
68 with Central District, 1988-1990
Win-loss record of 365-260 with three draws
Also coached South Australia in 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1978 and in Origin matches in 1979, 1980 and 1984.
PREMIERSHIPS
1961 and 1964 as captain-coach; 1973 and 1983 as coach.
INDIVIDUAL HONOURS
Best-and-fairest at West Adelaide four times (1958, 1959, 1961 and 1962) and at Glenelg once (1967); All-Australian, 1961 (as vice-captain after the Brisbane carnival); Australian and South Australian Foootball Hall of Fame; inaugural inductee and legend in West Adelaide Hall of Fame
SANFL article on Neil -- South Australian Football loses its King - SANFL
Next weekend in Round 14...
Saturday July 9
West Adelaide vs. Central District; Hisense Stadium, Richmond @ 1:10pm
South Adelaide vs. Glenelg; Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga @ 2:05pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. Port Adelaide; Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville @ 2:10pm
Norwood vs. North Adelaide; Coopers Stadium, Norwood @ 2:10pm
Sunday July 10 @ 2:10pm
Sturt vs. Adelaide; Wigan Oval, Unley
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
This past weekend, South Australian football was in shock. We now mourn the passing of another true titan of the game. It has been just over half a year since we lost Russell Ebert to illness, now in tragic circumstances we have lost Neil Kerley. He was the embodiment of determination, whether it was on the field or as the teacher on both sides of the fence. Never one to take a backward step to anything or anyone, let alone to those on the other side of the border to the south-east. His battles against the Big V, especially his exchanges with Mr. Football Ted Whitten were the stuff of legend. He could very well have brought his qualities across the border to Victoria, but his love for home -- and football politics of the time -- kept him here. Because of this, he took four clubs to the promised land, dragging lowly teams up from the bottom of the ladder and delivering premierships. His original side West Adelaide on two occasions, the Panthers to their last flag in 1964 and what everyone thought would be the last Grand Final at the Adelaide Oval with the Tigers before the move to West Lakes. He was also one of the cogs behind the scenes in the formation of the Adelaide Football Club ahead of their 1991 debut season. His mark on SA football, indeed the game, will be forever remembered and celebrated. On behalf of all SA footy-heads... rest in peace Knuckles.
LONG LIVE THE KING.
Welcome to the Round 13 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.
This weekend in salute of our honoured deceased, all teams wore black armbands. The first match of four Saturday games takes us to the ACH Group Stadium in Glenelg where the Tigers would host the Crows. The last time these two sides met, the Crows were left to wonder what the hell happened when they dropped points in Round 3. They went from a point up at quarter-time to 40 points ahead at the long break after keeping the Tigers goal-less in the second term. But the Tigers repaid the favour in the third term, keeping Adelaide goal-less while scoring 10 goals for themselves. Glenelg ran out 15-point winners in the end in a shocking turnaround. Last weekend the Crows sent out a massive warning to the competition with a near 10-goal hammering of the Panthers, while the Tigers were victorious in their outing against the Magpies by 39 points at Alberton. Well, today was going to be a heavy reality check for the Tigers. The home side would score 2.3 while the Crows were far cleaner in goal, scoring 6.1 to take a 22-point lead come quarter-time. But then the real lesson came in the second term as the Crows asked some serious questions of the Tigers' premiership credentials. By the end of the second half, the Crows would take their lead out to 62 points, scoring a further 6.5 and keeping the Tigers to just one lousy behind. The Tigers did have plenty of opportunities, a great deal of the stats were in their favour by game's end. It was Adelaide's better movement that made the difference, turning what should have been a top-five contest into a near no-contest. The Tigers' outscoring of the Crows in the third quarter would come as mere cold comfort to the Glenelg faithful, scoring five goals without a miss to 2.2 to bring the gap back to 46 points come three quarter-time. But then the Crows threw one last grenade into the home camp, finishing off the game with a 5.4 to one goal final term to win by 74 points, sending out an even louder warning to the league than last week. Matt Crouch continues to bang on the door of the Crows selectors, notching up 41 disposals, 11 clearances and scoring two goals. Darcy Bailey was Glenelg's standout on a bleak afternoon, with 34 disposals and four tackles.
The next contest sends us to the northern suburbs for the longest away trip in SANFL footy as the Bulldogs took on the Panthers at the X-Convenience Oval in Elizabeth. These sides last met in the season opener down at Noarlunga, the Panthers fending off a plucky Dogs side to win by five points. The Dogs fought hard but couldn't hold onto a slender lead in the dying minutes, after coming back from a four-kick half-time gap. Both sides copped a quick return to earth after respective victories during the mid-year bye cycle, the Dogs going down to the Roosters by 38 points after their upset of the reigning premiers in the previous round, while the Panthers' win over North two weeks ago was a distant memory when the Crows smashed them by 59 points at Noarlunga last week. The Panthers had the bulk of the possession in the opening stanza, but didn't make the most of their chances and would keep the door well open for the Dogs. The Panthers would lead by eight points at quarter-time, though they could have been at least 20 up with the board reading 2.3 to 1.1. The Dogs hit back in the second term and would hit the front seven minutes in, they kept the Panthers to just 1.1 whilst scoring three goals for themselves to lead by three points at the half-time break. One thing that Centrals have not done this year is just give up and throw the towel in, its been their decision making going on the attack that has been the issue. While their loss to the Roosters was probably disappointing it wasn't too surprising, but their endeavour against a seemingly faltering reigning premier was unquestionable. The Panthers still seemed rattled by their heavy defeat to Adelaide. Their third term looked as though perhaps they found a bit of their form that they found against North two weeks ago, re-taking the lead twice and holding onto it going into the final term. South scored 4.1 to the Bulldogs' 2.2 to lead by eight points once more at three quarter-time. A further pair of majors in the first five minutes saw the visitors stretch that lead to 20 points and it looked as though Centrals were going to be overrun. But then the Doggies found their stride and halted the momentum, keeping South to just one more goal whilst scoring 4.2 for themselves to even it up deep into time-on. Then came the rapture that only a late behind can bring, the Bulldogs' last score coming just before the siren sounded to signal a one-point victory. Kyle Presbury was the hero that delivered that final blow, named best for Centrals with 30 disposals and five marks. For the Panthers, it was Hayden Sampson with 27 disposals, five marks and three goals.
Game number three would send us back toward town but with a stop at the inner northern suburbs and into the Prospect Oval where the Roosters clashed with the Magpies. In their last outing back in Round 8, the Roosters only had to put up with one quarter of resistance from the Magpies at Alberton, winning by 47 points. It was a four-goal gap at quarter-time, the Magpies bringing it back to 10 points at the long break before being held to just one goal for the rest of the game as the Roosters romped away with the win. The Roosters were the only one of these two sides to win last week, taking out the northern derby at Elizabeth by 38 points while the Magpies were far too inefficient in attack against Glenelg at home and copped a 39-point defeat. The Magpies would field probably their weakest side in history, with a number of top-up players coming in. This Port Adelaide outfit were about to walk into an ambush of biblical proportions, because the Roosters were about to get brutal. Perhaps in what could be considered a rebuttal of the Crows' hammering going on at Brighton Road, the Roosters put their foot on the throat of the Magpies and never took it off, running away to a 31-point quarter-time lead after kicking 6.2 to one behind. Port still wouldn't find the big sticks in the second term, managing just two behinds while the Roosters continued to pile it on with a further 5.1 to take their advantage out to an even 11 goals going into the sheds at the long break. There would be a good deal of North fans, especially in front of the Taj Mahal bar on the southern side of Prospect Oval, that would have been relishing this. In fact, when the Magpies finally found the goals in the third quarter, that would end up being the only goal they got. Circumstances are different, no doubt. But will the taunts of "one goal in mind" be a thing of the past? That goal, plus a behind against the home side's additional 6.6 saw the Roosters' advantage blow up to almost 16 goals by three quarter-time. Some inaccuracy in the final term probably went down like a lead balloon for a small group of fans, but such a dominant performance can't be dismissed even if the opposition wasn't very opposing. North finished off with a 4.7 to nothing final term to run out 21-goal victors. Andrew Moore was North's best afield with 36 disposals, 13 marks and four tackles. The Magpies named Cam Sutcliffe as their standout with 27 disposals and six tackles.
The last of the Saturday games now takes us through the city and to the inner southern suburb of Unley, the Double Blues and the Bloods fronting up at the Wigan Oval. The Blues really only needed one solid quarter of football to put away the Bloods back in Round 1 at Richmond, winning by 43 points. They opened the match kicking six goals to one, then despite their wayward shooting from there would have no trouble keeping the Bloods well away from any late upset. The Blues were wasteful in their third quarter against Norwood last week, they attempted a last term comeback but their wayward shooting put them 26 points short. The Bloods still can't buy a win, unable to repeat Centrals' upset of the Eagles the week before as they went down to the premiers by 20 points at home. The Blues didn't get away to a fast start this time around, only managing 2.3 in the opening term. But the Bloods would score one behind to start with, allowing the Blues to start the game with a 14-point quarter-time lead. Sturt would then have a stellar second quarter, keeping the lowly Bloods to four behinds whilst bagging 5.3 for themselves to go into the half-time break with a 43-point game-breaking lead. There really wasn't going to be any comeback from here, lets be honest. A win of any description was back in their premiership season of 2015, you have to look a little further for one at Oxford Terrace. The streak of defeats at Unley for the Bloods is nearly a decade long, their last win at the Blues' home deck coming back in 2013. Those victories seemed so far away today. To the Bloods' credit, they cut the gap down a little by the three quarter-time siren, but could have done so much better with their accuracy. They scored 3.2 to 1.1, reducing the deficit to five goals. If only they could have kept up the pressure in the final term, the bug biting again as Westies scored 1.4 as the home side added 3.2 to their tally to run out 40-point victors. Casey Voss continues to be one of Sturt's big contributors, taking best afield honours with 27 disposals and 13 marks. For the Bloods, Patrick Fairlie was again best on ground with 28 disposals, 14 tackles and 11 clearances.
The final game to close out the weekend's action took place on the Sunday afternoon at the Maughan Thiem Kia Oval in Woodville, where the Eagles clashed with the Redlegs. It came down to one last roll of the dice in the last stoush between these sides back in Round 2, a wasteful final term in front of goal and a smothered kick for goal allowed the defending premiers to escape with a two-point victory under the lights of The Parade. Earlier, it was the Eagles with the goal-kicking issues, scoring 4.7 to begin with but finished far cleaner for the rest of the game. Both sides came into this game as winners from last week, the Eagles overcame a slow start to continue the Bloods' 2022 pain, while the Redlegs were victorious against the Blues at home by 26. In the lead-up to the match, the Redlegs lost their current captain and the former captain, then their coach to quarantine protocols. But any idea that this would rattle the 'Legs would be thrown right out the window as they kept the Eagles to just two behinds whilst scoring 3.4 for themselves to lead by 20 points at quarter-time. That lead was extended to 32 points before the Eagles finally found the big sticks, they had cut the gap back to as low as 13 points before late pair of goals restored Norwood's earlier advantage and then some. A 4.1 to 3.2 second term saw the Redlegs back out to a 25-point advantage come half-time. In contrast to their first term, those four goals kicked were against the wind. The Redlegs continued to outwork the Eagles in the third term, but hit a rough patch in front of goal. They did keep the Eagles to just one goal, so were still able to add to the deficit despite the inaccuracy. They scored 2.5 to take their lead to six goals going into the final change. The gap would stretch to 41 points within 90 seconds of the restart, then the Eagles made a mid-term last ditch attempt to salvage some pride. They got within three straight kicks late in the quarter and with the term going as long as 30 minutes, probably wouldn't have been beyond their reach. Alas, the visitors would leave with a four-goal victory, after a final term score of 4.2 to the Eagles' 6.2. The Redlegs named Jay Rantall as their best afield, racking up 36 disposals, eight tackles and scoring three goals. The Eagles would vote in Riley Knight for another week running, with 35 disposals and 11 clearances.
FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 13 OF THE SANFL...
Saturday July 2
Adelaide 19.12 (126)
Glenelg 8.4 (52)
2,087 @ ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg
Central District 10.6 (66)
South Adelaide 10.5 (65)
1,113 @ X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth
North Adelaide 20.16 (136)
Port Adelaide 1.4 (10)
2,017 @ Prospect Oval
Sturt 11.9 (75)
West Adelaide 4.11 (35)
1,824 @ Wigan Oval, Unley
Sunday July 3
Norwood 13.12 (90)
Woodville-West Torrens 10.6 (66)
1,811 @ Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville
INJURIES
Sturt -- Wilson (shoulder), Thiele (hamstring)
REPORTS
West -- Gore, Sinderberry (rough conduct)
LEAGUE LADDER
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North -- 20pts (10-2-0), 60.2%
Adelaide -- 18pts (9-3-0), 58.6%
Glenelg -- 18pts (9-3-0), 53.9%
Norwood -- 14pts (7-5-0), 53.4%
Sturt -- 14pts (7-5-0), 51.9%
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W-WT -- 14pts (7-5-0), 51.3%
South -- 10pts (5-7-0), 47.5%
Central -- 6pts (3-9-0), 42.3%
Port -- 6pts (3-9-0), 41.2%
West -- 0pts (0-12-0), 38.9%
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JUNIOR CROWEATERS GIVEN THE SLIP IN THE WET
The South Australian U-16 side went down to Victoria Metro in their second match of their National Championship series at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast on Tuesday. The Croweaters started brightly in the first half, leading by five points at quarter-time and then extending that out to 19 points going into the sheds as the Vics had a horrid second term in front of their goal. But when the teams returned for the second half, they came out different outfits as the Metro kids kept SA to just three behinds and scored 5.5 for themselves to overturn the half-time gap in their favour. One of those behinds was from a set shot as the conditions got quite slippery. The Croweaters mounted a comeback in the final term, but despite keeping the Vics to just 1.2, their own inaccuracy issues would allow Metro to escape with a three-point win after conceding 3.6. An unlucky afternoon for SA, who had lost their captain in Sid Draper to injury in the match against Western Australia last week. Key forward Charlie West was best afield, kicking four goals. The junior Croweaters have one last assignment this coming Saturday against Victoria Country at the Thebarton Oval.
Victoria Metro 9.14 (68) def. South Australia 9.11 (65)
VALE JOHN ROBINSON
From the SANFL website, thanks to Peter Cornwall.
SANFL is mourning the passing of League Life Member and great of Glenelg John Robinson.
The long-serving player, coach and official died on July 2, aged 87. Robinson carved out an impressive playing career at Port Adelaide and Glenelg before serving the game he loved from the other side of the fence for the rest of his life. Awarded SANFL Life Membership in 2007, Robinson incredibly played in premierships in each of the four grades – including two league premierships – in the space of six years at Alberton. He captained Port’s junior colts premiership side in 1951, added a senior colts flag in ’52, played in the back pocket in league grand final wins against West in 1954 and Norwood in ’55 and in 1956 played in the Magpies’ seconds grand final win. Robinson was tallish for his era at 183cm but was wiry, weighing just 65kg to be one of the lightest men in SA footy. It was his pace and rebound that made him a formidable back pocket player. In the days before interchange players he would stand the ‘resting’ rovers and use his height against them to win the ball and explosive speed to dash clear.
Robinson’s association at Glenelg was over a remarkable 65 years. He played 46 league games for the Tigers between 1957-59, was junior colts coach (1960), senior colts coach (1961-62), selector (1967-70 and 1992-94), chairman of selectors (1978-80), committeeman for two decades from 1975-95, chairman for nine seasons from 1987-95, recruiter for many years and a member of the Hall of Fame selection committee from its inception in 2001 until this year. His phenomenal achievements elevated him to Greats of Glenelg status, one of just 18 people to have gained the highest honour the club can bestow on its players or officials. After helping the Tigers reach the preliminary final in 1959 he was keen to contribute in off-field roles, determined to give the players support he felt was not always prevalent at the Bay in the late ’50s. Robinson, a methodical, commonsense thinker who was respected by management, coaches, players and volunteers alike, helped supply the off-field strength needed for on-field success.
He also was a long-time contributor to the SANFL as a club delegate and director, while he made an outstanding contribution to the sport’s development as a member of the SANFL Football Development Foundation from 1995-2005. And he served on the South Australian School Football Association executive for a decade.
SANFL and the SA Football Commission extends its deepest sympathy to the Robinson family as it honours John’s outstanding service to the game in South Australia.
John Robinson -- Honours list
Port Adelaide (1954-56) 42 games
Glenelg (1957-59) 46 games, 3 goals
SANFL total: 88 games
Glenelg Football Club chairman 1987-95
Glenelg Life Member 1975
Great of Glenelg
SANFL League Life Member 2007
VALE NEIL KERLEY
He was a giant of the game and one of South Australia's real characters. Tough as nails, but always fair. In his time, he was the OG of SA football and its all-round hardest geezer. He was our king.
Born in Barmera in 1934, he made his way to Adelaide in the early 1950's to begin his football journey at West Adelaide as an 18-year old. His first taste of premiership success came in 1961, one of the SANFL's infamous premiership deciders labelled the "Turkish Bath" Grand Final against Norwood. A season later, to the dismay and anger of Bloods supporters, Westies showed him the door in the aftermath of a Grand Final loss to Port Adelaide. He ended up at South Adelaide in 1963, a year that also saw him captain the South Australian side to a famous victory against Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Panthers' premiership victory in 1964 would have gone down like a lead balloon with those Bloods fans that bayed for the WAFC board's heads, that flag still to this day South's last big hurrah. He further cemented his reputation as a miracle worker for lowly clubs after his playing days finished in 1969 after spending his last three years with Glenelg, He continued to coach the Tigers up to 1976, taking out the 1973 flag in what at the time was going to be the last SANFL decider to be played at the Adelaide Oval for over 40 years. His return to Richmond Oval in 1981 would bring him rewards only two years later, winning the 1983 premiership after 22 years in the wilderness. These are just his major accomplishments in the game. For more on the King, best have a look at the link posted below. He will be honoured with a state funeral, more details will be coming soon.
Neil Kerley -- Honours list
PLAYING RECORD
165 games and 87 goals with West Adelaide, 1952-1963
56 games with South Adelaide, 1964-1966
55 games and 36 goals with Glenelg, 1967-1969
32 games for South Australia, captain 1959-1962 and 1965-1966.
COACHING RECORD
182 with West Adelaide in three stints, 1961-1962, 1981-1984 and 1992-1993
66 with South Adelaide, 1964-1966
223 with Glenelg, 1967-1976
89 with West Torrens, 1977-1980
68 with Central District, 1988-1990
Win-loss record of 365-260 with three draws
Also coached South Australia in 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1978 and in Origin matches in 1979, 1980 and 1984.
PREMIERSHIPS
1961 and 1964 as captain-coach; 1973 and 1983 as coach.
INDIVIDUAL HONOURS
Best-and-fairest at West Adelaide four times (1958, 1959, 1961 and 1962) and at Glenelg once (1967); All-Australian, 1961 (as vice-captain after the Brisbane carnival); Australian and South Australian Foootball Hall of Fame; inaugural inductee and legend in West Adelaide Hall of Fame
SANFL article on Neil -- South Australian Football loses its King - SANFL
Next weekend in Round 14...
Saturday July 9
West Adelaide vs. Central District; Hisense Stadium, Richmond @ 1:10pm
South Adelaide vs. Glenelg; Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga @ 2:05pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. Port Adelaide; Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville @ 2:10pm
Norwood vs. North Adelaide; Coopers Stadium, Norwood @ 2:10pm
Sunday July 10 @ 2:10pm
Sturt vs. Adelaide; Wigan Oval, Unley
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
