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SANFL 2022 -- Round 18 Wrap-Up

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raboyle

Norm Smith Medallist
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Location
X Convenience Oval, Elizabeth
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Adelaide
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CDFC (SANFL), Port Melb (VFL)
Hi Footy fans...

The finish line is well and truly in sight for the home and away season. There is now just one final round to conduct and then its down to the real business, the 2022 SANFL Finals Series where the Thomas Seymour-Hill Trophy awaits. We've seen some late dramas over the past few weeks as the Eagles have been fighting for the right to continue defending its premier status, which was put into serious jeopardy with their loss to a Crows mob who have been putting the league on notice. Then there's been the fall from grace of the Tigers, who dropped from second spot to an Elimination Final situation in just a week and a looming clash with a Centrals outfit that would love to finish their year on a high. The Double Blues were still clinging to fifth and they still have one last encounter with a top side coming, which could break their season. The biggest threat to everyone here is Norwood, who have been making statements of their own at the expense of the Crows and even the ladder-leading Roosters. One more week, folks... still time for some last-minute shocks to the league system.

Welcome to the Round 18 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.

The action kicked off with some Friday Night Mayhem at the Coopers Stadium in Norwood with the clash between third and fourth, the Redlegs and the Tigers. Their last clash was way back in the opening round of 2022, the Tigers starting their year with victory at Brighton Road. A horrid start in front of goal was the telling factor, kicking five behinds in the first term. The Tigers went from 10 points up at half-time to five goals ahead by the final change before the Redlegs made one last run. Glenelg finished up 15 point winners. Ironically, Norwood's last victory against the Bays was back in the corresponding match of 2019 by five points at The Parade, which was followed by a six-game losing streak. Last week the Redlegs only just managed to escape the clutches of the Bulldogs at Elizabeth by a point, but the Tigers were made to endure a 51-point hiding at Brighton Road at the hands of the Roosters. A tense opening term ensued, with the Redlegs getting on the front foot within two minutes and would go into the first change with a five-point lead, the board reading 2.1 to 1.2. The second term was far more entertaining, both sides exchanging blows on the board. The Tigers could very well have taken the lead going into the sheds at the break, but their 3.1 against the 'Legs 3.2 would see the gap set at a single goal come half-time. A sodden deck was making things difficult, the rain from earlier in the day would make the field a muddy mess. Norwood was ruling the ruck, but while they were outstanding at stoppages were not fully capitalising on them. The visitors would post the only goal for the third quarter while the Redlegs struggled to find the big sticks, the gap was back down to a point in the home side's favour with a tally of 1.2 to three behinds. Norwood struck quickly in the final term, nailing a major within a minute of the restart. From there it was over 11 minutes before another score was kicked, Glenelg with the next goal to restore the one-point buffer. Then there was another long wait between scores, but for the Redlegs it was worth the wait as it would prove to be the decisive blow. Norwood would end up a game clear of the Bays in the finish, winning by seven points. Jacob Kennerley was best on ground for Norwood, with 29 disposals, 13 tackles and 10 clearances. For the Tigers, their stats king was Luke Partington with 32 disposals, 10 clearances and nine tackles.

Now its onto the Saturday matches which were on at all different times, the traditional start time would be observed at the Prospect Oval when the Roosters faced the Bloods. It was a dark, dark afternoon for the Bloods faithful when they last met North. Back in Round 5 at Richmond, the Roosters handed them a 70-point smacking, overcoming a lousy start of 1.6 to 3.1 to kick 14 of the next 16 goals. West opened the game quite well to lead by seven points at quarter-time but were kept pretty much silent for the rest of the afternoon, as had been their habit through most of the year. The Roosters hammered the Tigers at Glenelg last weekend, winning by 51 points and putting one hand on the minor premiership in the process. While that was going on, the Bloods were down by four kicks against the Panthers at three quarter-time but kicked five goals to one against a wasteful South at Richmond. Perhaps this confidence boost was the catalyst for the Bloods' surprise attack in the opening quarter this day, kicking three goals straight before the Roosters got one of their own. At quarter-time, it was the Bloods by six points having kicked four goals to three without any blemishes. That accuracy was not as great for the Bloods in the second term, but North were unable to really break the game open or take control in what probably should have been the mismatch of the season. The Roosters kicked just 2.1 to Westies' 1.5 , the visitors still ahead but it was now back down to just four points. The Bloods were playing above themselves, catching the Roosters well off their game. However the Roosters' third term was much improved, though whether this was just a pre-finals wobble remains to be seen. They kicked 5.3 to the Bloods' two goals, the Roosters now leading by 17 points at the final change. The Bloods weren't done yet and just a minute in, they booted the first major and by the 10th minute, were just a goal adrift after scoring 2.1 to North's two behinds. But after a Bloods' chance to equalise hit the woodwork, the home side's time-on additional 1.1 to one goal allowed the Roosters to escape with a six-point win. Harrison Wigg was North's best afield, with 27 disposals and 11 marks, while the Bloods named Hamish Hartlett as their standout with 31 disposals, 10 tackles and seven clearances.

The following game would take place in the twilight timeslot, interestingly enough this would take place at the Adelaide Oval as the Bulldogs took on the Crows after the AFL match earlier in the day. Back in Round 4 at Elizabeth, the Bulldogs squandered a bright start with an average middle period effort. They kicked five goals to two in the first term, then were out-goaled four to two in the second before having a wasteful third. Adelaide went from being a goal ahead at three quarter-time to 25 point winners, though with their final term inaccuracy perhaps could have really punished the Dogs. The Bulldogs pushed the Redlegs last week but another wasteful final quarter denied them as they lost by the narrowest of margins. The Crows regrouped after their loss to Norwood to bring the reigning premiers to ground, a 40-point win over the Eagles. The Dogs would notch up the opening major, but the Crows were the ones up at quarter-time. They weren't that far ahead though, kicking 3.3 to 1.2 to lead by 13 points at the first change. Early in added time, the Bulldogs managed to get in front by a goal after keeping the Crows to just one point whilst kicking 3.2. But the Crows were back in the lead by the long break, kicking 2.1 during time-on to be ahead by seven points come half-time. Against the stronger opponent on paper, the Dogs thus far had given as good as they got as they did in games against the Redlegs and Sturt. But soon enough, all the work they put in during that first half was about to get the blowtorch treatment. Adelaide rampaged through the Bulldogs' defence in the third quarter, restricting them to just one lousy behind and booting 7.3 for themselves as they went from two kicks to nine come three quarter-time. At the final change, it was the Crows by 51 points. The Bulldogs attempt to restore some respect in the final term fell flat as that deficit would change very little by game's end. It would finish up a 55-point hiding, the Crows adding a further 5.3 to Centrals' 4.5 to close the match. Former Bulldogs player Jackson Hately was best for Adelaide, with 31 disposals, eight tackles and six clearances. Justin Hoskin was Centrals' best afield, with 32 disposals -- including 23 kicks -- plus five marks.

The last game for the Saturday would take place under the lights of Maughan Thiem Kia Oval in Woodville, where the Eagles hosted the Double Blues. The Eagles have won their last five encounters with the Blues, including their Round 8 meeting at Unley. After a sluggish start in front of goal when they scored 2.5 to 1.1, the Eagles then proceeded to kick 12 goals to five for the rest of the game to run out 49 point victors. The Eagles' quest for an Elimination Final berth took a further hit last week, suffering a 40-point loss to Adelaide at Oval Avenue. That would allow the Blues to add an extra couple of points to their ladder tally through their win against Port at home. For the Eagles, this match and next week against the Panthers are must wins. A loss for the Blues would allow the Eagles to close the gap and with the Roosters ahead of them, they couldn't afford a slip up now. I'll give one thing about this match away now... it was a struggle to end all struggles and goals were at an absolute premium. The Blues had more chances in the opening term but sprayed several shots wide to go into the first change with a two-point lead, the scoreboard reading 1.4 to 1.2. The Eagles' second quarter was overall the best quarter from either side for the whole day, they scored 3.2 to the Blues' single major. At the half-time break, the home side were two-goal leaders. The handball count would suggest that the Eagles overused said manouvre, with over 50 handballs more than the Blues. They also dominated the hitouts by a figure of 40, but couldn't fully make the most of them. The Blues did have more forward entries, but wasted several prime chances. No more evident than in the third quarter, wher they scored 1.5 against the Eagles' single goal. The gap was down to seven points in favour of the home team at the final change. The Eagles were now due for some accuracy issues, but with Sturt still putting vital shots wide the current champs could keep the dream alive for one more week. Both sides kicked 1.3 each to leave the three quarter-time deficit unchanged, the Eagles coming out seven-point winners and perhaps one win from a surprise finals berth. Dylan Clarke was named the Eagles' best afield, with 28 disposals and 13 tackles, while the Blues named Casey Voss as their standout with 27 disposals and 11 marks.

The final game for the weekend takes us down south to the Flinders University Stadium in Noarlunga where the Panthers clashed with the Magpies. Their last match was one that well and truly got away from the Magpies in Round 2 at Alberton, the Panthers winning by 10 points after the inaccuracy bug paid a late visit into the Port camp. The 'Pies led by 10 points at three quarter-time, but in the final term their goal-kicking radar went on the fritz as the Panthers overtook the home side to take the points in one of the highest scoring matches of the season. 59 scores were registered, 31 of them being goals. The Panthers' hopes of a finals berth were given the fatal blow last week at the hands of the Bloods at Richmond, while the Magpies have been out of contention for ages and they were dealt a 31-point defeat by the Blues. With only pride to be salvaged from this encounter, Port looked to jump from the blocks early but despite keeping the Panthers to just three behinds would manage just 2.2 for themselves. At quarter-time, the Magpies were ahead by 11 points. The Panthers finally found the big sticks part-way through the second term, but despite pulling the 'Pies back at one point they got away again late in the quarter. A trio of goals in time-on among their 4.3 to South's 3.1 had the visitors out to a three-goal lead going into the long break. The kicks, handballs and marks would end up in South's favour, but something was missing while the Magpies were in the lead. There was some fierce defending from at least one Panthers back-man, who would stop a swag of Port attacks. He was probably used to good effect in the third term as the Panthers started clawing back the Magpies' lead, by the final change it was back to a single straight kick. South scored 3.3 to Port's 1.2, the 'Pies still up but now by only five points. Two quick-fire goals to the Magpies in the first four minutes saw their three-kick advantage restored, but then the move of a particular back-man to the attacking zone would prove to be the masterstroke. The visitors were silenced from here, the Panthers scoring 4.2 to win by nine points. The man I was talking about in back and then up forward would end up being best afield, the Panthers naming Ryan Garthwaite as their best with 20 disposals, four tackles and three goals. Two of those were the match sealing goals. Sam Mayes was Port's best, with 36 disposals, nine marks and seven tackles.

FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 18 OF THE SANFL...

Friday August 12

Norwood 7.7 (49)
Glenelg 6.6 (42)
Coopers Stadium, Norwood -- crowd number unknown

Saturday August 13
North Adelaide 11.7 (73)
West Adelaide 10.7 (67)
1,502 @ Prospect Oval

Adelaide 17.11 (113)
Central District 8.10 (58)
Adelaide Oval -- AFL curtain raiser

Woodville-West Torrens 6.7 (43)
Sturt 4.12 (36)
1,389 @ Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville

Sunday August 14
South Adelaide 10.9 (69)
Port Adelaide 9.6 (60)
1,025 @ Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga


INJURIES
None known at time of post.

REPORTS
Norwood -- Lowden (rough conduct)
Glenelg -- Gerloff (striking)
Central -- Lange (rough conduct)


LEAGUE LADDER
------------------------------------------------------
North -- 26pts (13-4-0) 58%
Adelaide -- 24pts (12-5-0), 58.1%
Norwood -- 24pts (12-5-0), 53.9%
Glenelg -- 22pts (11-6-0), 51.5%
Sturt -- 20pts (10-7-0), 52.2%

-------------------------------------------------------
W-WT -- 18pts (9-8-0), 49.9%
South -- 16pts (8-9-0), 49.3%
Central -- 8pts (4-13-0), 43.2%
Port -- 8pts (4-13-0), 41.4%
West -- 4pts (2-15-0), 41.5%
-------------------------------------------------------


Next weekend in Round 19...

Saturday August 20
West Adelaide vs. Norwood; Hisense Stadium, Richmond @ 1:10pm
South Adelaide vs. Woodville-West Torrens; Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga @ 2:05pm
Glenelg vs. Central District; ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg @ 2:10pm
Sturt vs. North Adelaide; Wigan Oval, Unley @ 2:10pm
Port Adelaide vs. Adelaide; Adelaide Oval @ 3:20pm


So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
 

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