- May 8, 2001
- 5,667
- 818
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
- Other Teams
- CDFC (SANFL), Port Melb (VFL)
Hi Footy fans...
If we thought the player and talent drain on the state leagues was bad when the Giants and the Suns came into the national competition, well it looks like its probably going to happen again in a few years time. This past weekend, the Federal Government announced that funding is to be approved for the estimated three quarter-trillion dollar new stadium for the Tasmanian capital, which leaves very little doubt now that the AFL is set to admit a 19th team into the competition from the Apple Isle. Anyone who is a state league football fan will remember the Tasmanian Devils side that played in the VFL competition during the 2000's, a team that many thought was perhaps a dress rehearsal for an eventual spot in the AFL. That unfortunately did not come to pass and the club was folded before the 2010's as AFL Tasmania prepared to re-introduce a state league competition. The league has struggled over the years, but now with the very real possibility that a national league spot is coming, maybe Tasmanian football is about to get a highly needed shot in the arm. Of course this will obviously lead to yet another club plundering talent from the other state leagues including the SANFL. Now before anyone gets head up about my words, I would never hold hard feelings against an SANFL player wanting to seize the opportunity to play at the highest level. But with the mid-season draft causing many headaches already for our coaches who are in the business of wanting to deliver that elusive premiership, yet another club coming in to pluck away a player who may just be the key to that flag or ending long droughts is enough to cause migraines. However with that said, it is about time that one of the last of the football heartlands is getting its dues.
Welcome to the Round 4 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.
There was just the one Saturday afternoon game for the weekend, which takes us to the inner southern suburb of Unley and into the Wigan Oval where the Double Blues took on the Bulldogs. The Blues took all the points from their 2022 games, only barely escaping the Dogs' grasp at Elizabeth by four points in Round 15, but at Oxford Terrace the Blues smashed the Bulldogs from pillar to post by 98 points in Round 6. That early season match was over by half-time as the Blues held a nine-kick lead, but then piled on the pain with a further 11 goals to three in the second half. Obviously there was massive improvement from Centrals come the later game, but their goal-kicking let them down with a final quarter return of 2.5 to Sturt's single major. Both sides were victorious last week, with the Blues taking down Port by seven kicks on the back of a six goal to one second term, while the Bulldogs hung tough against Adelaide with a last-gasp free kick and goal giving them a four-point win. The sun was out so conditions were pretty good and the game was physical as it gets and the change in the Bulldogs mentality from last year was evident, kicking the opening three before the Blues got one of their own. With a few missed chances thrown in, the Dogs held a two-goal lead at the first change, the board reading 3.3 to 1.3. The Blues fell behind a little in the second term, fluffing more shots on goal while the Dogs were able to get out to a 22-point lead just before added time after scoring three goals without a miss to Sturt's 1.2. But that gap was back to 15 by the long break, the Blues managing a further 1.1 in time-on. The Blues came out in the second half a different mob, but the Dogs weren't giving up the fight despite the inaccuracy bug jumping camps. The home side were winning a few more clearances from here and would keep the Bulldogs away from the big sticks for a large portion of the third term. By the final change, the deficit was down to four points, the Blues adding 3.2 to 1.3. Two of Centrals' points came at a time when they could have been ahead by three kicks. The final term was a shootout and arm wrestling contest, the lead changing on five occasions. Unfortunately for the visitors, the Blues would come out on top in the end, scoring 3.1 to two goals to win by three points. Both coaches were pleased with their respective teams endeavour, including Central coach Paul Thomas, whose side turned around a massive gap from their previous visit to Unley. Tom Lewis was absolute best all-round for the Blues, with 26 disposals, 15 tackles and 14 clearances. The Bulldogs named Jez McLennan as their best afield, with 23 disposals, five tackles and four marks.
The remaining matches for the weekend would take place on the Sunday afternoon, beginning with a post-midday match up at the Adelaide Oval as the Panthers faced the Crows. Last year's two encounters at Noarlunga were both wins for Adelaide, with an 11-point win in Round 5, followed by a near 10-goal victory in Round 12. The earlier match was a tug-of-war, South recovered from a 16-point deficit to close to within two points at the final change. But the comeback was eventually shutdown. The later game was more clear cut after half-time, Adelaide going from 16 points up at the break to kick nine goals to four on their way to a big win. Both sides were on the wrong end of the stick last week post-Gather Round, with the Panthers blowing a two-goal quarter-time lead as the Bloods overran them by 22 points at Richmond, while the Crows handed Centrals a free kick in front of goal at the death and lost by four points at Elizabeth. The Crows managed to convince the Panthers' leaders to allow the game to be a curtain raiser at the Oval, but while I'm sure the opportunity would have been wholeheartedly embraced by the players, the fans I'm sure wouldn't have been so quick to do so. The two sides exchanged body blows in the opening quarter with the lead changing hands several times. Adelaide should probably have been ahead by more at the first change, leading by eight points with the scoreboard showing 4.4 to 3.2. But then the Crows show kicked into gear and perhaps the giveaway of a home-ground advantage was about to bite the club in the backside. The Panthers would be restricted to three behinds in the second term, the Crows running off to a 38-point half-time lead with their return of 5.3. The show stalled a little bit in the third quarter as the Crows had a bout of the inaccuracy bug. But the gap was still made bigger going into the final term, Adelaide kicking 2.9 to the Panthers' 2.1. Their first two rounds of football seem like a memory now, the Panthers' faithful that did come out could only watch in horror as the Crows tore apart what was left, bagging a further 8.4 to 2.2 in the final term to run out 14-goal victors. There were many contributors to this demolition by Adelaide, but it was Jackson Hately that was the standout with 31 disposals, nine marks, five clearances, four tackles and three goals. Mitch O'Neill was South best on a dismal afternoon, he finished with 25 disposals, seven clearances and six tackles.
The next match would start about a quarter and a bit after the Oval bludgeoning, we now head to the inner northern suburbs and into the Prospect Oval for the Battle of the Birds as the Roosters hosted the Eagles. The red & whites have won the past three outings against the Eagles, from the 2022 games it was a 22-point win in Round 1 at Woodville, then an eight-goal hiding at the chook-house on Menzies Crescent in Round 16. On both occasions, the Eagles dropped their bundle in one quarter and the Roosters would grab it with both wings. At Oval Avenue, the Roosters went from eight points up at half-time to almost five goals at the final change. Not helping on that day was the Eagles accuracy, finishing with 9.12 on the board. At Prospect, it was a similar story. This time North were eight points ahead at the first change, booted six goals to three in the second term then restricted the Eagles attacks while adding a further six to three majors for the second half. The Roosters recovered from their loss to the Bulldogs by hammering their Grand Final nemesis at The Parade last week, while the Eagles were handed a second successive loss by Glenelg at Brighton Road. Wasteful shooting on goal by the Eagles kept the Roosters well within strike at the first change, scoring 2.4 to 1.1 in the opening term to lead by just nine points. The lead would change hands three times over the course of about eight minutes, with North hitting the front and staying in front by the long break. They kicked 4.3 to 1.3 to overturn the quarter-time deficit in their favour come half-time. The Eagles cack-handedness in attack continued when play resumed, again scoring just 1.3 as the Roosters began to put some distance between them and their 2020 Grand Final assailants. North's 3.3 would put them out to a 21-point lead at the final change. A pair of goals early in the last quarter gave the Eagles a glimmer of hope of stopping the rot, bringing the gap back to a couple of straight kicks at nine minutes. But the home side answered back with two of their own a few minutes later to restore their four-kick advantage. The Eagles kept trying, but a couple of late chances went begging as the Roosters held off the late challenge, altogether scoring 2.3 to 3.2 to finish off 16-point winners. Campbell Combe was at his brilliant best for the Roosters, notching up 29 disposals, along with 14 tackles, 12 clearances and winning four free kicks. Joseph Sinor was the Eagles' best, with 28 disposals, eight tackles, plus six marks and clearances.
The fourth game for the weekend would get us on-board the tram to the south-western seaside city of Glenelg and into the Stratarama Stadium where the Tigers locked horns with the Redlegs. These two clubs would meet on three occasions in Season 2022, with the Tigers taking out the first encounter in the season opener at Glenelg by 15 points. The Redlegs' opening term was rather woeful, kicking five behinds which was part of the recipe for their downfall. Later in the year however, was the start of the Tigers' downfall. The Redlegs returned serve in their Round 18 game at The Parade, in a low-scoring encounter they would emerge seven-point victors where the goals column didn't reach two-digit figures. And then came the nail in Glenelg's 2022 coffin, the 1st Semi-Final. Initially a tense, close encounter, the Tigers' third term was where everything went south. They kicked four behinds and would find themselves three straight shots behind at the final change before the Redlegs finished with a five goal to three last quarter to win by 28 points. The Tigers were the only ones coming in off the back of victory, they dominated the Eagles to win by eight goals. In the meantime, Norwood's hangover continued with a heavy nine-goal defeat from the Roosters. The Redlegs blew a swag of chances early in the opening term, kicking a succession of behinds in the middle of the quarter. Those few minor scores were how many points that they would lead at the first change, with the scores reading 2.6 to 2.2. The Tigers would eventually take over in the second term, with the lead changing a couple of times. A trio of goals late in the quarter would put them ahead going into the long break, altogether scoring 4.4 to 2.2 to lead by 10 points at half-time. The third term was very sedate on the scoreboard, the deficit would go unchanged by the three quarter-time siren after both sides scored 1.1 each. But the final quarter would belong to the Tigers, putting an end to the Redlegs' fight after eight minutes, kicking the first three goals before the Redlegs could answer with two of their own. Glenelg added two more later, in total they scored 5.3 to 2.1 to run out five-goal victors with a scorecard looking very similar to that 1st Semi but in reverse. The Tigers would vote in Corey Lyons as their best, with 26 disposals, 12 clearances, nine tackles and four free kicks. Norwood's best contributor was Nik Rokahr, with 28 disposals and seven clearances.
The last match takes us far, far away from the city and into the Riverland region and the original stomping ground of Russell Ebert of Loxton Oval, where the Bloods would take on the Magpies. These sides shared the points from their two games in 2022, with the Bloods emerging victorious in the later season game which was moved to Richmond while Alberton was being used in Port Adelaide's AFL-W side's debut game. West would claim a 27-point victory in Round 15 after leading at every change and on the back of a five goal to two opening quarter. But in last year's outing to the Riverland in Round 7, the Magpies ran out four-goal winners. The Bloods came close to causing a major upset after cutting a 34-point half-time deficit in half, but the Magpies kept them at arm's length to assure victory in the now annual tribute match to the late AFL Hall of Famer. In last week's games, Westies were triumphant against the Panthers by 22 points, while the Magpies were given the Blues at Unley with a 38-point defeat. The Bloods were surely not going to fall back on their old habits today after such a strong showing last week against an underperforming Port outfit, right? The first half of football that the red & black served up would suggest otherwise. They would kick just one goal in the opening quarter while the Magpies booted 5.3, four of those goals unanswered to open up a 27-point lead at quarter-time. Inaccuracy on goal from the Bloods saw them add just four behinds to their score, the Magpies were having similar issues but also increased their goal tally. Port's 3.5 would take their lead out to 46 points by the half-time break. Both sides came out different teams after the long break, Westies trying madly to repair the damage. They would succeed in part as the Magpies attack was throttled back, the Bloods kicking 5.4 to the Magpies' 1.3 as the gap was reeled back to 21 points come three quarter-time. A four-kick deficit was definitely not out of reach for this Bloods side, but a more determined Port defence would see them home in the end. Despite being outscored, the Maggies would leave Loxton with a 17-point win and first points in the bank after scoring 3.2 to four goals in the final term. Trent Dumont was best for the Magpies, with 20 disposals, 10 marks and eight tackles. The Bloods would name Callum Park as their best afield with 33 disposals and 11 marks.
FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 4 OF THE SANFL...
Saturday April 29
Sturt 9.9 (63)
Central District 9.6 (60)
2,599 @ Wigan Oval, Unley
Sunday April 30
Adelaide 19.20 (134)
South Adelaide 7.8 (50)
4,432 @ Adelaide Oval
North Adelaide 10.10 (70)
Woodville-West Torrens 7.12 (54)
1,871 @ Prospect Oval
Glenelg 12.10 (82)
Norwood 7.10 (52)
2,299 @ Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg
Port Adelaide 12.13 (85)
West Adelaide 10.8 (68)
1,387 @ Loxton Oval
INJURIES
Adelaide -- Taylor (ankle)
North -- Gowers (hamstring), Wigg (ankle)
Port -- Lycett (back), Pasini (thigh)
REPORTS
Glenelg -- Searle (forceful contact)
LEAGUE LADDER
-----------------------------------------------------
Sturt -- 8pts (4-0-0), 60.6%
Adelaide -- 6pts (3-1-0), 64.2%
Glenelg -- 6pts (3-1-0), 56%
North -- 6pts (3-1-0), 55.8%
Central -- 4pts (2-2-0), 50.2%
-----------------------------------------------------
South -- 4pts (2-2-0), 44%
W-WT -- 2pts (1-3-0), 47.2%
West -- 2pts (1-3-0), 46.4%
Port -- 2pts (1-3-0), 40.7%
Norwood -- 0pts (0-4-0), 33.8%
-----------------------------------------------------
OPENING THREE ROUNDS BRING IN THE CROWDS
The press release below is from the SANFL website.
The SANFL is pleased to announce that the first three rounds of the Hostplus SANFL League have recorded the best attendance figures since 2017. In addition, Round 3 (Anzac Round) hosted 15,099 fans across four days of football, representing the highest Round 3 attendance since 2014 (18,675) and the third-highest Round 3 attendance since 2006. Contributing to the outstanding attendance numbers in Round 3 were Monday night’s Anzac Eve blockbuster between Glenelg and Woodville-Torrens at Stratarama Stadium with a crowd of 4,521, followed by the traditional Anzac Day grand final re-match at Norwood’s Coopers Stadium with 4,259. Across Rounds One, Two and Three a combined total of 43,831 fans have attended matches, compared with 34,639 in 2022 – an increase of almost 27%.
SANFL Chief Executive Officer Darren Chandler said the League was thrilled to see big crowds back at SANFL games on the back of three years of the COVID pandemic. After such a challenging three years dealing with restrictions and uncertainty, it’s pleasing to see fans returning to see and experience the game live and being really engaged with SANFL footy,” Mr Chandler said in addition to the high- quality standard of football and the evenness of the competition, the new SANFL Super Match initiative also was already proving a success in drawing more people to SANFL games. “We’re thrilled to see the SANFL Super Match program already having an impact on attendances and providing a real festival atmosphere at SANFL grounds to enhance the game day experience for fans,” he said.
Next weekend in Round 5...
Saturday May 6
Central District vs. West Adelaide; X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth @ 2:10pm
North Adelaide vs. Adelaide; Prospect Oval @ 2:10pm
South Adelaide vs. Glenelg; Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga @ 2:10pm
Port Adelaide vs. Norwood; Alberton Oval @ 2:30pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. Sturt; Woodville Oval @ 4:40pm
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
If we thought the player and talent drain on the state leagues was bad when the Giants and the Suns came into the national competition, well it looks like its probably going to happen again in a few years time. This past weekend, the Federal Government announced that funding is to be approved for the estimated three quarter-trillion dollar new stadium for the Tasmanian capital, which leaves very little doubt now that the AFL is set to admit a 19th team into the competition from the Apple Isle. Anyone who is a state league football fan will remember the Tasmanian Devils side that played in the VFL competition during the 2000's, a team that many thought was perhaps a dress rehearsal for an eventual spot in the AFL. That unfortunately did not come to pass and the club was folded before the 2010's as AFL Tasmania prepared to re-introduce a state league competition. The league has struggled over the years, but now with the very real possibility that a national league spot is coming, maybe Tasmanian football is about to get a highly needed shot in the arm. Of course this will obviously lead to yet another club plundering talent from the other state leagues including the SANFL. Now before anyone gets head up about my words, I would never hold hard feelings against an SANFL player wanting to seize the opportunity to play at the highest level. But with the mid-season draft causing many headaches already for our coaches who are in the business of wanting to deliver that elusive premiership, yet another club coming in to pluck away a player who may just be the key to that flag or ending long droughts is enough to cause migraines. However with that said, it is about time that one of the last of the football heartlands is getting its dues.
Welcome to the Round 4 edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up.
There was just the one Saturday afternoon game for the weekend, which takes us to the inner southern suburb of Unley and into the Wigan Oval where the Double Blues took on the Bulldogs. The Blues took all the points from their 2022 games, only barely escaping the Dogs' grasp at Elizabeth by four points in Round 15, but at Oxford Terrace the Blues smashed the Bulldogs from pillar to post by 98 points in Round 6. That early season match was over by half-time as the Blues held a nine-kick lead, but then piled on the pain with a further 11 goals to three in the second half. Obviously there was massive improvement from Centrals come the later game, but their goal-kicking let them down with a final quarter return of 2.5 to Sturt's single major. Both sides were victorious last week, with the Blues taking down Port by seven kicks on the back of a six goal to one second term, while the Bulldogs hung tough against Adelaide with a last-gasp free kick and goal giving them a four-point win. The sun was out so conditions were pretty good and the game was physical as it gets and the change in the Bulldogs mentality from last year was evident, kicking the opening three before the Blues got one of their own. With a few missed chances thrown in, the Dogs held a two-goal lead at the first change, the board reading 3.3 to 1.3. The Blues fell behind a little in the second term, fluffing more shots on goal while the Dogs were able to get out to a 22-point lead just before added time after scoring three goals without a miss to Sturt's 1.2. But that gap was back to 15 by the long break, the Blues managing a further 1.1 in time-on. The Blues came out in the second half a different mob, but the Dogs weren't giving up the fight despite the inaccuracy bug jumping camps. The home side were winning a few more clearances from here and would keep the Bulldogs away from the big sticks for a large portion of the third term. By the final change, the deficit was down to four points, the Blues adding 3.2 to 1.3. Two of Centrals' points came at a time when they could have been ahead by three kicks. The final term was a shootout and arm wrestling contest, the lead changing on five occasions. Unfortunately for the visitors, the Blues would come out on top in the end, scoring 3.1 to two goals to win by three points. Both coaches were pleased with their respective teams endeavour, including Central coach Paul Thomas, whose side turned around a massive gap from their previous visit to Unley. Tom Lewis was absolute best all-round for the Blues, with 26 disposals, 15 tackles and 14 clearances. The Bulldogs named Jez McLennan as their best afield, with 23 disposals, five tackles and four marks.
The remaining matches for the weekend would take place on the Sunday afternoon, beginning with a post-midday match up at the Adelaide Oval as the Panthers faced the Crows. Last year's two encounters at Noarlunga were both wins for Adelaide, with an 11-point win in Round 5, followed by a near 10-goal victory in Round 12. The earlier match was a tug-of-war, South recovered from a 16-point deficit to close to within two points at the final change. But the comeback was eventually shutdown. The later game was more clear cut after half-time, Adelaide going from 16 points up at the break to kick nine goals to four on their way to a big win. Both sides were on the wrong end of the stick last week post-Gather Round, with the Panthers blowing a two-goal quarter-time lead as the Bloods overran them by 22 points at Richmond, while the Crows handed Centrals a free kick in front of goal at the death and lost by four points at Elizabeth. The Crows managed to convince the Panthers' leaders to allow the game to be a curtain raiser at the Oval, but while I'm sure the opportunity would have been wholeheartedly embraced by the players, the fans I'm sure wouldn't have been so quick to do so. The two sides exchanged body blows in the opening quarter with the lead changing hands several times. Adelaide should probably have been ahead by more at the first change, leading by eight points with the scoreboard showing 4.4 to 3.2. But then the Crows show kicked into gear and perhaps the giveaway of a home-ground advantage was about to bite the club in the backside. The Panthers would be restricted to three behinds in the second term, the Crows running off to a 38-point half-time lead with their return of 5.3. The show stalled a little bit in the third quarter as the Crows had a bout of the inaccuracy bug. But the gap was still made bigger going into the final term, Adelaide kicking 2.9 to the Panthers' 2.1. Their first two rounds of football seem like a memory now, the Panthers' faithful that did come out could only watch in horror as the Crows tore apart what was left, bagging a further 8.4 to 2.2 in the final term to run out 14-goal victors. There were many contributors to this demolition by Adelaide, but it was Jackson Hately that was the standout with 31 disposals, nine marks, five clearances, four tackles and three goals. Mitch O'Neill was South best on a dismal afternoon, he finished with 25 disposals, seven clearances and six tackles.
The next match would start about a quarter and a bit after the Oval bludgeoning, we now head to the inner northern suburbs and into the Prospect Oval for the Battle of the Birds as the Roosters hosted the Eagles. The red & whites have won the past three outings against the Eagles, from the 2022 games it was a 22-point win in Round 1 at Woodville, then an eight-goal hiding at the chook-house on Menzies Crescent in Round 16. On both occasions, the Eagles dropped their bundle in one quarter and the Roosters would grab it with both wings. At Oval Avenue, the Roosters went from eight points up at half-time to almost five goals at the final change. Not helping on that day was the Eagles accuracy, finishing with 9.12 on the board. At Prospect, it was a similar story. This time North were eight points ahead at the first change, booted six goals to three in the second term then restricted the Eagles attacks while adding a further six to three majors for the second half. The Roosters recovered from their loss to the Bulldogs by hammering their Grand Final nemesis at The Parade last week, while the Eagles were handed a second successive loss by Glenelg at Brighton Road. Wasteful shooting on goal by the Eagles kept the Roosters well within strike at the first change, scoring 2.4 to 1.1 in the opening term to lead by just nine points. The lead would change hands three times over the course of about eight minutes, with North hitting the front and staying in front by the long break. They kicked 4.3 to 1.3 to overturn the quarter-time deficit in their favour come half-time. The Eagles cack-handedness in attack continued when play resumed, again scoring just 1.3 as the Roosters began to put some distance between them and their 2020 Grand Final assailants. North's 3.3 would put them out to a 21-point lead at the final change. A pair of goals early in the last quarter gave the Eagles a glimmer of hope of stopping the rot, bringing the gap back to a couple of straight kicks at nine minutes. But the home side answered back with two of their own a few minutes later to restore their four-kick advantage. The Eagles kept trying, but a couple of late chances went begging as the Roosters held off the late challenge, altogether scoring 2.3 to 3.2 to finish off 16-point winners. Campbell Combe was at his brilliant best for the Roosters, notching up 29 disposals, along with 14 tackles, 12 clearances and winning four free kicks. Joseph Sinor was the Eagles' best, with 28 disposals, eight tackles, plus six marks and clearances.
The fourth game for the weekend would get us on-board the tram to the south-western seaside city of Glenelg and into the Stratarama Stadium where the Tigers locked horns with the Redlegs. These two clubs would meet on three occasions in Season 2022, with the Tigers taking out the first encounter in the season opener at Glenelg by 15 points. The Redlegs' opening term was rather woeful, kicking five behinds which was part of the recipe for their downfall. Later in the year however, was the start of the Tigers' downfall. The Redlegs returned serve in their Round 18 game at The Parade, in a low-scoring encounter they would emerge seven-point victors where the goals column didn't reach two-digit figures. And then came the nail in Glenelg's 2022 coffin, the 1st Semi-Final. Initially a tense, close encounter, the Tigers' third term was where everything went south. They kicked four behinds and would find themselves three straight shots behind at the final change before the Redlegs finished with a five goal to three last quarter to win by 28 points. The Tigers were the only ones coming in off the back of victory, they dominated the Eagles to win by eight goals. In the meantime, Norwood's hangover continued with a heavy nine-goal defeat from the Roosters. The Redlegs blew a swag of chances early in the opening term, kicking a succession of behinds in the middle of the quarter. Those few minor scores were how many points that they would lead at the first change, with the scores reading 2.6 to 2.2. The Tigers would eventually take over in the second term, with the lead changing a couple of times. A trio of goals late in the quarter would put them ahead going into the long break, altogether scoring 4.4 to 2.2 to lead by 10 points at half-time. The third term was very sedate on the scoreboard, the deficit would go unchanged by the three quarter-time siren after both sides scored 1.1 each. But the final quarter would belong to the Tigers, putting an end to the Redlegs' fight after eight minutes, kicking the first three goals before the Redlegs could answer with two of their own. Glenelg added two more later, in total they scored 5.3 to 2.1 to run out five-goal victors with a scorecard looking very similar to that 1st Semi but in reverse. The Tigers would vote in Corey Lyons as their best, with 26 disposals, 12 clearances, nine tackles and four free kicks. Norwood's best contributor was Nik Rokahr, with 28 disposals and seven clearances.
The last match takes us far, far away from the city and into the Riverland region and the original stomping ground of Russell Ebert of Loxton Oval, where the Bloods would take on the Magpies. These sides shared the points from their two games in 2022, with the Bloods emerging victorious in the later season game which was moved to Richmond while Alberton was being used in Port Adelaide's AFL-W side's debut game. West would claim a 27-point victory in Round 15 after leading at every change and on the back of a five goal to two opening quarter. But in last year's outing to the Riverland in Round 7, the Magpies ran out four-goal winners. The Bloods came close to causing a major upset after cutting a 34-point half-time deficit in half, but the Magpies kept them at arm's length to assure victory in the now annual tribute match to the late AFL Hall of Famer. In last week's games, Westies were triumphant against the Panthers by 22 points, while the Magpies were given the Blues at Unley with a 38-point defeat. The Bloods were surely not going to fall back on their old habits today after such a strong showing last week against an underperforming Port outfit, right? The first half of football that the red & black served up would suggest otherwise. They would kick just one goal in the opening quarter while the Magpies booted 5.3, four of those goals unanswered to open up a 27-point lead at quarter-time. Inaccuracy on goal from the Bloods saw them add just four behinds to their score, the Magpies were having similar issues but also increased their goal tally. Port's 3.5 would take their lead out to 46 points by the half-time break. Both sides came out different teams after the long break, Westies trying madly to repair the damage. They would succeed in part as the Magpies attack was throttled back, the Bloods kicking 5.4 to the Magpies' 1.3 as the gap was reeled back to 21 points come three quarter-time. A four-kick deficit was definitely not out of reach for this Bloods side, but a more determined Port defence would see them home in the end. Despite being outscored, the Maggies would leave Loxton with a 17-point win and first points in the bank after scoring 3.2 to four goals in the final term. Trent Dumont was best for the Magpies, with 20 disposals, 10 marks and eight tackles. The Bloods would name Callum Park as their best afield with 33 disposals and 11 marks.
FINAL SCORES IN ROUND 4 OF THE SANFL...
Saturday April 29
Sturt 9.9 (63)
Central District 9.6 (60)
2,599 @ Wigan Oval, Unley
Sunday April 30
Adelaide 19.20 (134)
South Adelaide 7.8 (50)
4,432 @ Adelaide Oval
North Adelaide 10.10 (70)
Woodville-West Torrens 7.12 (54)
1,871 @ Prospect Oval
Glenelg 12.10 (82)
Norwood 7.10 (52)
2,299 @ Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg
Port Adelaide 12.13 (85)
West Adelaide 10.8 (68)
1,387 @ Loxton Oval
INJURIES
Adelaide -- Taylor (ankle)
North -- Gowers (hamstring), Wigg (ankle)
Port -- Lycett (back), Pasini (thigh)
REPORTS
Glenelg -- Searle (forceful contact)
LEAGUE LADDER
-----------------------------------------------------
Sturt -- 8pts (4-0-0), 60.6%
Adelaide -- 6pts (3-1-0), 64.2%
Glenelg -- 6pts (3-1-0), 56%
North -- 6pts (3-1-0), 55.8%
Central -- 4pts (2-2-0), 50.2%
-----------------------------------------------------
South -- 4pts (2-2-0), 44%
W-WT -- 2pts (1-3-0), 47.2%
West -- 2pts (1-3-0), 46.4%
Port -- 2pts (1-3-0), 40.7%
Norwood -- 0pts (0-4-0), 33.8%
-----------------------------------------------------
OPENING THREE ROUNDS BRING IN THE CROWDS
The press release below is from the SANFL website.
The SANFL is pleased to announce that the first three rounds of the Hostplus SANFL League have recorded the best attendance figures since 2017. In addition, Round 3 (Anzac Round) hosted 15,099 fans across four days of football, representing the highest Round 3 attendance since 2014 (18,675) and the third-highest Round 3 attendance since 2006. Contributing to the outstanding attendance numbers in Round 3 were Monday night’s Anzac Eve blockbuster between Glenelg and Woodville-Torrens at Stratarama Stadium with a crowd of 4,521, followed by the traditional Anzac Day grand final re-match at Norwood’s Coopers Stadium with 4,259. Across Rounds One, Two and Three a combined total of 43,831 fans have attended matches, compared with 34,639 in 2022 – an increase of almost 27%.
SANFL Chief Executive Officer Darren Chandler said the League was thrilled to see big crowds back at SANFL games on the back of three years of the COVID pandemic. After such a challenging three years dealing with restrictions and uncertainty, it’s pleasing to see fans returning to see and experience the game live and being really engaged with SANFL footy,” Mr Chandler said in addition to the high- quality standard of football and the evenness of the competition, the new SANFL Super Match initiative also was already proving a success in drawing more people to SANFL games. “We’re thrilled to see the SANFL Super Match program already having an impact on attendances and providing a real festival atmosphere at SANFL grounds to enhance the game day experience for fans,” he said.
Next weekend in Round 5...
Saturday May 6
Central District vs. West Adelaide; X-Convenience Oval, Elizabeth @ 2:10pm
North Adelaide vs. Adelaide; Prospect Oval @ 2:10pm
South Adelaide vs. Glenelg; Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga @ 2:10pm
Port Adelaide vs. Norwood; Alberton Oval @ 2:30pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. Sturt; Woodville Oval @ 4:40pm
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
Last edited:
