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SANFL 2025 -- Grand Final Wrap-Up

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raboyle

Norm Smith Medallist
May 8, 2001
5,734
967
X Convenience Oval, Elizabeth
AFL Club
Adelaide
Other Teams
CDFC (SANFL), Port Melb (VFL)
Hi Footy fans...

The Thomas Seymour-Hill Trophy. The only prize in Australian football to carry a name, that being of one of South Australian football's other long serving administrators. Much like the late Max Basheer in later times, T.S. Hill served the interests of the game for the better part of 40 years from the mid-1920's, mainly as SANFL secretary, a period which included the second World War. He was also secretary of the former governing body of the game itself, the Australian National Football Council, for 10 years from 1938 up to 1947. It is due to that period of service that the premiership trophy would eventually have his name engraved on it, which was first presented to Port Adelaide in the 1963 Grand Final which was the last game he would oversee as part of the league board. Unfortunately like Max, he would not live long enough to see out a season, passing away in August of 1977 which was the league's centenary year. However, in honour of them both, their names are enshrined forever. One on the prize, the other on the grandstands of Adelaide Oval. If there is indeed an afterlife, hopefully Thomas and Max were looking down on the city of churches from above, happy in the knowledge they left the game all the better for the time they invested in it. Its that time, people... who would stand tall and hoist up ol' Tommy?

This is Finals Football... and it's flag time.

Welcome to the last Wrap-Up of the season... the 2025 SANFL Grand Final.

The last hours of football for 2025 brings us back to league headquarters of Adelaide Oval as the Double Blues faced the Tigers to decide who would take home the Thomas Seymour-Hill Trophy. This season the Blues have been hot... absolutely red hot. Their only speed bump came in the form of an Adelaide side that looked like a true September challenger in the final round for the season. Two weeks ago they wiped the floor with the defending champions with a second half masterclass, holding the Tigers to two goals while bagging 11 of their own. Glenelg were well off their game that day with a score of 8.12. One thing the Tigers have had in spades is true grit, either side of that loss were two fighting wins, starting with a one-point win against the Crows who would eventually be dumped in straight sets, then a two-point Preliminary Final victory against Norwood last week. The psychological advantage should have been on the side of the Blues, given their three wins this season, including the aforementioned 2nd Semi-Final a fortnight ago. But in the big day, one edge the Blues had was erased only two years ago. After three previous defeats at the hands of the Blues in 1969, 1970 and 1974, the Tigers finally put one over them, winning the 2023 premiership by four goals. Sturt would go in raging favourites for premiership number 16, while the Tigers would be looking for their eighth and an unprecedented treble. With these facts in mind, it was indeed, Sturt's flag to lose.

In the lead up during the week there would be two major playmakers that would not only be missing from the field, but would call time on their careers. Three-time Glenelg premiership player Max Proud copped a brutal hit against Norwood last week, resulting in a hospital stay for broken ribs and a punctured lung. Then there's James Battersby. Back-to-back premiership player, two-time club best and fairest and as of late, was club captain. But after problematic knee issues ruined his year and after being forced to run the comeback trail in the reserves, he would be informed by coach Martin Mattner that he would not be named in the league side for the Grand Final. That not withstanding, the Blues have been all but irresistable this season and after conceding the game opener by usual Tigers suspect Lachie Hosie, the Blues would bag the next three, including one from point blank range to Josh Hone after a defensive lapse from the Bays. Sturt burned a few chances as well, but the Tigers weren't on song in the opening term and the Blues went into the first change with a 14-point lead with the board reading 3.4 to 1.1. Sam Conforti would play a big role in taking their lead to as much as six straight kicks half-way through the following term, scoring two of the Blues' next three goals. Hosie's major just prior to time-on would only bring that down to five going into the rooms, the half-time gap was 26 points in favour of the Blues after a 3.2 to 1.2 second quarter.

Without Proud or several of his defensive cohorts, the Tigers' defence was putty in the Blues' hands. Despite looking like they could make an audacious comeback for a brief period, in which they drew the Blues back to 19 points just 10 minutes into the second half, the Blues kicked away again and this time it was for keeps. Sturt would bag five of the next six, all scores counted it was seven goals to Glenelg's four and it was a 44-point deficit at three quarter-time. The Tigers' forwards were just not firing, their main target man Liam McBean was held to one goal all game and Hosie was pretty much a lone hand with other goalscorers being well held by Sturt's miserly backs. They would not totally roll over but the damage was well and truly done, the three-peat dream falling to dust with the gap reaching as high as 51 points only nine minutes into the final quarter. Glenelg finished the afternoon kicking 5.3 to 3.2, bringing the final margin to 31 points. Hone finished with four goals, two of which came in the final term. Hosie finished with five, while overall Tigers' best man Corey Lyons finished with 26 disposals, nine marks and three tackles. For the Blues, Will Snelling inflicted a game high 14 tackles, 2025 Magarey Medal winner Tom Lewis had 10 tackles and nine clearances, but in the end the judge's panel would vote in Sturt's Angus Anderson as the best on ground and thus awarded the Jack Oatey Medal. He ended the triumphant afternoon with 24 disposals, nine marks, four clearances, three tackles and a goal.


FINAL SCORES -- Week 4

Sunday September 21
2025 SANFL HOSTPLUS LEAGUE GRAND FINAL

Sturt 16.9 (105)
Glenelg 11.8 (74)
34,426 @ Adelaide Oval


RESERVES -- Tigers salvage some pride against Blues
For the Double Blues it was a third time unlucky as the Tigers won the Reserves premiership in the curtain raiser to the league decider. After winning the 2021 pennant, the Blues have now lost the last three Grand Finals which included another Glenelg defeat in 2023. The Tigers dictated terms for the bulk of the first half, their goal-kicking radar functioning far better than the Blues, who would waste some crucial chances in the second term. Glenelg kicked 4.1 in both the first and second terms while Sturt kicked 3.4 for the whole half, the Tigers leading by 28 points at the long break. The third quarter was plentiful with chances, but the gap would stay as it was at half-time with both teams kicking 3.3 each. Despite a run of behinds to start the final term, the Tigers were just all over the Blues for more than 20 minutes and would add 2.4 to their tally, the Blues unable to make any ground as the Tigers ran out 25-point victors. Glenelg's Latrelle Sumner-Pickett and Sturt's Morgan Ferres both kicked four goals, while most of the body work was carried out by Tigers' trio Remi Brown, Ben Ridgway and Liam Jones with a combined total of 21 tackles between them. Ridgway also had 30 disposals and 11 clearances to his name, as a result he would be awarded the Bob Lee Medal as the best on ground.

RESERVES GRAND FINAL -- Glenelg 13.9 (87) def. Sturt 9.8 (62)


SA COMMUNITY FOOTBALL -- GF results and B&F medallists
Of course as always in the Grand Final wrap, I have compiled a list of the Grand Final results as well as the winners of the senior best and fairest medals from the various competitions operating under the SANFL's Community Leagues umbrella. The Sims and Dutschke Medals are awarded to the Adelaide Footy League's best individual player in the men's and women's divisions respectively, while the Mail Medal has been a part of the SA country football landscape since 1933. There are also pre-existing awards in some leagues, such as the Barossa Light & Gawler's Schluter Medal, the Johnston Medal of Broken Hill, the Madigan Medal of the Spencer Gulf and the Whillas Medal of the Riverland. The SA Community Football Leagues are looked after by major partners Think! Road Safety and the SA Government. Corporate partners are Clubs SA, West End, Kia Motors, SA Power Networks, Fleurieu Milk Company, APM Employment Services and CITB -- Construction Industry Training Board. Apparel partners are O'Neills, ISC, Belgravia Apparel, Nelson Teamwear, Sports Centre and Paladin.

ADELAIDE FL
Port District 14.8 (92) def. Golden Grove 6.5 (41)
Jake Pitman (Golden Grove)

ADELAIDE FL WOMENS
SMOSH West Lakes 5.2 (32) def. Morphettville Park 3.8 (26)
Jessica Chyer (Goodwood)

ADELAIDE PLAINS
Mallala 12.13 (85) def. Two Wells 9.5 (59)
Bailey Arthur (Balaklava)

BAROSSA LIGHT & GAWLER
Nuriootpa 18.13 (121) def. Willaston 11.10 (76)
Ethan Gant (Barossa Dist.) & Tom Corcoran (Angaston)

BROKEN HILL
Souths 7.13 (55) def. Norths 7.9 (51)
Logan Ferguson (Norths)

EASTERN EYRE
Kimba 9.4 (58) def. Eastern Ranges 5.7 (37)
Cooper Llewelyn (Ports)

FAR NORTH
Miners 9.5 (59) def. Hornridge 7.10 (52)
Josh Mewburn (Hornridge)

GREAT FLINDERS
Lock 12.7 (79) def. United Yeelanna 11.5 (71)
Reuben Hill (Cummins-Kapinnie)

GREAT SOUTHERN
Victor Harbor 14.8 (92) def. McLaren Districts 10.7 (67)
Sam Renney (Willunga)

HILLS
Nairne Bremer 11.10 (76) def. Lobethal 8.14 (62)
Dylan Whimpress (Nairne Bremer)

HILLS COUNTRY
Macclesfield 22.13 (145) def. Kangarilla 3.12 (30)
Brett Turner (Euchunga)

KANGAROO ISLAND
Western Districts 21.10 (136) def. Wisanger 4.6 (30)
Paul Green (Kingscote) & Ezra Foster (Wisanger)

KOWREE NARACOORTE TATIARA
Mundulla 14.9 (93) def. Kingston 9.14 (68)
Billy Stretch (Kybybolite)

LIMESTONE COAST
Millicent 9.9 (63) def. West Gambier 5.2 (32)
Lawry Bradley-Brown (West Gambier)

MURRAY VALLEY
Murrayville 12.11 (83) def. Wunkar 5.11 (41)
James Mapstone (BSR Redbacks)

MID SOUTH EAST
Hatherleigh 7.14 (56) def. Robe 6.3 (39)
Tom Wachtel (Robe)

NORTH EASTERN
BSR Tigers 10.11 (71) def. Mintaro-Munoora 8.11 (59)
Matt Longbottom (BSR Tigers)

NORTHERN AREAS
Crystal Brook 11.6 (72) def. Orroroo 3.10 (28)
Will Combe (Crystal Brook)

PORT LINCOLN
Lincoln South 9.2 (56) def. Marble Range 4.14 (38)
Daniel Minney (Marble Range)

RIVER MURRAY
Jervois 8.10 (58) def. Imperials 8.9 (57)
Rory O'Driscoll (Southern Mallee)

RIVERLAND
Barmera Monash 8.11 (59) def. Renmark 5.7 (37)
Josh Vater (Renmark)

SOUTHERN
Port Noarlunga 7.6 (48) def. Happy Valley 7.4 (46)
Nathaniel Paredes (Port Noarlunga)

SPENCER GULF
Solomontown 11.9 (75) def. Port 6.5 (41)
Adam Coe (Port)

WESTERN EYRE
Western United 26.14 (170) def. Ceduna 11.7 (73)
Jesse Chandler (Western United)

WHYALLA
Central Whyalla 10.13 (73) def. Roopena 11.6 (72)
Kyle Crompton (Roopena)

YORKE PENINSULA
CMS Crows 15.14 (104) def. Moonta 10.5 (65)
Jack Elsworthy (Kadina)


DUAL REDLEGS FLAG MENTOR LANDS AT MILNER ROAD
Something perhaps for West Adelaide to get enthused about ahead of Season 2026, with Norwood 2012 & 2013 premiership coach Nathan Bassett the latest to be charged with bringing the Bloods back from the cellar. He has signed with the club for three years, coming back to the SANFL with some AFL-level experience gained from roles at Essendon, Port Adelaide and Melbourne, as well as being back at Norwood last year in a co-ordinator role. Bassett will take over from interim coach Sam Elliott, who inherited a disaster when Adam Hartlett stood down from the job after Round 8 this year, but ended the season on a positive note with a win against South Adelaide in the final round. Elliott will likely return to the Reserves coaching position next season.

“I’m super excited to join the West Adelaide Football Club,” said Bassett, who played 210 AFL games for Adelaide between 1998 and 2008. ”I’m looking forward to coaching again and building a platform that can make us a successful football club for the long term. What I like is that we can see a way forward. There are strategies in place and good young talent both at senior level and coming through the juniors, reflected in our Under-16s SANFL premiership win, and Under-18s appearance in the Grand Final, on the weekend. I’m here to break the cycle.”


So that's it for another season of football. Will Bass resurrect the Bloods? How much longer will the drought continue at the Panthers? Can the Eagles repair themselves after such a miserable second half of the year? Are the Blues just getting started? And lastly... after two losses on the state arena in one year, can SA return to form? These, among many questions, will have to wait six months for any resemblance of an answer.

Until then, my fellow SA footy-heads... that's a wrap.

STURT FOOTBALL CLUB -- 2025 SANFL Premiers
 
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SANFL 2025 -- Grand Final Wrap-Up

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