- May 8, 2001
- 5,666
- 816
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
- Other Teams
- CDFC (SANFL), Port Melb (VFL)
Hi Footy fans...
This is it. This is where dreams are made to come true or be left wanting. From the 10 sides across the season from late April, to the five clubs able to survive into September until finally, only two were left to contest October. At the end of the day, only one would raise the flag and take home the cup. We should really think ourselves lucky here in South Australia, having missed no football at all thanks to us just doing things the right way in the light of the ongoing pandemic that brought the game down across the border in Victoria. The lockdowns over there put an end to the VFL season, which affected second tier football in three states and no premier was crowned. Over here in our small lockdown period, instead of calling off two rounds of football, those in the corridors of power kept cool heads and simply added two weeks onto the schedule. As a result, as it was in year's past, our showpiece event was once again under the spotlight and not in the shadows. As history was made in Perth last weekend, another piece of history would be made in South Australian football. Two sides who had never crossed paths in a premiership decider would now finally square off in the fight to take home the Thomas Seymour-Hill Trophy.
Welcome to the final installment of the Wrap-Up for this year... the 2021 SANFL Statewide Super League Grand Final.
Once again we return to the surroundings of the Adelaide Oval where unfortunately, we weren't let off by the SA Government in regards to crowds. Despite our anti-Covid measures being pretty air-tight, we still found ourselves being held back to a 50% capacity crowd as the Eagles prepared to defend their title against the 2019 premiers in Glenelg. As said earlier, these two clubs have never fought out a premiership decider before. They have battled in finals games before though. You need only look back a fortnight ago in the 2nd Semi-Final in which the Eagles only just escaped the Tigers grasp. The Eagles seemed to have it in the bag up until the final term when the Bays launched a last ditch assault. They kicked into the lead with minutes left to go, but the Eagles' last goal by Tyson Stengle
in the dying moments denied the Tigers the first Grand Final berth. Previously, these sides have met in four other finals matches stretching back to 1992, which to date was the Tigers' only victory over the Eagles. It was a Preliminary Final in which the Bays inflicted a 64-point hammering over the relatively new side whose debut as a merged team was the previous season. The Eagles would take victory in subsequent meetings, their first was the 1999 Qualifying Final by 11 points, then two 1st Semi-Finals in 2007 and 2010. When you go into the records in the pre-merger years of West Torrens and Woodville, you'll find two Tigers victories in a 1951 1st Semi and a 1974 eliminator, then another pair of wins against the Warriors in the 1986 Preliminary Final and then the following year's Elimination Final. The former would lead to back-to-back flags going to Brighton Road.
Grand Final success for these sides has been slim pickings. If you want to be technical, the Eagles have eight premiership flags in their cabinets but only half of them belong to the club that stands today. Along with the West Torrens title-winning seasons of 1924, 1933, 1945 and 1953, the merged team have won four premierships over their 30 years in partnership. It only took three seasons for Woodville-West Torrens to net the prize, taking out the 1993 premiership against the Redlegs. Their defence of that title came up short against Port Adelaide in 1994 and it wouldn't be until Season 2000 that they returned to the big stage. Even then, the trophy eluded their grasp again and again, mostly at the hands of the rampant Central District. From their six Grand Final appearances in the ensuing 12 seasons, all against the Bulldogs, they won two of them in 2007 and 2011. After back-to-back disappointments in 2015 and 2016, the Eagles took out the 2020 premiership against North Adelaide after a pandemic-disrupted season, a revenge trip two years in the making after that infamous 2018 Preliminary Final. All in all, their record in the decider is four victories from 11 games. But if anyone knows about Grand Final heartbreak, it's Glenelg. While they did break a long drought of over 30 years and finally putting one over the Magpies only two years ago, their 100-year history is littered with hard-luck stories at the big dance. From their 18 previous Grand Final appearances, they have lost 13 of them. The Magpies had a fair bit to do with that during their worst periods. After winning the 1973 premiership, they had one of their longest and worst runs of luck spanning almost two decades. From 1974 and running all the way through to 1992, the Tigers lost nine grand finals to Sturt (1974), Norwood (1975, 1982), the Magpies (1977, 1981, 1988, 1990, 1992) and the Roosters (1987). They did manage to make the 2008 decider, but became another victim of the Bulldogs.
After the Tigers took out both minor round games, it was shocking to say the least when the Eagles bagged the first Grand Final spot at their expense a fortnight ago. The Eagles' only sticking point was a lacklustre final term that almost saw them drop the game. Perhaps the signs began showing as far back as the last minor round game which the Tigers lost to the Magpies, which was their only blemish of the home and away season. Both sides would field teams that had around half their line-ups featuring in their previous Grand Finals. Despite finding their form against the Panthers in the Preliminary Final, the old Tiger habits of those years past were about to rear their head once again. After a tit-fot-tat opening 15 minutes which saw both sides kick two goals each, the Eagles ruled the rest of the term and would go into the first change with a three-goal advantage, largely due to the Menzel boys and Tyson Stengle
. At quarter-time it was 5.2 to 2.2. The second quarter was a bit of a fizzer, with the Eagles scoring the only goal of the term and the Tigers wasting their one scoring shot as the defending premiers extended their lead to 23 points. The Tigers were looking anything but the championship material they showed their fans through the bulk of the regular season. They regularly fought every game out, sometimes having to come from behind. They had true grit, a burning desire to win and all the firepower. But only the football gods knew where they left it because it wasn't on show this day and all of a sudden, the dream of celebrating 100 years of existence was turning into one of their worst nightmares. Men like Liam McBean
, Luke Reynolds and Lachlan Hosie were all put on a leash by the Eagles backs and rendered all but ineffective.
Not even the returning Luke Partington
could bring them up and the magic of Marlon Motlop
had been nullified. When play resumed the Eagles kept running rings around the Tigers and would further extend their lead by the final change, leaving little wonder they call the third term the "Premiership Quarter". Majors from Angus Poole, Jack Hayes, Daniel Menzel
and Kobe Mutch
took the Eagles lead out to more than seven straight kicks after the Eagles added 4.3 to the Tigers' lowly 1.1, at the three quarter-time siren, the gap was now out to 43 points. There would be no miraculous comeback by the side that only a few weeks ago were dubbed premiers-in-waiting. The Eagles well and truly shut the door as Jim Comitogianni, Mutch and the Menzels put the final nails in the Glenelg centenary coffin, Matt Allen again scoring the Tigers' single major in one term among five scores. In the end, the Eagles would win by 67 points and in the process go back-to-back for the first time in their 30-year post-merger history. Jack Hayes would bag the Jack Oatey Medal as best on ground, playing most of the game with a broken leg. He took maximum votes from the nine judges, notched up 26 disposals, nine marks and seven clearances. The Menzels scored seven goals with Daniel booting four and Stengle made the most of his 12 disposals to kick three majors. Mutch and Riley Knight
were monsters of tackles with a combined tally of 22, while Knight also made eight clearances. Matt Snook was the clear standout for the Tigers on a horrible afternoon, he had 22 disposals as well as nine tackles and clearances. Dylan Landt had four more disposals than Snook, but wasn't as active with other key stats. Partington and Brett Turner combined for 11 tackles and 10 clearances, but their influence was well held by the Eagles. A shocking and abysmal end for a milestone season that showed so much promise.
FINAL SCORES IN WEEK FOUR OF THE SANFL FINALS...
Sunday October 3
2021 SANFL STATEWIDE SUPER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL
Woodville-West Torrens 15.9 (99)
Glenelg 4.8 (32)
22,956 @ Adelaide Oval
INJURIES
Glenelg -- Martini (ankle)
REPORTS
None known at time of post.
RESERVES GRAND FINAL -- TIGERS BRING BULLDOGS' RUN TO A STOP
The Tigers' reserves side were able to salvage something from the afternoon's proceedings, putting a halt on the Bulldogs' otherwise stellar finals run to win the Reserves Grand Final by 50 points. The Dogs had come from the lowest point on the finals table to make the decider, winning the Elimination Final, the 1st Semi and then edging out the defending premiers in the Eagles in a Preliminary Final to get here and early on laid down the challenge to the minor premiers. The Tigers would lead by two points at quarter-time after putting a pair of shots wide after both sides scored three goals in the opening term. Centrals would then keep the Bays down to a single behind in the second term and kick 2.2 to take an 11-point lead into the long break. Unfortunately the Dogs ran out of puff in the second half and as the Tigers fought back into the lead by the final change, Centrals' game plan was rendered ineffective. They seemed panicked with their kicking, often trying to find players on the run in their attacking 50, only to be out-muscled by a Glenelg defender. Or just kicking long into packs and being beaten at clearances. The Dogs only kicked two goals for the entire second half as the Tigers scored 11.7 to run out easy winners. Jonty Scharenberg could well have been included in the league side going by his best on ground efforts, adding the Bob Lee Medal to his 2019 League premiership medal with 33 disposals and eight clearances.
Glenelg 14.10 (94) def. Central District 7.2 (44)
CROWEATER COLTS DESTROY ALLIES IN NATIONAL SERIES
In the early morning curtain raiser to the finals on Sunday, the South Australians took out their first points of the 2021 AFL U-19 National Championships by pounding the combined north-eastern states Allies side by over 15 goals. While the National series seems to be dragging on thanks to the ongoing coronavirus issues surrounding the eastern seaboard, SA is just getting on with it and after a decent hitout in the AFL Grand Final curtain raiser, the Croweaters opened the contest with a 3.2 to two point opening term to lead by three goals at the first change. A further four goals to the Allies' 2.3 in the second term stretched their advantage to 27 points by the half-time break. But the second half was massive for the hosts, running absolutely rampant to score a further 12 goals to two for the entire second half to set up their 92-point victory. Adam D'Aloia was named best on ground for the Croweaters, he won the Alan Stewart Medal only a fortnight ago playing for the Eagles in their U-18 premiership victory. South Australia will again play the Sandgropers next Sunday at Thebarton Oval to close out the national series.
South Australia 19.10 (124) def. Allies 4.8 (32)
Usually around this part of the GF wrap, I publish a list of the premiers and medal winners from the SA Community Football Leagues, but unfortunately I have been unable to get my hands on a complete list so this will unfortunately be omitted from this post.
So that's all for 2021, folks. Here's hoping for an uninterrupted season 2022 where we can run around freely on the terraces both at home, away and during finals because wearing masks really does grind some gears. But in any case, here's to the champions of all the leagues of South Australia. From the semi-pros of the SANFL, to the ammos and the wide green yonder of the country. For those who are in it for the camaraderie, the brotherhood and yes the sisterhood as well. Can the Eagles go one better next year and do a three-peat? Will the Tigers recover some lost pride? How much longer can South's drought continue and indeed... can the Bloods, well, just do better? We'll find out it just over six months.
Thanks for your attention this season, my SA footy-heads. Until next year... that's a wrap.
WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS -- 2021 SANFL Premiers
This is it. This is where dreams are made to come true or be left wanting. From the 10 sides across the season from late April, to the five clubs able to survive into September until finally, only two were left to contest October. At the end of the day, only one would raise the flag and take home the cup. We should really think ourselves lucky here in South Australia, having missed no football at all thanks to us just doing things the right way in the light of the ongoing pandemic that brought the game down across the border in Victoria. The lockdowns over there put an end to the VFL season, which affected second tier football in three states and no premier was crowned. Over here in our small lockdown period, instead of calling off two rounds of football, those in the corridors of power kept cool heads and simply added two weeks onto the schedule. As a result, as it was in year's past, our showpiece event was once again under the spotlight and not in the shadows. As history was made in Perth last weekend, another piece of history would be made in South Australian football. Two sides who had never crossed paths in a premiership decider would now finally square off in the fight to take home the Thomas Seymour-Hill Trophy.
Welcome to the final installment of the Wrap-Up for this year... the 2021 SANFL Statewide Super League Grand Final.
Once again we return to the surroundings of the Adelaide Oval where unfortunately, we weren't let off by the SA Government in regards to crowds. Despite our anti-Covid measures being pretty air-tight, we still found ourselves being held back to a 50% capacity crowd as the Eagles prepared to defend their title against the 2019 premiers in Glenelg. As said earlier, these two clubs have never fought out a premiership decider before. They have battled in finals games before though. You need only look back a fortnight ago in the 2nd Semi-Final in which the Eagles only just escaped the Tigers grasp. The Eagles seemed to have it in the bag up until the final term when the Bays launched a last ditch assault. They kicked into the lead with minutes left to go, but the Eagles' last goal by Tyson Stengle
PLAYERCARDSTART
18
Tyson Stengle
- Age
- 25
- Ht
- 175cm
- Wt
- 71kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 9.3
- 2star
- K
- 5.8
- 2star
- HB
- 3.5
- 3star
- M
- 1.8
- 2star
- T
- 2.4
- 4star
- G
- 1.1
- 4star
- D
- 10.3
- 3star
- K
- 5.3
- 2star
- HB
- 5.0
- 3star
- M
- 1.3
- 1star
- T
- 2.0
- 3star
- G
- 0.5
- 4star
- D
- 8.8
- 3star
- K
- 5.6
- 3star
- HB
- 3.2
- 3star
- M
- 1.8
- 2star
- T
- 2.6
- 4star
- G
- 1.6
- 5star
PLAYERCARDEND
Grand Final success for these sides has been slim pickings. If you want to be technical, the Eagles have eight premiership flags in their cabinets but only half of them belong to the club that stands today. Along with the West Torrens title-winning seasons of 1924, 1933, 1945 and 1953, the merged team have won four premierships over their 30 years in partnership. It only took three seasons for Woodville-West Torrens to net the prize, taking out the 1993 premiership against the Redlegs. Their defence of that title came up short against Port Adelaide in 1994 and it wouldn't be until Season 2000 that they returned to the big stage. Even then, the trophy eluded their grasp again and again, mostly at the hands of the rampant Central District. From their six Grand Final appearances in the ensuing 12 seasons, all against the Bulldogs, they won two of them in 2007 and 2011. After back-to-back disappointments in 2015 and 2016, the Eagles took out the 2020 premiership against North Adelaide after a pandemic-disrupted season, a revenge trip two years in the making after that infamous 2018 Preliminary Final. All in all, their record in the decider is four victories from 11 games. But if anyone knows about Grand Final heartbreak, it's Glenelg. While they did break a long drought of over 30 years and finally putting one over the Magpies only two years ago, their 100-year history is littered with hard-luck stories at the big dance. From their 18 previous Grand Final appearances, they have lost 13 of them. The Magpies had a fair bit to do with that during their worst periods. After winning the 1973 premiership, they had one of their longest and worst runs of luck spanning almost two decades. From 1974 and running all the way through to 1992, the Tigers lost nine grand finals to Sturt (1974), Norwood (1975, 1982), the Magpies (1977, 1981, 1988, 1990, 1992) and the Roosters (1987). They did manage to make the 2008 decider, but became another victim of the Bulldogs.
After the Tigers took out both minor round games, it was shocking to say the least when the Eagles bagged the first Grand Final spot at their expense a fortnight ago. The Eagles' only sticking point was a lacklustre final term that almost saw them drop the game. Perhaps the signs began showing as far back as the last minor round game which the Tigers lost to the Magpies, which was their only blemish of the home and away season. Both sides would field teams that had around half their line-ups featuring in their previous Grand Finals. Despite finding their form against the Panthers in the Preliminary Final, the old Tiger habits of those years past were about to rear their head once again. After a tit-fot-tat opening 15 minutes which saw both sides kick two goals each, the Eagles ruled the rest of the term and would go into the first change with a three-goal advantage, largely due to the Menzel boys and Tyson Stengle
PLAYERCARDSTART
18
Tyson Stengle
- Age
- 25
- Ht
- 175cm
- Wt
- 71kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 9.3
- 2star
- K
- 5.8
- 2star
- HB
- 3.5
- 3star
- M
- 1.8
- 2star
- T
- 2.4
- 4star
- G
- 1.1
- 4star
- D
- 10.3
- 3star
- K
- 5.3
- 2star
- HB
- 5.0
- 3star
- M
- 1.3
- 1star
- T
- 2.0
- 3star
- G
- 0.5
- 4star
- D
- 8.8
- 3star
- K
- 5.6
- 3star
- HB
- 3.2
- 3star
- M
- 1.8
- 2star
- T
- 2.6
- 4star
- G
- 1.6
- 5star
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
Liam Mcbean
- Age
- 29
- Ht
- 202cm
- Wt
- 94kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 8.2
- 2star
- K
- 4.8
- 2star
- HB
- 3.4
- 3star
- M
- 3.4
- 3star
- T
- 1.6
- 4star
- G
- 0.2
- 2star
No current season stats available
- D
- 8.2
- 2star
- K
- 4.8
- 2star
- HB
- 3.4
- 3star
- M
- 3.4
- 4star
- T
- 1.6
- 4star
- G
- 0.2
- 3star
PLAYERCARDEND
Not even the returning Luke Partington
PLAYERCARDSTART
Luke Partington
- Age
- 27
- Ht
- 181cm
- Wt
- 79kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 11.8
- 3star
- K
- 5.8
- 2star
- HB
- 6.0
- 4star
- M
- 2.5
- 3star
- T
- 1.3
- 3star
- G
- 0.5
- 3star
No current season stats available
- D
- 12.0
- 3star
- K
- 6.0
- 3star
- HB
- 6.0
- 4star
- M
- 2.4
- 3star
- T
- 1.2
- 3star
- G
- 0.6
- 3star
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
Marlon Motlop
- Age
- 34
- Ht
- 179cm
- Wt
- 80kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 13.4
- 3star
- K
- 7.4
- 3star
- HB
- 6.0
- 4star
- M
- 3.0
- 3star
- T
- 1.2
- 3star
- G
- 0.4
- 3star
No current season stats available
- D
- 13.4
- 4star
- K
- 7.4
- 3star
- HB
- 6.0
- 4star
- M
- 3.0
- 3star
- T
- 1.2
- 3star
- G
- 0.4
- 3star
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
Daniel Menzel
- Age
- 32
- Ht
- 190cm
- Wt
- 90kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 12.3
- 3star
- K
- 8.1
- 3star
- HB
- 4.2
- 3star
- M
- 4.3
- 4star
- T
- 1.5
- 3star
- G
- 1.8
- 5star
No current season stats available
- D
- 10.2
- 3star
- K
- 6.6
- 3star
- HB
- 3.6
- 3star
- M
- 4.0
- 4star
- T
- 1.8
- 4star
- G
- 1.4
- 5star
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
19
Kobe Mutch
- Age
- 26
- Ht
- 187cm
- Wt
- 88kg
- Pos.
- Mid
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 12.0
- 3star
- K
- 7.3
- 3star
- HB
- 4.8
- 3star
- M
- 3.5
- 4star
- T
- 0.8
- 3star
- CL
- 0.5
- 2star
No current season stats available
- D
- 12.0
- 3star
- K
- 7.3
- 3star
- HB
- 4.8
- 4star
- M
- 3.5
- 4star
- T
- 0.8
- 3star
- CL
- 0.5
- 3star
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
3
Riley Knight
- Age
- 29
- Ht
- 181cm
- Wt
- 80kg
- Pos.
- Fwd
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 14.4
- 4star
- K
- 6.7
- 3star
- HB
- 7.8
- 5star
- M
- 3.9
- 4star
- T
- 3.6
- 5star
- G
- 0.7
- 4star
No current season stats available
- D
- 11.0
- 3star
- K
- 5.0
- 2star
- HB
- 6.0
- 4star
- M
- 2.8
- 3star
- T
- 2.6
- 4star
- G
- 0.8
- 4star
PLAYERCARDEND
FINAL SCORES IN WEEK FOUR OF THE SANFL FINALS...
Sunday October 3
2021 SANFL STATEWIDE SUPER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL
Woodville-West Torrens 15.9 (99)
Glenelg 4.8 (32)
22,956 @ Adelaide Oval
INJURIES
Glenelg -- Martini (ankle)
REPORTS
None known at time of post.
RESERVES GRAND FINAL -- TIGERS BRING BULLDOGS' RUN TO A STOP
The Tigers' reserves side were able to salvage something from the afternoon's proceedings, putting a halt on the Bulldogs' otherwise stellar finals run to win the Reserves Grand Final by 50 points. The Dogs had come from the lowest point on the finals table to make the decider, winning the Elimination Final, the 1st Semi and then edging out the defending premiers in the Eagles in a Preliminary Final to get here and early on laid down the challenge to the minor premiers. The Tigers would lead by two points at quarter-time after putting a pair of shots wide after both sides scored three goals in the opening term. Centrals would then keep the Bays down to a single behind in the second term and kick 2.2 to take an 11-point lead into the long break. Unfortunately the Dogs ran out of puff in the second half and as the Tigers fought back into the lead by the final change, Centrals' game plan was rendered ineffective. They seemed panicked with their kicking, often trying to find players on the run in their attacking 50, only to be out-muscled by a Glenelg defender. Or just kicking long into packs and being beaten at clearances. The Dogs only kicked two goals for the entire second half as the Tigers scored 11.7 to run out easy winners. Jonty Scharenberg could well have been included in the league side going by his best on ground efforts, adding the Bob Lee Medal to his 2019 League premiership medal with 33 disposals and eight clearances.
Glenelg 14.10 (94) def. Central District 7.2 (44)
CROWEATER COLTS DESTROY ALLIES IN NATIONAL SERIES
In the early morning curtain raiser to the finals on Sunday, the South Australians took out their first points of the 2021 AFL U-19 National Championships by pounding the combined north-eastern states Allies side by over 15 goals. While the National series seems to be dragging on thanks to the ongoing coronavirus issues surrounding the eastern seaboard, SA is just getting on with it and after a decent hitout in the AFL Grand Final curtain raiser, the Croweaters opened the contest with a 3.2 to two point opening term to lead by three goals at the first change. A further four goals to the Allies' 2.3 in the second term stretched their advantage to 27 points by the half-time break. But the second half was massive for the hosts, running absolutely rampant to score a further 12 goals to two for the entire second half to set up their 92-point victory. Adam D'Aloia was named best on ground for the Croweaters, he won the Alan Stewart Medal only a fortnight ago playing for the Eagles in their U-18 premiership victory. South Australia will again play the Sandgropers next Sunday at Thebarton Oval to close out the national series.
South Australia 19.10 (124) def. Allies 4.8 (32)
Usually around this part of the GF wrap, I publish a list of the premiers and medal winners from the SA Community Football Leagues, but unfortunately I have been unable to get my hands on a complete list so this will unfortunately be omitted from this post.
So that's all for 2021, folks. Here's hoping for an uninterrupted season 2022 where we can run around freely on the terraces both at home, away and during finals because wearing masks really does grind some gears. But in any case, here's to the champions of all the leagues of South Australia. From the semi-pros of the SANFL, to the ammos and the wide green yonder of the country. For those who are in it for the camaraderie, the brotherhood and yes the sisterhood as well. Can the Eagles go one better next year and do a three-peat? Will the Tigers recover some lost pride? How much longer can South's drought continue and indeed... can the Bloods, well, just do better? We'll find out it just over six months.
Thanks for your attention this season, my SA footy-heads. Until next year... that's a wrap.
WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS -- 2021 SANFL Premiers