- May 8, 2001
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Hi Footy fans...
Last week the Bulldogs were the first team to be eliminated from September football, a disappointing end to their season after a strong start to the year couldn't be maintained. The victorious Redlegs gained a measure of revenge after two previous encounters in finals football brought their seasons to an abrupt end at the hands of the northerners. In their path would be the Crows, defeated by the slightest of margins by the defending premiers from Brighton Road. Adding insult to injury for Adelaide was their senior outfit also finding themselves forced into an unenviable position of cut-throat footy after their loss a few days ago. As for the Tigers, this week the Double Blues would come off their hard earned week off from the first week of finals by virtue of their minor premiership win, surely ready to resume their dominant ways and shake off their last round defeat. The lads from Oxford Terrace should have all the confidence in the world, not just from the minor premiership but also the Lewis Trophy and two of the league's top best and fairest awards in the bank. But after last year's straight sets finals exit, can they shake that off and take the first step to premiership number 16?
This is Finals Football.
Welcome to the Week 2 Wrap-Up for SANFL Finals 2025.
We're back at league HQ in Adelaide Oval and its another elimination contest in this 1st Semi-Final, with the Crows taking on the Redlegs. During the regular season, the Crows would take out both games by four kicks in their clashes at Port Lincoln and The Parade in Rounds 5 and 16 respectively. In both games the Redlegs were horrible in front of goal, managing just eight goals in each and a combined 35 behinds as compared to the more efficient Adelaide. It was a late season surge that saw the Redlegs qualify for September and a six-goal final quarter against Centrals in the Elimination Final brought them here today, while Adelaide were put into sudden death after their one-point loss to Glenelg. The Crows have played in two successful 1st Semis, with wins against South in 2016 and then against Norwood in 2019. On the other hand, the Redlegs have a long history in 1st Semi-Finals. This is an interesting one, because while the esteemed Football Budget says the 'Legs have played in 38 which goes as far as their 1930 loss to Port Adelaide, the Australian Football website records as much as 45 appearances, going as far back as the 1905 loss to North Adelaide. Taking that into account, Norwood have won 21, lost 22 and drawn the other two. The Redlegs' last appearance was back in their premiership year of 2022, a 28-point win adding further hurt to the Tigers outfit that had dropped their bundle in the previous year's decider.
While Adelaide have won a 1st Semi against the Redlegs, the psychological edge of September footy probably belonged to Norwood. Back in 2022, they would clash in a Qualifying Final and then a Preliminary Final. Adelaide won the qualifier by 55 points, but a fortnight later it was an 11-goal turnaround as the Redlegs triumphed by 11 points on their way to the flag. To begin proceedings today, it was the Crows that would bag the opening major inside of two minutes, however they would leak three straight goals over six minutes as the Redlegs took a seven-point lead into the first change. Norwood kicked to a 26-point lead by the eighth minute, but that was then cut back to a more doable deficit going into the changerooms at the long break. All scores counted, Norwood scored 4.2 to Adelaide's 3.3, a two-goal gap at half-time in favour of the 'Legs. Some of Adelaide's charges were no doubt looking to break into their senior squad ahead of a looming AFL Semi-Final, but in the third quarter some went missing as the Redlegs set about their own path to glory and they owned the bulk of the period. The 'Legs didn't always find the mark up forward, but at the final change they were out to a 27-point lead after scoring 5.5 to 3.2. It seemed everything the Crows threw at Norwood, there was an answer, even if the inaccuracy bug took root in both camps during the final quarter. Adelaide started with three straight behinds, if they were more measured the situation could very well have been different. They didn't get another major until the middle of the quarter and a little more than 10 minutes later were down by an unassailable deficit. The Redlegs marched into next week's Preliminary Final, they finished with a 3.5 to 2.4 last quarter to win by 34 points, Adelaide bounced in straight sets. Billy Cootee was Norwood's best with 25 disposals, five each in clearances, marks and tackles as well as winning three free kicks. Harry Schoenberg was Adelaide's standout with 25 disposals, 10 clearances and five tackles.
That now brings us to the 2nd Semi-Final, the game that decides the first half of the Grand Final equation and this year it was this year's minor premiers against last year's premiers, the Double Blues facing the Tigers. The Blues were unceremoniously dumped from last year's flag race by the Tigers in the 1st Semi, so a bit of vengeance has thus far been exacted this season after taking out both minor round games in Rounds 5 and 10. Coming into this game, the Blues were denied the chance of a perfect season with a final round loss to the Crows, but with a minor premiership -- and the S.H. Lewis Trophy as well -- comes a week off. While Sturt were on the sidelines last weekend, they watched the defending premiers play a heart-stopper against the Crows, the Tigers coming out one-point victors after one last shot hit the woodwork in the dying moments. Again there seems to be a disconnect in regards to historical records when reading the Budget as compared to the collected records on AustralianFootball.com. Going with the latter, the Blues have contested 25 games for a win-loss record of 15-10, their last being a loss to the Eagles way back in 2016. Despite that, they rebounded to win the flag that season against that same outfit. As for the Tigers, they have played in 17 2nd Semis but have won only five. Even worse only three successful appearances would eventually yield premierships, in 1973, 1985 and 2023.
While there has been high expectations for Sturt, ever since winning the 2017 premiership they have not been able to recapture the same magic. First week eliminations in 2019 and 2022, straight sets exits in 2018 and 2024, as well as a Grand Final defeat last year. But on the back of a near-perfect minor round, the finals monkey was surely due to be shaken off. The first 12 minutes seemed to indicate that they were back to their dominant ways, kicking to a three-goal lead. But the Tigers made up that deficit and would lead by a point at quarter-time, the board reading 3.3 to 3.2. Sturt kicked the first goal of the second quarter, but would not find the goals again for the rest of the half. They would add three behinds to their tally, while the Tigers had to wait until the 18th minute to get their fourth goal on the board among a total of 3.3 that saw them stretch their advantage to two goals going into the long break. The finals monkey seemed to be entrenched in the Blues' camp once again... but it wasn't going to be screeching for long. The bug jumped camps during the interval and the Tigers' goal-scorers were shut down for the entire third quarter, held to a mere four behinds as the Blues' engine room roared to life. Sturt would go on to kick five unanswered goals along with three minor scores as they overtook the reigning premiers going into the final change, ahead by 17 points. And they didn't stop there, the Blues romped into the decider on the back of a 6.3 to 2.2 last quarter to win by seven goals, the Tigers given plenty to think about going into a Preliminary Final against a very determined looking Norwood. Will Snelling was the Blues' best afield with 29 disposals, 11 tackles and seven clearances, while the Tigers had Jarryd Lyons with 24 disposals, eight clearances and five tackles.
FINAL SCORES -- Finals Week 2
Sunday September 7
1st SEMI-FINAL
Norwood 15.14 (104)
Adelaide 10.10 (70)
2nd SEMI-FINAL
Sturt 15.12 (102)
Glenelg 8.12 (60)
11,072 @ Adelaide Oval
REPORTS
Sturt -- Conforti (umpire contact)
RESERVES FINALS -- Southside derby for Prelim
The Panthers will have to win the battle of the southern suburbs next weekend after going down once again to the Tigers in the Reserves 2nd Semi-Final in a torrid and heavily inaccurate display at Brighton Road on Saturday. A total of 23 minor scores was kicked in the Jungle Clash semi, the Tigers emerging with the prize of the first Grand Final spot. They were on the verge of giving it over to the Panthers throughout most of the day, only the inaccuracy during the first term kept them in touch. South lead by as much as three straight kicks during general play, as much as 10 points at breaks. But then came the final term. Glenelg levelled the scores eight minutes in before South kicked their one, only and last goal for the game at 10 minutes and the Tigers went for it. With the last couple of goals, they won by nine points. Now the Panthers will now take on their fellow southsiders in next week's Preliminary Final after the Double Blues won their 1st Semi-Final against the Roosters. Down by a kick at quarter-time, the Blues ran out the second term to lead by 16 at the long break, then that lead was cut down to nine points at the final change. However, much like the seniors did the next day, the Blues had a bumper final term, booting five unanswered goals to keep their season alive. The Preliminary Final will be held at Magain Stadium this coming Saturday morning.
Saturday September 6 @ Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg
2nd SEMI-FINAL -- Glenelg 7.13 (55) def. South Adelaide 6.10 (46)
1st SEMI-FINAL -- Sturt 14.12 (96) def. North Adelaide 8.7 (55)
UNDER AGE FINALS -- Junior Bloods get second shot at Dogs, Blues colts bolt in final term
Starting with the Under 16's and the Bloods' attack was allowed to roam a lot more freely against South than they did at Elizabeth a week ago, they will now get another shot at the Bulldogs in next week's Grand Final after they won by 44 points at Unley this past Saturday. The Bloods led by a goal at quarter-time before leaving the Panthers in their wake afterwards, though they could have been up by a lot more if more accurate. That aside, they kicked four unanswered goals to lead by 34 points at half-time. They were never really threatened after that, the Bloods matching every Panther effort to claw back the deficit. Their bigger brothers in the Under 18's division will also be in action next week, they will face the Double Blues who had quite the mixed day in front of goal but you can't argue with results as they won by 14 points in the earlier match at Oxford Terrace. The Eagles' opening term run of four goals without a miss was a false dawn, slowly but surely the Blues reeled them back in and at half-time it was back to a single kick. The Eagles peppered their goals during the third quarter, but their skewed shots resulted in a mere two-kick deficit at three quarter-time. Then after the Eagles kicked the opening goal of the final term, the Blues would then kick the last four goals of the game to run out victors. Both divisions will contest their premiership deciders before the league Preliminary Final at league HQ.
Saturday September 6 @ Thomas Farms Oval, Unley
U-16 PRELIMINARY FINAL -- West Adelaide 14.16 (100) def. South Adelaide 8.8 (56)
U-18 PRELIMINARY FINAL -- Sturt 8.15 (63) def. Woodville-West Torrens 7.7 (49)
LEAGUE MEDAL NIGHT -- Lewis wins a double honour
Sturt's Tom Lewis was best afield in more ways than one at South Australian football's night of nights, not only winning the league best and fairest Magarey Medal in a canter, but also the absolute respect of the league coaches with the R.O. Shearman Medal. Lewis won the SANFL's highest individual honour on 33 votes, 10 votes ahead of the Eagles' Kobe Mutch and 12 ahead of Sturt team-mate and last year's joint medallist Will Snelling, attracting max votes in five consecutive rounds. A hell of an achievement for a player whose career hasn't always been smooth sailing, with a knee re-con in 2019 and a life-threatening spleen rupture in 2022. In the other rewards, Glenelg's Lachie Hosie finally got his hands on the Ken Farmer Medal with a minor round total of 65 goals, 13 ahead of Adelaide's Chris Burgess and 17 more than fellow Tiger and previous award winner Liam McBean. It was his second time at the top of the goal-kickers' list, having won in 2023. The Reserves Magarey and the U-18 McCallum-Tomkins medals would find their way to Oval Avenue with Blake Hansen and Jack Cook the respective recipients, while the Bloods' Laurence Andriani won the U-16's award.
SA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME -- Long time Bulldog administrator among four inductees
During the Magarey Medal count there was also the induction of four new members to the South Australian Football Hall of Fame. We start with Andrew Payze, one of the players whose career survived the merger of West Torrens and Woodville in 1991 and went on to play a part in the breakthrough 1993 premiership victory with the Eagles before finishing up in 1998 and eventually becoming a board member at the Adelaide Football Club. James Allan's individual accolades are numerous, but while most of them were won at Menzies Crescent -- Magarey Medals, Shearman Medals, club B&F's -- his crowning achievement as a player came only a few kilometres away at The Parade in the 2014 premiership triumph. He since showed his coaching chops over in Victoria, guiding Werribee to the 2024 VFL title. David Kantilla's time in South Australia during the 1960's was no doubt littered with hardships associated with indigenous players of the time, but his name is revered by the Panthers' faithful. In the end it was likely all worth it for the one nicknamed "Soapy", being among those that last brought premiership glory to South Adelaide back in 1964, won two Knuckey Cups and was the first indigenous player to reach 100 games in the league. Finally we come to one of the longest serving administrators in the league. For more than 40 years the Bulldogs had Kris Grant, who would eventually oversee the most successful period of their history as CEO of the club in the 2000's -- the premierships, club renovation and ground re-developments. His name sits on the Elizabeth Oval grandstand as testament to his service at Central District.
ANDREW PAYZE
PLAYING RECORD:
159 games and 118 goals for West Torrens 1984 – 1990
149 games and 103 goals for Woodville West Torrens 1991 – 1998
14 games and 2 goals for Adelaide Football Club 1991 – 1993
PREMIERSHIPS:
Member of premiership team for Woodville West Torrens Eagles 1993
MATCHES FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
6 games and 5 goals for South Australia
State Captain 1994
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Best and Fairest for West Torrens 1986
Life member of Woodville-West Torrens
Player Life Member of SANFL
ADMINISTRATION RECORD:
Board member Adelaide Football Club
JAMES ALLAN
PLAYING RECORD:
146 SANFL games, 119 at North Adelaide and 27 at Norwood
ACHIEVEMENTS:
3 Magarey Medals – 2007, 2010, 2011
6 Shearman Medals (as voted for by club coaches) – 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
5 North Adelaide Football Club Best and Fairests – 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
The Advertiser Player of the Year 2007, 2010
The Advertiser Team of the Year 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Runner Up North Adelaide Best and Fairest 2012
North Adelaide captain 2012
Norwood premiership player 2014
COACHING RECORD:
Norwood Under 18s coach 2018 & 2019
Norwood League midfield coach 2020
North Adelaide Football Club Assistant Coach 2023
Werribee VFL Senior Coach 2024 & 2025
Werribee VFL Premiership Coach 2024
DAVID KANTILLA
PLAYING RECORD:
113 games and 106 goals for South Adelaide 1961 – 1966
MATCHES FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
4 games and 2 goals for South Australia 1964, 1965
PREMIERSHIPS:
Member of South Adelaide premiership team in 1964
4 Premierships with St Mary’s FC (NTFL)
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Best and fairest South Adelaide (Knuckey Cup) 1961, 1962
Runner up Best and Fairest South Adelaide 1964
Leading Goal Kicker for South Adelaide 1961
Life member of South Adelaide 1967
South Adelaide Hall of Fame 2004
First Indigenous SANFL player to play 100 games
AFL Indigenous Team of the Century 2005
David Kantilla Trophy -- South Adelaide’s best first year player
NTFL Hall of Fame and Legend status
NTFL Life Member
NTFL Team of the Century (Vice Captain)
KRIS GRANT
ADMINISTRATION/SERVICE ACHIEVEMENTS:
Central District Football Club General Manager/Chief Executive Officer – 1977 to 2021 (44 years)
Club played in 14 Grand Finals (during Kris’s tenure)
Won 9 Premierships / 5 times runner-up (during Kris’s tenure).
Produced 5 Magarey Medalists
Guided the Club through the introduction of the Crows into the AFL (1991)
Guided the Club through the introduction of Port Power into the AFL (1997)
Re-development of the licenced club (2000)
Re-development of the players changeroom facilities (gym, pool)
Several SANFL committees (including Laws of the Game, Football)
SANFL League Life Member
Central District Life Member
Inaugural inductee to the Central District Hall of Fame
Kris Grant Stand at X Convenience Oval is named after Kris, honoured by the Playford Council in recognition of Kris promoting the Northern Community through the Football Club
Achievements list taken from SANFL website.
Next weekend in Week 3 of the SANFL Finals...
Saturday September 13
RESERVES PRELIMINARY FINAL
South Adelaide vs. Sturt; Magain Stadium, Noarlunga @ 11am
Sunday September 14 @ Adelaide Oval
U-16 TORRENS UNIVERSITY CUP GRAND FINAL
Central District vs. West Adelaide @ 9:20am
U-18 TORRENS UNIVERSITY CUP GRAND FINAL
West Adelaide vs. Sturt @ 12noon
PRELIMINARY FINAL
Glenelg vs. Norwood @ 3:15pm
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
Last week the Bulldogs were the first team to be eliminated from September football, a disappointing end to their season after a strong start to the year couldn't be maintained. The victorious Redlegs gained a measure of revenge after two previous encounters in finals football brought their seasons to an abrupt end at the hands of the northerners. In their path would be the Crows, defeated by the slightest of margins by the defending premiers from Brighton Road. Adding insult to injury for Adelaide was their senior outfit also finding themselves forced into an unenviable position of cut-throat footy after their loss a few days ago. As for the Tigers, this week the Double Blues would come off their hard earned week off from the first week of finals by virtue of their minor premiership win, surely ready to resume their dominant ways and shake off their last round defeat. The lads from Oxford Terrace should have all the confidence in the world, not just from the minor premiership but also the Lewis Trophy and two of the league's top best and fairest awards in the bank. But after last year's straight sets finals exit, can they shake that off and take the first step to premiership number 16?
This is Finals Football.
Welcome to the Week 2 Wrap-Up for SANFL Finals 2025.
We're back at league HQ in Adelaide Oval and its another elimination contest in this 1st Semi-Final, with the Crows taking on the Redlegs. During the regular season, the Crows would take out both games by four kicks in their clashes at Port Lincoln and The Parade in Rounds 5 and 16 respectively. In both games the Redlegs were horrible in front of goal, managing just eight goals in each and a combined 35 behinds as compared to the more efficient Adelaide. It was a late season surge that saw the Redlegs qualify for September and a six-goal final quarter against Centrals in the Elimination Final brought them here today, while Adelaide were put into sudden death after their one-point loss to Glenelg. The Crows have played in two successful 1st Semis, with wins against South in 2016 and then against Norwood in 2019. On the other hand, the Redlegs have a long history in 1st Semi-Finals. This is an interesting one, because while the esteemed Football Budget says the 'Legs have played in 38 which goes as far as their 1930 loss to Port Adelaide, the Australian Football website records as much as 45 appearances, going as far back as the 1905 loss to North Adelaide. Taking that into account, Norwood have won 21, lost 22 and drawn the other two. The Redlegs' last appearance was back in their premiership year of 2022, a 28-point win adding further hurt to the Tigers outfit that had dropped their bundle in the previous year's decider.
While Adelaide have won a 1st Semi against the Redlegs, the psychological edge of September footy probably belonged to Norwood. Back in 2022, they would clash in a Qualifying Final and then a Preliminary Final. Adelaide won the qualifier by 55 points, but a fortnight later it was an 11-goal turnaround as the Redlegs triumphed by 11 points on their way to the flag. To begin proceedings today, it was the Crows that would bag the opening major inside of two minutes, however they would leak three straight goals over six minutes as the Redlegs took a seven-point lead into the first change. Norwood kicked to a 26-point lead by the eighth minute, but that was then cut back to a more doable deficit going into the changerooms at the long break. All scores counted, Norwood scored 4.2 to Adelaide's 3.3, a two-goal gap at half-time in favour of the 'Legs. Some of Adelaide's charges were no doubt looking to break into their senior squad ahead of a looming AFL Semi-Final, but in the third quarter some went missing as the Redlegs set about their own path to glory and they owned the bulk of the period. The 'Legs didn't always find the mark up forward, but at the final change they were out to a 27-point lead after scoring 5.5 to 3.2. It seemed everything the Crows threw at Norwood, there was an answer, even if the inaccuracy bug took root in both camps during the final quarter. Adelaide started with three straight behinds, if they were more measured the situation could very well have been different. They didn't get another major until the middle of the quarter and a little more than 10 minutes later were down by an unassailable deficit. The Redlegs marched into next week's Preliminary Final, they finished with a 3.5 to 2.4 last quarter to win by 34 points, Adelaide bounced in straight sets. Billy Cootee was Norwood's best with 25 disposals, five each in clearances, marks and tackles as well as winning three free kicks. Harry Schoenberg was Adelaide's standout with 25 disposals, 10 clearances and five tackles.
That now brings us to the 2nd Semi-Final, the game that decides the first half of the Grand Final equation and this year it was this year's minor premiers against last year's premiers, the Double Blues facing the Tigers. The Blues were unceremoniously dumped from last year's flag race by the Tigers in the 1st Semi, so a bit of vengeance has thus far been exacted this season after taking out both minor round games in Rounds 5 and 10. Coming into this game, the Blues were denied the chance of a perfect season with a final round loss to the Crows, but with a minor premiership -- and the S.H. Lewis Trophy as well -- comes a week off. While Sturt were on the sidelines last weekend, they watched the defending premiers play a heart-stopper against the Crows, the Tigers coming out one-point victors after one last shot hit the woodwork in the dying moments. Again there seems to be a disconnect in regards to historical records when reading the Budget as compared to the collected records on AustralianFootball.com. Going with the latter, the Blues have contested 25 games for a win-loss record of 15-10, their last being a loss to the Eagles way back in 2016. Despite that, they rebounded to win the flag that season against that same outfit. As for the Tigers, they have played in 17 2nd Semis but have won only five. Even worse only three successful appearances would eventually yield premierships, in 1973, 1985 and 2023.
While there has been high expectations for Sturt, ever since winning the 2017 premiership they have not been able to recapture the same magic. First week eliminations in 2019 and 2022, straight sets exits in 2018 and 2024, as well as a Grand Final defeat last year. But on the back of a near-perfect minor round, the finals monkey was surely due to be shaken off. The first 12 minutes seemed to indicate that they were back to their dominant ways, kicking to a three-goal lead. But the Tigers made up that deficit and would lead by a point at quarter-time, the board reading 3.3 to 3.2. Sturt kicked the first goal of the second quarter, but would not find the goals again for the rest of the half. They would add three behinds to their tally, while the Tigers had to wait until the 18th minute to get their fourth goal on the board among a total of 3.3 that saw them stretch their advantage to two goals going into the long break. The finals monkey seemed to be entrenched in the Blues' camp once again... but it wasn't going to be screeching for long. The bug jumped camps during the interval and the Tigers' goal-scorers were shut down for the entire third quarter, held to a mere four behinds as the Blues' engine room roared to life. Sturt would go on to kick five unanswered goals along with three minor scores as they overtook the reigning premiers going into the final change, ahead by 17 points. And they didn't stop there, the Blues romped into the decider on the back of a 6.3 to 2.2 last quarter to win by seven goals, the Tigers given plenty to think about going into a Preliminary Final against a very determined looking Norwood. Will Snelling was the Blues' best afield with 29 disposals, 11 tackles and seven clearances, while the Tigers had Jarryd Lyons with 24 disposals, eight clearances and five tackles.
FINAL SCORES -- Finals Week 2
Sunday September 7
1st SEMI-FINAL
Norwood 15.14 (104)
Adelaide 10.10 (70)
2nd SEMI-FINAL
Sturt 15.12 (102)
Glenelg 8.12 (60)
11,072 @ Adelaide Oval
REPORTS
Sturt -- Conforti (umpire contact)
RESERVES FINALS -- Southside derby for Prelim
The Panthers will have to win the battle of the southern suburbs next weekend after going down once again to the Tigers in the Reserves 2nd Semi-Final in a torrid and heavily inaccurate display at Brighton Road on Saturday. A total of 23 minor scores was kicked in the Jungle Clash semi, the Tigers emerging with the prize of the first Grand Final spot. They were on the verge of giving it over to the Panthers throughout most of the day, only the inaccuracy during the first term kept them in touch. South lead by as much as three straight kicks during general play, as much as 10 points at breaks. But then came the final term. Glenelg levelled the scores eight minutes in before South kicked their one, only and last goal for the game at 10 minutes and the Tigers went for it. With the last couple of goals, they won by nine points. Now the Panthers will now take on their fellow southsiders in next week's Preliminary Final after the Double Blues won their 1st Semi-Final against the Roosters. Down by a kick at quarter-time, the Blues ran out the second term to lead by 16 at the long break, then that lead was cut down to nine points at the final change. However, much like the seniors did the next day, the Blues had a bumper final term, booting five unanswered goals to keep their season alive. The Preliminary Final will be held at Magain Stadium this coming Saturday morning.
Saturday September 6 @ Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg
2nd SEMI-FINAL -- Glenelg 7.13 (55) def. South Adelaide 6.10 (46)
1st SEMI-FINAL -- Sturt 14.12 (96) def. North Adelaide 8.7 (55)
UNDER AGE FINALS -- Junior Bloods get second shot at Dogs, Blues colts bolt in final term
Starting with the Under 16's and the Bloods' attack was allowed to roam a lot more freely against South than they did at Elizabeth a week ago, they will now get another shot at the Bulldogs in next week's Grand Final after they won by 44 points at Unley this past Saturday. The Bloods led by a goal at quarter-time before leaving the Panthers in their wake afterwards, though they could have been up by a lot more if more accurate. That aside, they kicked four unanswered goals to lead by 34 points at half-time. They were never really threatened after that, the Bloods matching every Panther effort to claw back the deficit. Their bigger brothers in the Under 18's division will also be in action next week, they will face the Double Blues who had quite the mixed day in front of goal but you can't argue with results as they won by 14 points in the earlier match at Oxford Terrace. The Eagles' opening term run of four goals without a miss was a false dawn, slowly but surely the Blues reeled them back in and at half-time it was back to a single kick. The Eagles peppered their goals during the third quarter, but their skewed shots resulted in a mere two-kick deficit at three quarter-time. Then after the Eagles kicked the opening goal of the final term, the Blues would then kick the last four goals of the game to run out victors. Both divisions will contest their premiership deciders before the league Preliminary Final at league HQ.
Saturday September 6 @ Thomas Farms Oval, Unley
U-16 PRELIMINARY FINAL -- West Adelaide 14.16 (100) def. South Adelaide 8.8 (56)
U-18 PRELIMINARY FINAL -- Sturt 8.15 (63) def. Woodville-West Torrens 7.7 (49)
LEAGUE MEDAL NIGHT -- Lewis wins a double honour
Sturt's Tom Lewis was best afield in more ways than one at South Australian football's night of nights, not only winning the league best and fairest Magarey Medal in a canter, but also the absolute respect of the league coaches with the R.O. Shearman Medal. Lewis won the SANFL's highest individual honour on 33 votes, 10 votes ahead of the Eagles' Kobe Mutch and 12 ahead of Sturt team-mate and last year's joint medallist Will Snelling, attracting max votes in five consecutive rounds. A hell of an achievement for a player whose career hasn't always been smooth sailing, with a knee re-con in 2019 and a life-threatening spleen rupture in 2022. In the other rewards, Glenelg's Lachie Hosie finally got his hands on the Ken Farmer Medal with a minor round total of 65 goals, 13 ahead of Adelaide's Chris Burgess and 17 more than fellow Tiger and previous award winner Liam McBean. It was his second time at the top of the goal-kickers' list, having won in 2023. The Reserves Magarey and the U-18 McCallum-Tomkins medals would find their way to Oval Avenue with Blake Hansen and Jack Cook the respective recipients, while the Bloods' Laurence Andriani won the U-16's award.
SA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME -- Long time Bulldog administrator among four inductees
During the Magarey Medal count there was also the induction of four new members to the South Australian Football Hall of Fame. We start with Andrew Payze, one of the players whose career survived the merger of West Torrens and Woodville in 1991 and went on to play a part in the breakthrough 1993 premiership victory with the Eagles before finishing up in 1998 and eventually becoming a board member at the Adelaide Football Club. James Allan's individual accolades are numerous, but while most of them were won at Menzies Crescent -- Magarey Medals, Shearman Medals, club B&F's -- his crowning achievement as a player came only a few kilometres away at The Parade in the 2014 premiership triumph. He since showed his coaching chops over in Victoria, guiding Werribee to the 2024 VFL title. David Kantilla's time in South Australia during the 1960's was no doubt littered with hardships associated with indigenous players of the time, but his name is revered by the Panthers' faithful. In the end it was likely all worth it for the one nicknamed "Soapy", being among those that last brought premiership glory to South Adelaide back in 1964, won two Knuckey Cups and was the first indigenous player to reach 100 games in the league. Finally we come to one of the longest serving administrators in the league. For more than 40 years the Bulldogs had Kris Grant, who would eventually oversee the most successful period of their history as CEO of the club in the 2000's -- the premierships, club renovation and ground re-developments. His name sits on the Elizabeth Oval grandstand as testament to his service at Central District.
ANDREW PAYZE
PLAYING RECORD:
159 games and 118 goals for West Torrens 1984 – 1990
149 games and 103 goals for Woodville West Torrens 1991 – 1998
14 games and 2 goals for Adelaide Football Club 1991 – 1993
PREMIERSHIPS:
Member of premiership team for Woodville West Torrens Eagles 1993
MATCHES FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
6 games and 5 goals for South Australia
State Captain 1994
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Best and Fairest for West Torrens 1986
Life member of Woodville-West Torrens
Player Life Member of SANFL
ADMINISTRATION RECORD:
Board member Adelaide Football Club
JAMES ALLAN
PLAYING RECORD:
146 SANFL games, 119 at North Adelaide and 27 at Norwood
ACHIEVEMENTS:
3 Magarey Medals – 2007, 2010, 2011
6 Shearman Medals (as voted for by club coaches) – 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
5 North Adelaide Football Club Best and Fairests – 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
The Advertiser Player of the Year 2007, 2010
The Advertiser Team of the Year 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Runner Up North Adelaide Best and Fairest 2012
North Adelaide captain 2012
Norwood premiership player 2014
COACHING RECORD:
Norwood Under 18s coach 2018 & 2019
Norwood League midfield coach 2020
North Adelaide Football Club Assistant Coach 2023
Werribee VFL Senior Coach 2024 & 2025
Werribee VFL Premiership Coach 2024
DAVID KANTILLA
PLAYING RECORD:
113 games and 106 goals for South Adelaide 1961 – 1966
MATCHES FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
4 games and 2 goals for South Australia 1964, 1965
PREMIERSHIPS:
Member of South Adelaide premiership team in 1964
4 Premierships with St Mary’s FC (NTFL)
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Best and fairest South Adelaide (Knuckey Cup) 1961, 1962
Runner up Best and Fairest South Adelaide 1964
Leading Goal Kicker for South Adelaide 1961
Life member of South Adelaide 1967
South Adelaide Hall of Fame 2004
First Indigenous SANFL player to play 100 games
AFL Indigenous Team of the Century 2005
David Kantilla Trophy -- South Adelaide’s best first year player
NTFL Hall of Fame and Legend status
NTFL Life Member
NTFL Team of the Century (Vice Captain)
KRIS GRANT
ADMINISTRATION/SERVICE ACHIEVEMENTS:
Central District Football Club General Manager/Chief Executive Officer – 1977 to 2021 (44 years)
Club played in 14 Grand Finals (during Kris’s tenure)
Won 9 Premierships / 5 times runner-up (during Kris’s tenure).
Produced 5 Magarey Medalists
Guided the Club through the introduction of the Crows into the AFL (1991)
Guided the Club through the introduction of Port Power into the AFL (1997)
Re-development of the licenced club (2000)
Re-development of the players changeroom facilities (gym, pool)
Several SANFL committees (including Laws of the Game, Football)
SANFL League Life Member
Central District Life Member
Inaugural inductee to the Central District Hall of Fame
Kris Grant Stand at X Convenience Oval is named after Kris, honoured by the Playford Council in recognition of Kris promoting the Northern Community through the Football Club
Achievements list taken from SANFL website.
Next weekend in Week 3 of the SANFL Finals...
Saturday September 13
RESERVES PRELIMINARY FINAL
South Adelaide vs. Sturt; Magain Stadium, Noarlunga @ 11am
Sunday September 14 @ Adelaide Oval
U-16 TORRENS UNIVERSITY CUP GRAND FINAL
Central District vs. West Adelaide @ 9:20am
U-18 TORRENS UNIVERSITY CUP GRAND FINAL
West Adelaide vs. Sturt @ 12noon
PRELIMINARY FINAL
Glenelg vs. Norwood @ 3:15pm
So until next weekend... see you at the Footy!
