- May 8, 2001
- 5,734
- 967
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
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- CDFC (SANFL), Port Melb (VFL)
Hi Footy fans...
This past weekend was a coming together of two football concepts... representative football and the AFL's Sir Doug Nicholls Round. With these in mind, lets have a look at the legends of both, whether white or black. When you think of those who have pulled on the red of South Australia or the black and gold of Western Australia, you think of names such as Graham Cornes, Ross Glendinning, John Platten, Graham Moss, Craig Bradley, Steve Malaxos, Michael Aish and Brian Peake. There's also the indigenous players that joined the ranks, in SA it was men like "the Flash" Michael Graham, Wilbur Wilson and Gavin Wanganeen. In the west, it was Bill Dempsey, the Narkles and the great Graham "Polly" Farmer. Out of all the players, two from either state stand out, having never crossed over to the east to play in Melbourne. Their ties to home, even their identical club colours, would win out. Barrie Robran and Stephen Michael, forever red and white in their respective teams and legends of their home states. This weekend was of particular significance for the South Fremantle giant, named as honouree for this year's edition of the Nicholls Round, following that of Central District's Sonny Morey from last year. For both states however, an even bigger name binds them together for all time, with his name inscribed on the very prize they fight for.
Welcome to this special edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up, the battle of the leagues for the Haydn Bunton Junior Trophy... the SANFL versus the WAFL.
The all time ledger between the states prior to this was 51-48 in favour of South Australia, though it wasn't too long ago that it was the Western Australians that were ahead. During the early 1990's the Croweaters were playing catch-up with their counterparts from across the Nullabor. In similar circumstances to what happened with the Sandgropers after the West Coast Eagles were born, the birth of the Adelaide Crows had similar effects on the Croweaters. In post-AFL era SANFL, they were dealt blow after blow over the ensuing five years. Three losses to WA plus a shock defeat in Tasmania. But then over the course of the next 30 years from 1996, the SANFL's position as the standout competition was all but set in stone. In that time, South Australia was defeated on four occasions in 23 games -- Victoria in 2002, then WA in 2009, 2015 and 2018. The Western Australians as a consistent force on the state arena hasn't been totally realised since their time as Australian Champions back in the late 1970's through early 1980's. They have certainly laid down challenges to the crown, the consecutive defeats of the SANFL in the 2010's coming during one of their best periods in recent memory where they laid waste to the NEAFL and Tasmania, as well as downing the VFL on two occasions. The 2017 triumph in Melbourne was of particular significance to the WAFL, the Black Swans' first ever victory against a Victorian side on enemy soil.
South Australia's recent run of wins was brought to a halt just a few weeks ago at the hands of the VFL during the AFL's annual Gather Round, some goal-kicking howlers in the opening term allowing a more silky and efficient Big V outfit to slip away with an 11-point win. The back-to-back Glenelg premiership coach in Darren Reeves had to make some changes to that side, some debutants were blooded including Central District duo Mani Liddy and Rhett Montgomerie, along with Eagles' tall Jordan Lukac. In fact there was even a change to the coaching structure albeit an external one, Sam Mayes going from developmental to the top at the Roosters after the brutal axing of Jacob Surjan. Still in the side from that loss would be Glenelg's premiership winning forwards Liam McBean and Lachie Hosie along with the Eagles' tank Connor Ballenden. The Sandgropers would hold only a few recognisable faces from recent years, such as East Fremantle pair Cam Eardley and 2024 Simpson Medallist Milan Murdock, South's Noah Strom and Swan Districts Jesse Turner. The bulk of the side were newbies to the state side, including its coach with Peel Thunder's Adam Read taking the reins from Cam Shepherd, hot on the heels of a premiership win in the 2024 Grand Final against East Perth.
There was a lot for WA to make up for after last year's horror 63-point defeat in Perth, their fifth consecutive loss. We would find ourselves at the Adelaide Oval before the Port Adelaide vs. Geelong match, but to the surprise of those game enough to be there early and because of the other festivities before the AFL main event, the match would be played under Reserves-style limited time quarters -- 25 minutes, no time-on. Though the game began really competitive, the quarter-time score separating the two sides by just two points -- 2.3 to 2.1 SA's way -- soon enough the Western Australians really got to work. McBean and Hosie were only going to be handy for so long and after the first change, the visitors had learnt. Add to that during the second term, SA would lose Ballenden, another key gone up forward. By the half-time break, the Sandgropers had the lead by three points, scoring 3.1 to 2.2. There was plenty of turnovers either way and the last touch out rule native to the SANFL was something the WA mob had to get used to. But it wasn't a big deal for them in the end. The Subiaco trio of Borchet, May and Schofield was going to start paying off big time, the three of them kicking more than half of the WAFL's goals by game's end. Murdock was a ball-magnet, while East Perth's Christian Ameduri was bringing the pressure on the man as the climb to victory began in earnest.
Western Australia's third quarter was just superb as the home side fell apart, the Lions threesome leading the charge as they kicked five goals to SA's one. The gap could have been much more than just five straight kicks going into the final quarter, but it would prove to be more than enough. Another couple of goals early in the last term would put any late challenge from the Croweaters to bed for good, they took their advantage as high as 43 points before it was brought back to the earlier deficit of five goals to finish. The Sandgropers regained control of the Haydn Bunton Junior Cup, inflicting upon the Croweaters a second loss in a calendar year which is something that hasn't happened since the pre-AFL days where multiple representative games were a regular occurence. While this loss has brought into question the SANFL's status as the top state competition, it's now up to the WAFL to maintain the rage over the ensuing years in order to truly challenge for that title. In the best afield department, it was a second Simpson Medal in succession for the Sharks' Milan Murdock, who finished with 27 disposals, six marks and clearances as well as five tackles. The Fos Williams Medal would go to Bulldog mid Mani Liddy, with 20 disposals, four tackles and three clearances. In the other honourable mentions, Hosie kicked four of SA's goals, Will Snelling had seven tackles and James Bell took six marks. Borchet kicked four goals for WA along with fellow Subiaco players May and Schofield who kicked two each themselves, Ameduri ruled the tackle count with 10 and WA veteran Eardley racked up 27 disposals and 14 kicks.
FINAL SCORES -- The Haydn Bunton Junior Cup
Saturday May 17
WAFL 13.8 (86)
SANFL 8.8 (56)
Adelaide Oval -- AFL curtain-raiser
SIMPSON MEDAL -- Milan Murdock (East Fremantle)
FOS WILLIAMS MEDAL -- Mani Liddy (Central District)
Next weekend in your league...
SANFL ROUND 7
Friday May 23 @ 7:40pm
Norwood vs. Central District; Coopers Stadium, Norwood
Saturday May 24
Port Adelaide vs. North Adelaide; Alberton Oval @ 2:10pm
Glenelg vs. West Adelaide; Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg @ 2:10pm
Sturt vs. Adelaide; Thomas Farms Oval, Unley @ 2:30pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. South Adelaide; Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville @ 2:30pm
WAFL ROUND 7
Saturday May 24
Perth vs. Peel Thunder; Mineral Resources Park, Lathlain @ 2:10pm
Swan Districts vs. Claremont; Steel Blue Oval, Bassendean @ 2:30pm
East Perth vs. East Fremantle; Sullivan Logistics Stadium, Leederville @ 2:30pm
South Fremantle vs. Subiaco; Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Fremantle @ 2:30pm
West Perth vs. West Coast; Joondalup Arena @ 4:30pm
So until next weekend (or next year)... see you at the Footy!
This past weekend was a coming together of two football concepts... representative football and the AFL's Sir Doug Nicholls Round. With these in mind, lets have a look at the legends of both, whether white or black. When you think of those who have pulled on the red of South Australia or the black and gold of Western Australia, you think of names such as Graham Cornes, Ross Glendinning, John Platten, Graham Moss, Craig Bradley, Steve Malaxos, Michael Aish and Brian Peake. There's also the indigenous players that joined the ranks, in SA it was men like "the Flash" Michael Graham, Wilbur Wilson and Gavin Wanganeen. In the west, it was Bill Dempsey, the Narkles and the great Graham "Polly" Farmer. Out of all the players, two from either state stand out, having never crossed over to the east to play in Melbourne. Their ties to home, even their identical club colours, would win out. Barrie Robran and Stephen Michael, forever red and white in their respective teams and legends of their home states. This weekend was of particular significance for the South Fremantle giant, named as honouree for this year's edition of the Nicholls Round, following that of Central District's Sonny Morey from last year. For both states however, an even bigger name binds them together for all time, with his name inscribed on the very prize they fight for.
Welcome to this special edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up, the battle of the leagues for the Haydn Bunton Junior Trophy... the SANFL versus the WAFL.
The all time ledger between the states prior to this was 51-48 in favour of South Australia, though it wasn't too long ago that it was the Western Australians that were ahead. During the early 1990's the Croweaters were playing catch-up with their counterparts from across the Nullabor. In similar circumstances to what happened with the Sandgropers after the West Coast Eagles were born, the birth of the Adelaide Crows had similar effects on the Croweaters. In post-AFL era SANFL, they were dealt blow after blow over the ensuing five years. Three losses to WA plus a shock defeat in Tasmania. But then over the course of the next 30 years from 1996, the SANFL's position as the standout competition was all but set in stone. In that time, South Australia was defeated on four occasions in 23 games -- Victoria in 2002, then WA in 2009, 2015 and 2018. The Western Australians as a consistent force on the state arena hasn't been totally realised since their time as Australian Champions back in the late 1970's through early 1980's. They have certainly laid down challenges to the crown, the consecutive defeats of the SANFL in the 2010's coming during one of their best periods in recent memory where they laid waste to the NEAFL and Tasmania, as well as downing the VFL on two occasions. The 2017 triumph in Melbourne was of particular significance to the WAFL, the Black Swans' first ever victory against a Victorian side on enemy soil.
South Australia's recent run of wins was brought to a halt just a few weeks ago at the hands of the VFL during the AFL's annual Gather Round, some goal-kicking howlers in the opening term allowing a more silky and efficient Big V outfit to slip away with an 11-point win. The back-to-back Glenelg premiership coach in Darren Reeves had to make some changes to that side, some debutants were blooded including Central District duo Mani Liddy and Rhett Montgomerie, along with Eagles' tall Jordan Lukac. In fact there was even a change to the coaching structure albeit an external one, Sam Mayes going from developmental to the top at the Roosters after the brutal axing of Jacob Surjan. Still in the side from that loss would be Glenelg's premiership winning forwards Liam McBean and Lachie Hosie along with the Eagles' tank Connor Ballenden. The Sandgropers would hold only a few recognisable faces from recent years, such as East Fremantle pair Cam Eardley and 2024 Simpson Medallist Milan Murdock, South's Noah Strom and Swan Districts Jesse Turner. The bulk of the side were newbies to the state side, including its coach with Peel Thunder's Adam Read taking the reins from Cam Shepherd, hot on the heels of a premiership win in the 2024 Grand Final against East Perth.
There was a lot for WA to make up for after last year's horror 63-point defeat in Perth, their fifth consecutive loss. We would find ourselves at the Adelaide Oval before the Port Adelaide vs. Geelong match, but to the surprise of those game enough to be there early and because of the other festivities before the AFL main event, the match would be played under Reserves-style limited time quarters -- 25 minutes, no time-on. Though the game began really competitive, the quarter-time score separating the two sides by just two points -- 2.3 to 2.1 SA's way -- soon enough the Western Australians really got to work. McBean and Hosie were only going to be handy for so long and after the first change, the visitors had learnt. Add to that during the second term, SA would lose Ballenden, another key gone up forward. By the half-time break, the Sandgropers had the lead by three points, scoring 3.1 to 2.2. There was plenty of turnovers either way and the last touch out rule native to the SANFL was something the WA mob had to get used to. But it wasn't a big deal for them in the end. The Subiaco trio of Borchet, May and Schofield was going to start paying off big time, the three of them kicking more than half of the WAFL's goals by game's end. Murdock was a ball-magnet, while East Perth's Christian Ameduri was bringing the pressure on the man as the climb to victory began in earnest.
Western Australia's third quarter was just superb as the home side fell apart, the Lions threesome leading the charge as they kicked five goals to SA's one. The gap could have been much more than just five straight kicks going into the final quarter, but it would prove to be more than enough. Another couple of goals early in the last term would put any late challenge from the Croweaters to bed for good, they took their advantage as high as 43 points before it was brought back to the earlier deficit of five goals to finish. The Sandgropers regained control of the Haydn Bunton Junior Cup, inflicting upon the Croweaters a second loss in a calendar year which is something that hasn't happened since the pre-AFL days where multiple representative games were a regular occurence. While this loss has brought into question the SANFL's status as the top state competition, it's now up to the WAFL to maintain the rage over the ensuing years in order to truly challenge for that title. In the best afield department, it was a second Simpson Medal in succession for the Sharks' Milan Murdock, who finished with 27 disposals, six marks and clearances as well as five tackles. The Fos Williams Medal would go to Bulldog mid Mani Liddy, with 20 disposals, four tackles and three clearances. In the other honourable mentions, Hosie kicked four of SA's goals, Will Snelling had seven tackles and James Bell took six marks. Borchet kicked four goals for WA along with fellow Subiaco players May and Schofield who kicked two each themselves, Ameduri ruled the tackle count with 10 and WA veteran Eardley racked up 27 disposals and 14 kicks.
FINAL SCORES -- The Haydn Bunton Junior Cup
Saturday May 17
WAFL 13.8 (86)
SANFL 8.8 (56)
Adelaide Oval -- AFL curtain-raiser
SIMPSON MEDAL -- Milan Murdock (East Fremantle)
FOS WILLIAMS MEDAL -- Mani Liddy (Central District)
Next weekend in your league...
SANFL ROUND 7
Friday May 23 @ 7:40pm
Norwood vs. Central District; Coopers Stadium, Norwood
Saturday May 24
Port Adelaide vs. North Adelaide; Alberton Oval @ 2:10pm
Glenelg vs. West Adelaide; Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg @ 2:10pm
Sturt vs. Adelaide; Thomas Farms Oval, Unley @ 2:30pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. South Adelaide; Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville @ 2:30pm
WAFL ROUND 7
Saturday May 24
Perth vs. Peel Thunder; Mineral Resources Park, Lathlain @ 2:10pm
Swan Districts vs. Claremont; Steel Blue Oval, Bassendean @ 2:30pm
East Perth vs. East Fremantle; Sullivan Logistics Stadium, Leederville @ 2:30pm
South Fremantle vs. Subiaco; Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Fremantle @ 2:30pm
West Perth vs. West Coast; Joondalup Arena @ 4:30pm
So until next weekend (or next year)... see you at the Footy!
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