Round 4 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Anzac Day

Deny Glenelg the Sherrin.

It was a simple yet highly-effective strategy from Sturt as it strangled the life out of the Tigers to record a dominant 38-point Anzac Day win at Stratarama Stadium. 

In front of a healthy crowd of 6023, the Double Blues had a constant control of the footy as they carefully moved the ball up and down the field like a game of chess.

With star recruit Will Snelling a fitting winner of the Bob Quinn Medal as best afield, Marty Mattner’s charges also choked the Bays’ ball movement as the hosts battled for fluency in attack.

Sturt’s ability to retain possession at will was indicated on the stats sheet as it registered 30 more kicks, 39 more handballs and a whopping 47 more marks than the reigning premier.

Restricting a usually potent Glenelg to just two goals in the first half after it booted 16 last round, the Double Blues opened up a 22-point half-time buffer before stretching it to as much as 53 points two minutes into the fourth quarter.

Boosted by the return of Tom Lewis, who recovered from a calf strain, the visitors had winners all over the park as Snelling stamped himself on the competition with 33 disposals, eight clearances and an incredible 17 tackles.

His dominance allowed Lewis to cruise back into the action with 16 touches as captain James Battersby – in game 199 – racked up 24 disposals while Casey Voss finished with 29 disposals and 12 marks.

North Melbourne signing Flynn Perez announced himself as one to watch as he set up the play nicely across half-back with 24 disposals and 13 marks while his good mate and fellow recruit Sam Conforti was a constant threat with 18 touches and two goals.

Sturt ruck Amos Doyle made the most of the Tigers’ lack of a lead ruckman – Cam McGree is sidelined with a broken collarbone – to have 36 hit outs with his 15 disposals.

Sturt defenders Will Coomblas and Luke Edmonds were tremendous as Glenelg’s triple threat of Liam McBean, Lachie Hosie and Luke Reynolds kicked just two goals between them after booting 12 against the Crows in Round 3.

The hosts had very few winners as Jonty Scharenberg led the stats sheet for the second week in succession with 22 disposals and six tackles.

Developing talls Oscar Adams and Austin Kitschke had some positive moments but the Bays will need to regroup quickly before facing South Adelaide in Round 5.