Round 10 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Sunday

If Sturt was aiming to send a clear message to the competition it certainly did it in emphatic fashion. 

Stretching their unbeaten streak to 10, the Double Blues proved they are rightly the premiership favourites by rolling over the top of Glenelg by 20 points at Stratarama Stadium.

Coming off a match-winning final term flurry against Norwood in Round 9, Marty Mattner’s charges were at it again  when they produced a stunning fourth quarter blitz to flex their muscles against the reigning premier.

Even with inform Magarey Medallist Will Snelling well held by Tiger Alex Martini, Sturt was powered by outstanding performances from midfielder Tom Lewis and crafty forward Sam Conforti when it mattered most.

Conforti booted three of four majors in the final stanza to put his imprint on the contest, including an eye-catching roving effort which bounced through in the 24th minute.

It put the visitors up by 14 points after initially trailing by as much as 11 points two minutes after three quarter-time, with best afield Lewis putting an exclamation mark on the afternoon for his team with a massive 55m set shot seconds before the final siren.

The hulking Blues midfielder finished with a huge haul of 28 disposals, 10 clearances and 13 tackles to go with his celebratory major while fellow onballers Angus Anderson and Martin Frederick each collected 21 possessions.

Only inaccuracy blotted Tom Emmett’s copy book as he pushed up the ground to kick 1.3 while having 19 disposals for the Blues as Snelling battled hard to shrug Martini’s shadow to finish with 18 disposals, five tackles and five clearances.

The Bays, set to be without midfielder Corey Lyons for two months with a foot injury, pushed Patty Parnell higher up the field to finish with an equal team-high 24 possessions with Luke Partington.

Jarryd Lyons had 23 disposals and two goals for the hosts while Matt Allen kicked 1.3 to go with his 20 disposals and seven marks as Martini tallied 15 disposals and four marks to have his own share of the Sherrin.

Glenelg blooded AAMI Rookie Beau Symonds – the son of former Tiger Jon – in defence, where he had nine disposals while Lachie Hosie was his team’s highest scorer with 3.2.

Norwood shut South Adelaide out of the equation in the first quarter as it romped to a comfortable 52-point win at The Parade.

Panther Eamon Wilkinson booted the first major of the match after 67 seconds but that would be his side’s only goal until Damon Freitag kicked truly in the 12th minute of the third term.

In between, the Redlegs piled on the pain particularly in the opening stanza as they booted 6.3 without answer on the back of a commanding 15-5 inside 50m count.

From there, Jade Sheedy’s charges did as they pleased as they cruised to their third victory of the season whilst also having seven more clearances and a noteworthy 54 more handballs as they ran to create play.

Norwood midfielders Billy Cootee (23 disposals, six marks, one goal) and captain Jacob Kennerley (23 disposals, one goal) were significant difference-makers while Matt Ling and Cooper Murley each had 18 disposals, the latter also booting an impressive major in the first term.

Pierce Seymour continues to control the tempo in defence for the Legs with 18 disposals and six marks while Finn Heard loves rolling up the sleeves, this time collecting 17 disposals, six marks and booting a goal.

Redlegs forward Jackson Callow booted four goals without a miss from his 10 disposals and five marks while Tristan Binder booted a pair.

Freitag kicked two goals for South, who were ultimately overwhelmed through the middle with only one player – Callum McCarty (19 disposals, five clearances) – finding more than 15 disposals.