Round 3 Hostplus SANFL League Match Previews

Ten months ago Kade Herbert couldn’t feel his arm as he was helped off Woodville Oval after a tackle-gone-wrong caused a horror neck injury that left his footy career in jeopardy.

So he must have felt like he was walking on air as he left the same ground to a standing ovation after his best-on-ground performance against Adelaide.

Herbert picked up 24 disposals, had eight tackles and booted three goals from outstanding snaps, none better than the clever gather, dodge and sensational left-foot shot in the third quarter to push the margin out to 29 points.

While the Eagles had to hold off a desperate late Crows charge to bank a second successive win to start the season, Herbert deserved to celebrate.

He was rushed to hospital with his neck injury in round 9 last year against Central, admitting “for a while there that was pretty scary” before returning to play in Rounds 18 and 19.

It was a big night at Woodville in the 750th game for Woodville-West Torrens since uniting in 1991, so it was fitting a West Torrens retro guernsey was worn in the first half and a Woodville jumper in the second.

The big test is how the Eags will go in game No. 751. The premier on its home patch is as big a challenge as there is and Sturt will be raising last year’s flag in front of the faithful.

Coach Sam Jacobs will know how tough the task is without needing confirmation from North boss Francou.

The Roosters were on the receiving end of a 59-point home loss to the Blues, Francou saying of Martin Mattner’s side, “they’re big, they’re strong, they’re physical and they’re well coached”.

And they will be boosted by the return of one of their Magarey Medallists of the past two seasons Will Snelling, back after concussion.

The other Medallist, Tom Lewis, stepped it up in Snelling’s absence against North with 29 disposals, 12 tackles, 10 clearances and two goals. And, we assume, three more Magarey votes.

History isn’t just about what happened ages ago. It’s made every day. And South Adelaide certainly added to its colourful history with a day to remember at Noarlunga on what was a very good Friday.

Celebrating their remarkable 150th birthday Jarrad Wright’s men did their 1960s heritage guernsey proud in front of greats of the past in a hard-fought 16-point win against their longest-standing rival Port Adelaide.

Six different goalscorers were on the board in the first quarter as the Panthers paid tribute to their past and gave fans a glimpse of a bright future, while the way they desperately shut down the Magpies’ late fight showed just what this game meant to them.

Now it’s time to start making history of their own by backing up a strong performance with another one. That won’t be easy – but what’s worthwhile that is? – as Norwood will be desperate for a home win.

The Redlegs’ 0-5 start to last season had been pushed completely to the back of the mind.

After an injury-hit opening to the 2025 campaign, impressive recruiting including the return of Magarey Medal-winning ruckman Harry Boyd and with memories of last year’s finals charge still fresh, Norwood’s push for the flag was the talk of the town.

But, suddenly and unexpectedly, the Legs are 0-2. And the loss at the Bay last week was certainly unexpected at the last change when they led 6.6 to 2.6.

But one disappointing quarter – after just a five-point loss to reigning premier Sturt in Round 1 – does not make a season. As Malcolm Blight used to say, a footy season is a marathon, not a sprint. You bet the Legs are in it for the long run.

Fight it out right to the end. Keep competing and you never know what might happen. They’re the sort of words coaches have used forever.

And you bet Matthew Clarke and Nathan Bassett would be delighted with the way their players have done just that.

Norwood led Glenelg for 105 minutes at the Bay on Good Friday. But not for the handful of minutes that really mattered.

The Tigers heaped the pain on the Legs again just when it seemed they were down for the count.

It’s not often you go goalless for two quarters and have just two goals on the board at three-quarter-time and get up off the canvas.

But Glenelg booted the last five goals, taking the lead for the first time in the 25th minute of the last quarter in a famous eight-point win that showed anyone who had been talking about this season being a two-way fight for the flag between Sturt and Norwood quickly needed to reassess those thoughts.

And anyone reckoning it would take Bassett a protracted time to turn around West’s hopes is having to think again.

After a stunning first-up win against Adelaide, the Bloods showed huge amounts of fortitude and, considering all that’s been thrown their way in the past few years, a surprising amount of self-belief to kick three of the last four goals to snatch a stunning draw against Central.

And how about Tom Scully’s sensational last-gasp goal from a hugely testing angle and distance that finally snared the premiership point? So, if you’re at the Bay for this week’s clash and your side is starting to show signs of being down and out, stick with it. Because the players in your side will.

The Doggies and the Crows have been around the mark. But now it’s time to make their mark. Central is in the unusual position of having a percentage of 49.2 without a win after Round 2.

Competitive but no cigar. In both matches – against North and West – the Doggies led in time-on of the last quarter.

But it’s when you lead that counts. The Roosters rolled over the top of Central with the last three goals of a game decided by five points.

And it was a draw at Richmond after West kicked three of the last four goals.

The Doggies, with last year’s best and fairest Beau Thomas a huge boost in his return from suspension, will feel they have the extra five or so minutes in them to cap off a win.

But they are coming up against a side that’s made two late charges for victory in the opening two weeks that have just come up short, getting within a goal of West and the Eagles late in the final quarter of each game but not being able to finish off the job.

The last minutes of this game might be huge.

It’s an interesting match-up of coaches. The Port bloke who last year was the North coach. And the North bloke who became a Port bloke who’s back with North.

Two blokes who trained together countless times at Alberton now coaching against each other at the same venue.

They’re both working hard to bring glory days to clubs that have been out of finals in the past two seasons and are looking to start heading in the right direction again.

Josh Francou’s Roosters showed plenty of promise with a stirring come-from-behind win against Central in Round 1 before being shown what it takes to be a top team by Sturt, which Francou described as a “very, very good side”.

But Angus Schumacher (31 disposals and six clearances) and Oli Francou (30 and nine) gave as good as they got.

Jacob Surjan’s Port side was comfortably beaten by Glenelg first up before fighting hard in a 16-point loss at Noarlunga.

The Magpies weren’t helped by Ollie Lord, having kickstarted a second-quarter revival with two quick goals, being forced off with an ACL injury that unfortunately spells an end to his season.