2023 Hostplus SANFL League Qualifying Final Preview

QUALIFYING FINAL | Sturt v Adelaide | Sunday September 3 at 3.15pm | Adelaide Oval | Live & free on Seven and 7plus | SANFL Now | AFL Live App & AFL.com.au | 1629 SEN SA & SEN App

Head to Head – Overall
Played – 19
Sturt – 11
Adelaide – 8

Head to Head – Finals
Played – 1
Sturt – 1
Adelaide – 0

At Adelaide Oval
Played – 2
Sturt- 2
Adelaide – 0

Last Finals Meeting
2016 Preliminary Final – Sturt 15.13 (103) d Adelaide 13.9 (87) at Adelaide Oval

Last Three Meetings
Round 17 2023 – Adelaide 16.7 (103) d Sturt 13.9 (87) at Wigan Oval
Round 6 2023 – Sturt 10.6 (66) d Adelaide 8.8 (56) at Wigan Oval
Round 14 2022 – Sturt 13.4 (82) d Adelaide 11.10 (76) at Wigan Oval

Tom Lewis (Sturt) v Billy Dowling (Adelaide)
Sturt takes on a more formidable look when Tom Lewis is in the line-up, his absence due to an ankle injury mid-season not surprisingly coinciding with a mini form slump. The strongly-built left-footer could face one of Adelaide’s rapidly-emerging midfielders in Billy Dowling. Playing his first season of League football, Dowling has hit top form late in the season, racking up 21 and 28 disposals in his past two outings.

Josh Hone (Sturt) v Patrick Parnell (Adelaide)
The best small forward in the Hostplus SANFL League, Josh Hone, thrives on the big stage in September. The dual premiership goalsneak has enjoyed a ripping 2023, kicking 41 goals to place third in the Ken Farmer Medal. After booting five goals in their most recent meeting, Hone will need to be nullified by Crow Patrick Parnell, who can also provide plenty of rebound with his exceptional speed and ball use on the counter attack.