First Nations Round Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Super Saturday

Kuwarna veteran Taylor Walker was a key figure behind his team’s upset seven-point victory against Glenelg at Stratarama Stadium.

Playing his first Hosplus SANFL League game since Round 5 of 2014, the Crows’ fan favourite booted a game-breaking haul of five goals, four in the first half to give his side the lead against an inaccurate Tigers outfit.

The 36-year-old also wound back the clock to take a contender for Mark of the Year as he took a ride on the back of Bays ruckman Cameron McGree in the first quarter.

And while his impact wasn’t as strong after half-time, Walker still had a presence as he moved himself into defence as a loose man, ensuring his side would remain composed as the hosts mounted a spirited comeback.

Glenelg snatched the lead when star forward Lachie Hosie booted his fifth major with a 45m set shot, inspired by gutsy play by premiership midfielder Corey Lyons.

But having the lead was short-lived for the Bays as Finbar Maley regained it for the Crows after converting his strong overhead mark, before impressive midfielder Billy Dowling sunk the sealer from a 45m set shot in the 26th minute.

Dowling finished with a team-high 30 disposals to go with eight clearances and seven tackles as Charlie Edwards (22 disposals) and Chayce Jones (21 disposals) also found their share of the Sherrin.

Cam Taheny booted three goals to support Walker as the Crows held on despite having Mitch Hinge, Kieran Strachan and Finbar Maley finish the game on the sideline with injury concerns.

Lyons’ workrate was superb all afternoon on the way to tallying 30 disposals, 11 clearances, 11 tackles and a goal for the Tigers while Luke Partington (21 disposals) and Jonty Scharenberg (19 disposals) lent valuable support.

Hosie racked up 17 disposals to go with his 5.5 as he continued to also have an influence in the centre square.

Norwood continued its momentum-building surge with a crushing 69-point win to claim the RM Williams Cup against North Adelaide at Revo Fitness Oval.

Banking their fifth win in succession to rise to second place on the ladder, the Redlegs have set up an enticing top-of-the-table clash against first-placed Woodville-West Torrens at The Parade next Sunday.

The preseason premiership favourite carved out its impressive victory against the Roosters with a barnstorming 10-goal first half, built on the back of efficient use of handball as the visitors ran in waves.

Key forward trio Tristan Binder (four), Jackson Callow (three) and Josh Murphy (three) booted 10 goals between them for the visitors as 10 Redlegs landed on the goal kicking list.

Callow, who was adjudged the Hostplus Super Player of the Day, could have easily had an even larger impact considering he also booted five behinds, including a poster from the goal square.

Hard-working makeshift ruck Finn Heard battled hard for his 26 disposals, eight clearances, five marks and a goal for Norwood while Nik Rokahr had 31 disposals and a goal.

Redlegs Baynen Lowe (24 disposals), Declan Hamilton (22 disposals) and Kade Dittmar (20 disposals) also had a positive influence on the result.

North’s Angus Schumacher was tireless in racking up 27 disposals and a long-range goal while James Battersby had 23 disposals in a midfield missing Oliver Francou, a late withdrawal due to quad tightness.

Reed Van Huisstede was the Roosters’ only multiple goal kicker with two.

Woodville-West Torrens solidified its place at the top of the Hostplus SANFL League ladder with an 86-point thrashing of Yartapuulti at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval.

The slick-looking Eagles claimed the premiership points on the back of a defining second quarter surge, piling on 5.1 to just three behinds as they opened up a match-winning advantage of 36 points at half-time.

From there, Sam Jacobs’ charges continued to do as they pleased by slamming on a another 10 goals in the second half to earn a valuable percentage-booting triumph against the Magpies.

The Eagles had a staggering 157 marks to the Pies’ 77 as they dictated terms with weight of possession, leading to a meaningful 47-32 inside 50m count.

In a sign of a good team effort, the hosts shared the load as Jack Cook, Ethan Grace and Kade Herbert each chalked up 26 disposals as AFL mid-season draft prospects Max Beattie and Lukas Cooke had 24 each.

Cooke, who has developed nicely into an athletic intercept defender, also hauled in a whopping 14 marks, including four contested.

Bigman Connor Ballenden made a welcome return from injury to pile on five goals for the Eagles while Harvey Pedler, Pat Weckert and Daniel Sladojevic booted three each.

Yartapuulti’s Jackson Mead (35 disposals, one goal) and Will Brodie (32 disposals) did too much of the heavy lifting in the midfield for their side while Jake Weidemann had 23 disposals and four clearances.

Returning ruckman Dante Visentini had 21 disposals and two goals in his 50th Hostplus SANFL League match while Xavier Walsh kicked three goals for the Pies.

Sturt’s spike up the Hostplus SANFL League ladder is gaining genuine steam after a rampaging 74-point victory against winless Central District at Thomas Farms Oval.

Strangling the life out of the Bulldogs by restricting them to just 4.7 (31) for the match, the Double Blues led comfortably at every change en route to securing their fourth win of the season.

Making the most of an advantage in total disposals and a commanding 52-37 inside 50m count, Marty Mattner’s charges also had as many as 10 players ink their name on the goal kicking list.

Dynamic Magarey Medallist Will Snelling has now hit top form, racking up 36 disposals, nine clearance and 12 tackles while Tom Lewis had 31 touches, seven clearances and six tackles.

Powerade Breakthrough Player favourite Luca Slade was tremendous with 28 disposals and two goals while Alex Holt made a welcome return from injury with 26 disposals and a major.

Classy Sam Conforti booted three goals for Sturt while Lachie Burrows and Josh Hone joined Slade with a pair of majors.

Bulldogs pair Josh Fahey and Harry Grant collected 25 disposals each to lead their side while Leyton Chisholm had 23 possessions.

Fos Williams Medallist Beau Thomas was the Doggies’ only multiple goal kicker with two.

South Adelaide slammed on seven goals in the opening quarter to catapult itself towards a 25-point win against West Adelaide at Magain Stadium.

Tom Scully’s sole major in the first term for the Bloods was sandwiched by an avalanche of Panthers’ goals as they opened up a 36-point lead by quarter-time.

The host’s advantage stretched to 47 points on the back of a major to Luke Bogle in the 15th minute of the second stanza before the battling Bloods began to save face.

West managed to stem South’s surge for the remainder of the afternoon but its inaccuracy in front of goal (finishing with 9.14) ensured it wouldn’t get within four goals before full-time.

Consistent South vice captain Oliver Davis set the tone in the midfield with 28 disposals, six clearances, nine tackles and a goal while Harley Sparks (20 disposals) and Arlo Draper (19 disposals, seven clearances) were also prominent.

Former Hawk Seamus Mitchell returned from injury to collect 25 disposals and 10 marks for the Panthers while Finn Emile-Brennan made the most of his West End State Team experience to carry on with 19 disposals and two goals.

South goalsneak Jack Delean booted three goals while Emmanuel Ajang and Eamon Wilkinson kicked two to join Emile-Brennan with a pair.

West workhorse Kobe Ryan returned from his shoulder injury to rack up 28 disposals, nine clearances and a goal while Callum Park collected 22 disposals and kicked a goal.

Tall Bloods forward Tom Scully kicked three goals to be his team’s only multiple goal kickers.