Glenelg win 2024 Hostplus SANFL League Premiership

Glenelg’s staged a stunning heist to secure its seventh premiership with a thrilling five-point win against Norwood in the 2024 Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final at Adelaide Oval.

Rising from the Elimination Final, the Tigers came from the clouds on the back of sheer heart in the final term, slamming through 5.3 to the Redlegs’ 2.3 despite trailing at every change and by as much as 25 points early in the third quarter.

And it came largely from a brilliant individual performance from Bays captain Liam McBean, who kicked seven goals without a miss to claim the Jack Oatey Medal in front of a bumper crowd of 35,129.

Joining club great Graham Cornes in steering his side to back-to-back premierships, Glenelg coach Darren Reeves became just the fourth coach in SANFL History to guide his team to a flag from the Elimination Final, joining Norwood (1984), Port Adelaide (1998) and North Adelaide (2018).

It was the first time in six attempts Glenelg won the premiership from the Elimination Final and the first occasion in four meetings the Tigers triumphed over the Redlegs in the title-decider.

Trailing by 13 points at the final change, McBean began to swing the contest in his team’s favour with the opening goal of the quarter after converting a contested mark on the lead.

Then last year’s Jack Oatey Medallist Lachie Hosie, who had been well held by Norwood’s Alec Wright, earned a free kick for a sling tackle which paved the way for him to boot his first goal of the match.

McBean then put his side in the lead after marking on the lead directly in front, 45m out but the advantage didn’t last long as Norwood giant Harry Boyd bullocked his way to goal from a snap.

But McBean refused to let his team down, booting his seventh with a sense of true calm from 45m before Hosie struck two minutes later to put Glenelg in front by 10 points entering time-on.

Minor premier Norwood wouldn’t be outdone though as Declan Hamilton snapped along the ground to give his side a pulse in the 24th minute.

Hosie then marked on the lead and had a chance to seal the match, only to hit the post from a tough angle, 45m out.

Norwood surged forward but Glenelg’s Max Proud took a vital mark on the last line of defence, helping Glenelg to secure its third premiership in six years, it’s most successful period in club history.

2019 Jack Oatey Medallist Matthew Snook was superb in the middle, racking up 21 disposals, eight clearances and seven tackles while Corey Lyons (24 disposals, one goal) and the game-breaking James Bell (22 disposals) were also influential.

Veterans Proud and Curran were important in tight situations while Will Chandler proved it might not be your day but it can be your moment when he produced a stunning smother on the members wing in the last minute.

Baynen Lowe was classy for Norwood throughout the contest with 23 disposals and two goals while Mitch O’Neill (25 disposals) and Billy Cootee (20 disposals) were tireless through the middle of the ground.

After an absorbing first quarter, the Redlegs began to take control of the contest with three consecutive goals during time-on of the second quarter.

Henry Nelligan nailed his set shot from 45m out as it just crossed the line for a major before Tristan Binder calmly slotted his set shot after taking a mark on the lead.

Then in the most fluent movement of the opening half, Norwood’s Baynen Lowe displayed his class when he received a well-weighted handball from Billy Cootee to goal on the run from 40m.

Suddenly, the Legs had opened up a very handy 18-point break by the main change despite having one less inside 50m in the first half.

Lowe booted two goals in the first half while Cootee (15 disposals) and Mitch O’Neill (14 disposals) made their presence felt.

This came despite Norwood losing Finn Heard just five minutes into the first term with a suspected dislocated elbow, leaving him sidelined on the bench with his arm in a sling for the remainder of the contest.