Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Second Semi-Final

Sturt held its nerve to put itself in the box seat to win the 2025 Hostplus SANFL League premiership with a commanding 42-point win against Glenelg in the Second Semi-Final at Adelaide Oval.

The Double Blues washed away any doubts after last year’s straight sets finals exit when they peeled off seven goals in succession to transform a 12-point half-time deficit into a 31-point advantage six minutes into the final term.

SANFL’s dominant side of the minor round made a statement in the manner it finished off the back-to-back reigning premier, kicking the final four goals of the encounter to take genuine momentum into the title-decider with a 15.12 (102) to 8.12 (60) result.

Marty Mattner’s charges were seriously challenged when the Bays made the most of their opportunities in the second term despite having 13 fewer inside 50s than the Blues for the opening half.

Eventually, the Double Blues weight of ball-winners had their way as Glenelg’s back six could only hold up for so long under the pressure of a 33-63 inside 50 count for the match.

With a week’s rest under the belt, Sturt ran out the game with much fresher legs as the Tigers – coming off a taxing Qualifying Final win – faded out of the encounter.

Sturt’s sensational midfield earned far more of the Sherrin for throughout the evening as it tallied 43 more kicks, 67 more handballs and 43 more marks.

Magarey Medallist Tom Lewis set the tone early with his first goal of the game before booting the first of the opening half to go with 26 disposals.

Angus Anderson continued his fine form with 27 disposals and seven tackles for the Blues while Will Snelling racked up 29 disposals, seven clearances and 11 tackles in his 100th Hostplus SANFL League match.

Sturt half-back Casey Voss earned the Hostplus Performance Player Award with a match-high 33 possessions and 13 marks.

Clever Josh Hone booted four goals for the Double Blues while Sam Conforti and Connor McFadyen joined Lewis in kicking two majors.

Glenelg will now turn its attention to next Sunday’s Preliminary Final against Norwood.

The Bays had veteran Max Proud stand tall in defence to finish with 17 disposals and nine marks while Lachie Hosie made the most of his limited chances to boot 4.4 from 10 disposals and eight marks in his 100th match.

Experienced Tigers midfielder Jarryd Lyons tallied a team-high 24 disposals and eight clearances but he didn’t receive any meaningful support from the centre square.

Sturt looked set to cruise to a comfortable lead at the first change when it burst out of the blocks to boot the first three goals of the game inside seven minutes.

Lewis got the ball rolling with a massive set shot from 45m within the first 90 seconds of the opening bounce.

But Glenelg managed to display early poise and composure to get itself back into the contest with the next three goals of the game to lead by a point at quarter time.

Sturt’s Conforti regained the lead with a classy finish on the run inside the first five minutes of the second term but that would be his team’s only major leading to half-time.

The Bays’ Cam McGree swung his goal through from a tough angle before Lachie Hosie escaped out the back to boot the Sherrin into the Morton Bay fig trees behind the northern goal.

Matt Allen then weaved his way through traffic to unselfishly chip the ball over the top to Riley Holder who put his side 13 points up with a dribbler along the ground.

It gave Glenelg a 12-point lead at the main change despite trailing the inside 50 count by 29 to 16.