Round 10 Hostplus SANFL League Match Previews

There’s a burgeoning winning culture at West Lakes. And not just in the AFL.

The SANFL Crows mean business and giving up, even in a desperate situation, isn’t an option.

Adelaide trailed South 1.2 to 7.4 at half-time at inhospitable Noarlunga.

And it was still behind – and battling into the wind – in time-on of the final quarter.

But it got the win, Chris Burgess’s stunning last-gasp snap touched on the goal-line but still decisive in a remarkable one-point success.

Coach Matthew Wright at the long break told his men to “get back into the fight, put yourself in the contest and go to work”.

Go to work they did, getting the game back on their terms and chipping away at the deficit before making a statement they’re all about claiming a top-three spot to push for a place in a first grand final.

Central’s aim has also been a top-three place as it looks to push on from last year’s preliminary final exit.

Right now, the Doggies just need a win. The loss of star midfielder Mani Liddy to Port Adelaide in the mid-season draft was a big blow and the knee injury to powerhouse ruckman Kobe Annand has hurt but 38-point losses to Sturt and the Eagles have been an unexpected wake-up call.

The Dogs clearly need to get back into the fight and put themselves in the contest. They’ve continually shown over the past three seasons they’re up for that.

A coach loves a good response. And that’s what Eagles boss Sam Jacobs got.

After a 34-point loss to North his men couldn’t have been more emphatic in crunching Central by 38 points.

“To be plus-29 in contested possession and plus-40 in tackles, that’s pretty rare,” Jacobs beamed after his men had maintained the pressure all day with or without the ball, racking up 301 possessions to Central’s 231 and 96 tackles to 56.

And that came with injuries curtailing his rotations.

“You look at the team, the way we bounced back after last week in that fashion says a lot about our group.”

It was a sad sight seeing one of the superstars of the comp Riley Knight hobbling to the bench with a hamstring injury to continue his wretched run over the past few seasons.

The tough thing about this comp is, as soon as you respond to one challenge, another looms large.

And the Eags have to get up again for a tough one at Alberton.

Port Adelaide is looming large with its mid-season draft additions and shortening AFL injury list.

Jacobs would have known the danger ahead before the Magpies slammed on nine goals to nothing in the last quarter against West to complete a 63-point win.

They kicked the last 11 goals and rookie signing Mani Liddy showed what an impressive pick-up he is, picking up 25 disposals, eight clearances and a goal.

Their depth shone through as ruckman Jordon Sweet dominated with 40 hit-outs, eight clearances and two goals.

Port coach Hamish Hartlett said: “The guys were invested in performing to the level we know they can.” Jacobs will need a response again.