Round 10 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Saturday

North Adelaide’s fighting spirit carried it across the line by one-point in a thrilling victory against Adelaide at Revo Fitness Oval. 

With second-game forward Kalan Caputo starring with six goals and rebounding defender Cody Raak outstanding, the Roosters held on to claim the character-building premiership points.

Securing a vital win in the contest of the season to keep in touch with the top-five, Josh Francou’s men were challenged when the Crows went seven points ahead when Blake Drury kicked truly midway through the final term.

But Caputo was determined to the have the final say when he tied up the scores when the ball fell over the back of the pack in the goal square.

Then it was the Port Pirie product’s time to shine again when he snapped from 20m after a tiday handball from Jake Cresswell to give his side a six-point advantage entering time-on.

Caputo then kicked a vital behind when his snap three minutes later slammed into the post.

Crow Finbar Maley converted his strong contested mark with a set shot from 20m but North was able to hold on as captain Alex Spina dived on the Sherrin desperately deep in defence as the final siren sounded.

”Within the four walls of our club we still belived in ourselves,” said Raak, named the Hostplus Super Player of the Day after finishing with 28 disposals and 16 marks.

”We needed this one so to the fans stick with us. Something like this will be really good for the group.”

Caputo finished with 6.1 from his 11 disposals and five marks while Reed Van Huisstede was an important foil in attack with three majors.

Spina racked up 20 disposals and 10 marks off half-back while strong-bodied Rooster mids James Battersby (20 disposals), Will Gowers (20 disposals) and Angus Schumacher (18 disposals) thrived in the muddy centre square.

Adelaide mids Charlie Edwards (24 disposals, eight clearances) and Billy Dowling (21 disposals) were prominent while Sid Draper had 17 disposals and six clearances in his return from a fracutred jaw.

Blake Drury kicked four goals for the Crows while Maley put through three majors but it wasn’t enough as the Crows were laden with their fifth loss of the season.

Woodville-West Torrens rolled up its sleeves to scrap its way to a hard-fought 37-point victory against South Adelaide at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval. 

Keeping the Panthers to just one goal for the first-half, the Eagles were far superior at the stoppages as they earned a 43-30 advantage at the clearances while leading at every change.

Currently sitting on top of the Hostplus SANFL League ladder, Sam Jacobs’ men played the muddy conditions well by moving the ball forward to rack up 10 more inside 50 entries despite having only eight more kicks for the match.

Breaking the game open with 3.4 to 1.1 in the third term, the Eagles were well-served by hard-nosed midfielder Ted Clohesy, who racked up 30 disposals, seven clearances and a goal.

Forgotten Will Pearce, who has had a rotten run with injury, collected 25 disposals in his third game for the season while fellow Eagles James Rowe (25 disposals) and Jack Cook (21 disposals) were difference-makers at ground level.

Key Eagles forwards Connor Ballenden and Patrick Weckert kicked two goals each while experienced pair Nick Hayes and Joey Sinor chalked up 19 disposals each.

South’s star recruit Harley Sparks never gave in to rack up 34 disposals, seven clearances and 15 tackles who worked well alongside Ollie Davis with 25 dispsoals and nine tackles.

The Panthers avoided their lowest score of 2.3 (15) against the Eagles while Riley Baldi kicked a beauty from long range in the first term which bounced through amid the mud puddles.