Round 12 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Saturday

Glenelg survived a late charge from Sturt to rise to the top of the Hostplus SANFL League ladder with an 11-point win at Stratarama Stadium. 

Controlling the contest with authority for the opening three quarters, the Tigers were seriously challenged when the Double Blues piled on 7.2 to just 1.3 in the final quarter.

But it wasn’t enough for the reigning premier as it handed the Bays a handy buffer for a double chance in September.

While Norwood could regain top spot with a win against South Adelaide tomorrow, Matthew Clarke’s men now boast a six premiership-point break on the Double Blues with seven rounds to play.

Clarke would have been impressed by the defensive effort of his outfit across the ground as it restricted Sturt to just three goals by the last change.

The tackling from the Tigers was superb as they applied 71 in pristine conditions whilst also leading the inside 50 count 52-46.

Experienced Bays midfielders Luke Partington (26 disposals) and Corey Lyons (23 disposals) continued their great form while Lachie Hosie seemingly has a strangle-hold on the Ken Farmer Medal after slamming through a match-high five goals.

Cam McGree was influential in the ruck for the hosts with 19 disposals, four marks and eight clearances while defenders Jonty Scharenberg and Patrick Parnell were their consistent selves with 19 disposals each.

Classy Sturt forward Sam Conforti was at the heart of his side’s late comeback with 22 disposals and three goals while captain Tom Lewis worked hard again for his 21 disposals, eight clearances and 14 tackles.

Talented Sturt forward Ash Johnson displayed signs that he could be an X-factor for his side in the second half of the season as he looked dangerous with three majors.

West Adelaide underlined its finals credentials with a statement-making 42-point upset against Woodville-West Torrens at Richmond Oval. 

The Bloods, set to play all but one of their final seven matches at Milner Round for the rest of the season, showed they will be right in the mix as they produced their best win under coach Nathan Bassett.

Trailing by a goal at the first change, Westies gained control of the contest in the second term as they put on 4.2 to the Eagles’ two behinds.

But the Bloods were far from satisfied as they restricted the visitors to just 2.2 in the second half whilst controlling the tempo of the match with a 116-88 marks advantage.

West overwhelmed the Eagles with their ball-winners through the midfield, led by captain Sam Frost who appears revitalised from his hamstring strain after racking up 30 disposals.

Glenelg recruit Ben Ridgway finished with 28 disposals while Bloods’ teammates Cade Kennedy (27 disposals, one goal) and Kobe Ryan (22 disposals, one goal) also played significant roles in the stirring win.

Bustling Brady Searle used his strong body to slam through four goals for Westies while Judd Hansen booted two.

Eagles Jack Cook (21 disposals) and Ted Clohesy (20 disposals) kept battling to the end while ruck Jordan Lukac was an imposing figure in the centre square with 18 disposals, five clearances and seven marks.

Eagles giant Connor Ballenden played a lone hand in attack to boot three of his side’s seven goals for the afternoon.

Adelaide romped to its highest score in a SANFL Showdown when it easily accounted for Port Adelaide by 52 points at Adelaide Oval. 

Keeping in touch with the top five, the Crows did as they pleased in the first half as they stretched out to a match-high 73-point lead en route to a significant score of 19.15 (129).

The Magpies, with Sam Powell-Pepper making his comeback from a long-term knee injury, were able to respond late in the third term with five goals in succession.

But it wasn’t enough to truly threaten the Crows, who established a match-winning 52-35 inside 50m edge while also having 59 more disposals and 26 more marks.

Adelaide spread its workload in the team-orientated triumph, with Lachlan Sholl (27 disposals, one goal), Blake Drury (25 disposals, two goals), Sid Draper (24 disposals, one goal) and Chayce Jones (23 disposals, one goal) not only finding the footy but hitting the scoreboard.

Crows bigman Toby Murray was a force inside 50m upon his return to the side with 20 disposals, seven marks and four goals to be adjudged the Hostplus Super Player of the Day.

Fellow forwards Finbar Maley and Ned Atkinson also chimed in with three goals each for the Crows.

Port midfielder Will Brodie collected a match-high 30 disposals while Christian Moraes (23 disposals) and captain Jez McLennan (22 disposals) also lent support.

Former South forward Jake Tarca showed off his sharp-shooting for the Magpies with four goals without a miss while Todd Marshall booted three in his return to the SANFL.

Powell-Pepper finished with five disposals, a clearances and a tackle after playing a half on managed minutes.

Central District lifted itself off the foot of the Hostplus SANFL League ladder with a hard-fought 21-point victory against North Adelaide at Revo Fitness Oval.

Boasting a lead at every change, the Bulldogs were much more efficienct with the Sherrin considering they had a whopping 111 fewer disposals for the match yet managd 13 more inside 50 entries.

The Dogs, banking their second win of the season to leapfrog Port Adelaide, also had 34 fewer marks yet managed 11 more scoring shots as inaccuracy (10.16) prevented them from earning a more comfortable triumph.

North got within 14 points when inclusion Tom Tasker kicked truly in the 13th minute of the fourth quarter but strong-marking forward Jack Tomkinson asserted himself on the outcome to boot two steadying goals in the dying minutes to ensure the visitors would claim the premiership points.

Central’s left-footed pair Leyton Chisholm and Josh Fahey chalked up a team-high 19 disposals each while Magarey Medallist Harry Grant returned from his hamstring strain to tally 16 disposals and three clearances.

Dogs forward Aiden Grace was a constant threat inside 50 with his three goals while Tomkinson and Tallen Rosenzweig kicked two goals each.

North had no shortage of contributors but were unable to make it count on the scoreboard as Angus Schumacher finished with a team-high 30 disposals and 10 clearances.

Roosters Harrison Wigg (28 disposals), Cody Raak (27 disposals, one goal) and captain Alex Spina (26 disposals) were also prominent as veteran ruck Mitch Harvey battled hard for his 25 disposals, eight marks, nine clearances and 19 hit outs.