Round 13 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Sunday

The Double Blues are well and truly back.

Sturt dusted off its mid-season cobwebs in eye-catching fashion with a comfortable 34-point win against South Adelaide at Wigan Oval.

Seemingly in a funk since Glenelg broke its eight-game winning streak with a 105-point humbling in Round 9, Sturt recaptured its early-season touch throughout the first three quarters as it fell just one point shy of its highest score for the season.

Nudging the 16.12 (108) they kicked in Round 3 against Port, the Double Blues banged on 17.5 (107) to remind the rest of the competition of its potency after managing totals of just 38 and 30 in its past two outings.

Leading by as much as 66 points when Sam Breuer kicked truly 24 minutes into the third term, the hosts will lament their lack-lustre final quarter, in which they managed just one behind while conceding 4.3 to erode valuable percentage.

But a seven-goal opening term will certainly please coach Marty Mattner, who has been seeking to reignite his charges, who were the competition’s team to beat after the opening eight rounds.

The return of midfield warrior Tom Lewis has not surprisingly coincided with Sturt bouncing back, the ball magnet finishing with 31 disposals, five tackles and five clearances in a standout display.

Forgotten wingman Malachy Carruthers (24 disposals) is steadily building his form since working his way back into the team while Connor McFadyen and Casey Voss (24 disposals each) were impenetrable throughout the back half.

Bigman Lachlan Burrows (five goals) and goalsenak Josh Hone (four goals) did the scoreboard damage when the game was hot in the first half, Hone also racking up 19 disposals and five marks.

Patrick Wilson was also a standout before half-time, kicking two meaningful set shot goals while also setting up many other opportunities for his Sturt teammates with 17 disposals and four marks.

Now laden with a 4-9 win-loss record, the Panthers will face an uphill battle to qualify for the major round as they sit two wins behind six-placed Central District.

Veteran defender Joseph Haines led the way on the stats sheet for his side with 32 disposals and nine marks while Kobe Mutch and Hayden Sampson battled hard through the middle for 23 disposals each.

But the genuine success story for South will be that of 17-year-old second-gamer Sid Draper, who continues to look comfortable in Hostplus League company.

The Torrens University SA U18 MVP doubled his disposal tally from his debut with 20 possessions, to go with four marks and six clearances.