Round 15 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Sunday

Sturt withstood every punch Glenelg threw at it to secure a valuable 20-point victory at Thomas Farms Oval.

In what proved to be a hard-fought, absorbing contest between last year’s grand finalists, the Double Blues’ six-goal opening term proved pivotal in the final result.

Establishing a 28-point lead by the first change, the hosts were then able to keep the Bays at arm’s length for the remainder of the afternoon.

Glenelg managed six goals in the second term to peg the deficit back to just five points at half-time but three goals in succession to Sturt forward Oliver Grivell during time-on of the third quarter gave his side a four-goal buffer at the main change.

The Tigers closed to within 12 points when Luke Reynolds booted his fourth from close range but when Grivell followed four consecutive behinds from the visitors with his fourth major, Sturt had strengthened its hold on second spot.

Sturt’s star signing Will Snelling made a welcome return after missing the past fortnight, collecting 22 disposals, seven clearances and 11 tackles while Casey Voss’ workrate to chalk up 26 touches was illustrated by him running the length of the ground in the final term to take a timely mark inside his attacking 50m arc.

Blues captain James Battersby and Tom Lewis each racked up 21 disposals while also combining for 19 tackles as Josh Hone and Connor McFadyen supported Grivell’s bag of four by kicking two goals each.

Tigers Matt Allen and Corey Lyons battled hard for their 22 disposals apiece while Cole Gerloff and Max Proud finished with 20 possessions each.

Glenelg recruit Nick Stevens – who was presented the No.27 guernsey by former Tiger Matthew Liptak before the game – made an encouraging start with 15 disposals and four marks.

South Adelaide lifted itself back off the bottom of the ladder with a spirited 15-point win against Port Adelaide at Alberton.

Bursting out of the blocks with a six-goal first quarter to open up a five-goal lead by the opening change, the plucky Panthers seemed determined to convert one of their recent encouraging performances into two premiership points.

The visitors led by as much as 42 points when livewire forward Corey Grocock kicked his fourth goal nearly 12 minutes into the second term as they led at every change to record their third victory of the season.

Port made a desperate late bid to steal the win by booting three goals in succession during time-on of the fourth term but it was in vein after the classy Hayden Sampson had pushed his team’s advantage out to 35 points in the 19th minute.

Grocock enjoyed a breakthrough game by finishing with a five-goal haul to go with his 11 disposals and five marks as Kobe Mutch was South’s leading disposal-winner with 24.

South’s midfield combination was impressive as Oliver Davis, Sampson and teenager Sid Draper each tallied 23 touches and a goal.

Elusive forwards Liam Fitt and Eamon Wilkinson kicked two goals each for the Panthers.

Port ruckman Dante Visentini continued his eye-catching recent form with 18 disposals, six marks, a goal and 41 hit outs while first-year draftee Will Lorenz continues to grow in confidence playing against men, finding 25 disposals, five marks and a major.

Magpies defender Ryan Burton returned from a foot injury to register 21 disposals and seven marks while his captain Nick Moore tallied 19 disposals and a goal.