Glenelg's Liam McBean celebrates one of his six goals with teammate Riley Holder. Picture - Cory Sutton
Glenelg’s Matthew Snook is chaired off after his 200th Hostplus SANFL League match by teammates Darcy Bailey (left) and Matt Allen. Picture – Cory Sutton
Glenelg stood tall for one of its greatest players, celebrating the 200th game of Matthew Snook with a spirited 34-point win against Norwood at Stratarama Stadium.
Despite losing three of their past four matches, the Bays strung together their sixth win in succession against the Redlegs at the Bay with their best performance of 2024.
The Tigers didn’t have a passenger as they overwhelmed the Redlegs with their pressure and intent to hunt the football, while producing patches of their most cohesive football this season.
”He’s (Snook) one of the all-time greats of this football club and competition,” Glenelg coach Darren Reeves told Channel 7 after the match.
”What he has to endure week-in, week-out to play is amazing. He does everything he has to do to get up. I’m certain he will finish the rest of the year in a strong manner.
”It was a great win as Norwood has been the competition pacesetter all year. Our hunt and pressure around the ball was back to where it needed to be and it was a message to our group we need to be better – it doesn’t matter who you are.
”We haven’t been going great and we have some guys banged up so to find a way to get the game on our terms and find territory was really important for us.”
Coles Value Player Corey Lyons (28 disposals, five clearances) confirmed their was a steely resolve amongst the playing group to honour Snook in the best way possible.
”He’s a hero of this club, a great of the SANFL. He gives his all every week, he’s at the bottom of the pack all the time. That’s Matthew Snook,” Lyons said.
Bays skipper Liam McBean kicked his team’s first five goals of the game before finishing with six to go with his 16 disposals and five marks as his side led at every change.
The hosts dominated clearances 47-33 and inside 50s 55 to 42 as Snook finished with 23 disposals, 10 tackles and nine clearances, while James Bell (21 disposals, one goal) and Matt Allen (20 disposals, two goals) were also important on the ball and in attack.
Premiership captains Chris Curran (23 disposals, 11 marks) and Max Proud (22 disposals, six marks) provided a steady presence for the Bays while youngsters Hunter Window (17 disposals, one goal), Nick Stevens (15 disposals) and AAMI Rookie Ben Ridgway (15 disposals) showed promise.
Norwood, still on top of the table with a 12-3 win-loss record due to a superior percentage over second-placed Sturt, had Harry Boyd produce another lion-hearted game with 17 disposals, 10 clearances and 49 hit outs.
Redleg Baynen Lowe (19 disposals, one goal) also had his moments but ultimately their team was unable to find enough avenues to goal as Jackson Callow and Izaak Twelftree booted two goals each.
Norwood ruckman Harry Boyd battled hard with 17 disposals and 10 clearances. Picture – Cory Sutton
Central co-captain Jarrod Schiller is chaired off by teammates Aiden Grace (left) and Kyle Presbury after his 250th Hostplus SANFL League match. Picture – David Mariuz
Central District maintained its pursuit of a top-three berth with a stunning 12-point come-from-behind victory against North Adelaide at X Convenience Oval.
Finding themselves three goals behind at the final change, the Bulldogs had only mustered five goals for the afternoon before they banged on seven straight in the fourth quarter while holding the Roosters to two.
Livewire Bulldogs forward Aiden Grace (three goals) and Isaiah Dudley (two goals) were everywhere as they piled on five majors in the last term before North premiership forward Mitch Harvey fired back with two of his five goals.
But Magarey Medallist Harry Grant and Wilson Barry goaled late in time-on to seal the deal for the hosts as they honoured 250-game hero Jarrod Schiller while keeping pace with third-placed Glenelg.
Central had 38 less disposals, 27 fewer disposals and 15 less clearances but made it count on the scoreboard as Barry, Dudley, Grant and Jake Gasper all booted two goals.
Barry also collected 18 disposals to match rebounding defender Billy Iles while co-captain Kyle Presbury returned from injury to have 16 touches.
The only sour point for the Dogs was a suspected knee injury to wingman Kade Dittmar, who was on crutches before half-time.
Harvey was full of heart in booting five of his team’s nine goals while Sam Ramsay (25 disposals, one goal) and Campbell Combe (22 disposals, 11 tackles, eight clearances) fought hard for the visitors.
North defender Kye Pfrengle sends his team forward. Picture – David Mariuz
South Adelaide earned back-to-back wins for the first time this season with an encouraging 21-point triumph against West Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium.
A five-goal final term set up the Panthers’ fourth victory of 2024 after no more than two goals separated the two sides throughout the contest, until time-on.
Late goals to South’s Eamon Wilkinson and Phoenix Hargrave handed the the hosts the premiership points as they finished with 27 more handballs than the Bloods.
The Panthers’ midfield brigade proved too much for the visitors when it mattered most as Hayden Sampson (29 disposals), Kobe Mutch (27 disposals), Oliver Davis (24 disposals) and AFL draft target Sid Draper (26 disposals, one goal) all influential.
Last round’s Powerade Breakthrough Player Corey Grocock followed up his five-goal haul last week with another three against West as impressive teenager Hargrave tallied 14 disposals, six marks and a major.
West – coming off its best win of the year against the Eagles – was once again led by tireless midfield pair Kobe Ryan (29 disposals, 11 clearances) and Sam Frost (25 disposals, one goal) as Luke Redfern booted three goals.
Sturt took three quarters to eventually shrug off a persistent Port Adelaide by 23-point at Thomas Farms Oval.
Going into the match as red-hot favourite, the Double Blues trailed at quarter-time and three-quarter time before storming home to boot a game-defining 4.2 to the Magpies’ 0.2 in the fourth term.
Opting to rest star midfielder Tom Lewis, the hosts still managed to win the clearance count by four while also earning 10 more inside 50s to draw level with Norwood at the top of the table on 12 wins.
Crafty premiership forward Josh Hone (16 disposals) booted two of his four goals in the match-winning period for Sturt as Will Snelling found plenty of the Sherrin once again to rack up 32 disposals, seven clearances and seven tackles.
Key Sturt recruits Sam Conforti and Flynn Perez racked up 24 possessions each while Jared Dakin collected 23 disposals.
Port’s Will Lorenz continued his consistent form with 23 disposals and five clearances while Cody Szust continues to enjoy his midfield role with 21 disposals.
Hugh Jackson had 19 disposals and a goal for the Magpies while potential father-son draftee Louie Montgomery handled the step up in his first League game to collect 16 disposals and nine marks.
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