Round 18 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Saturday

Central District held on for a spirited one-point victory against Adelaide at X Convenience Oval.

In a confidence-boosting effort against a fellow finals contender, the Bulldogs – winning 9.7 (61) to 9.7 (60) – displayed great poise to claim the premiership points in front of a vocal home crowd.

Neither team led by any more than 14 points and it was talented teenager Dougie Cochrane who gave the hosts the lead with his second goal of the day in the 12th minute of the fourth term.

There would only be one more score for the game, a behind to Adelaide’s Toby Murray who hit the post from his 35m set shot on a slight angle.

Central swept the ball to the grandstand wing soon after, where the home side managed to bottle the ball up with a series of crunching tackles before the final siren sounded.

The Dogs had three less inside 50s for the contest but AFL Draft prospect Dyson Sharp led the way for his side with a team-high 20 disposals, six clearances, seven tackles and a goal.

Hard-running pair Zach Adams (19 disposals) and Kai Pudney (18 disposals) were also influential while Luca Whitelum collected 18 disposals and took 10 marks.

Cochrane finished with 13 disposals and six marks to go with his two majors while Beau Thomas kicked 2.2 from 13 possessions for the Dogs.

Adelaide – aiming to celebrate its first 100-gamer in ruckman Kieran Strachan – again had Billy Dowling play strongly for 34 disposals, nine clearance, seven marks and 2.2.

Crow Luke Nankervis had 25 disposals while Sid Draper tallied 24 touches while Lachlan Sholl snared 13 marks to go with 22 disposals.

Adelaide skipper Jack Madgen booted two goals together with Dowling to be the Crows’ only multiple goal kickers.

Glenelg strung together its second unflattering victory in succession when it outlasted Port Adelaide by 10 points at Stratarama Stadium.

Despite dominating inside 50s 59 to 45 and clearances 42-30, the Bays were unable to translate this onto the scoreboard as they finished with 13.16 (94) to the Pies’ 12.12 (84).

But to still ensure they claimed the premiership points will be an encouragement for coach Darren Reeves, who will seeking for his men to again peak at the most important stage of the season.

Glenelg led at every change but never by more than 17 points as Port – playing with just 10 AFL-listed players – displayed plenty of spirit.

It was an even effort from the hosts who had midfielders Corey Lyons (25 disposals, one goal), Luke Partington (25 disposals, one goal), Matt Allen (23 disposals, one goal), Cole Gerloff (23 disposals, one goal) and Jarryd Lyons (23 disposals, one goal) all hit the scoreboard.

Tigers inclusion Darcy Scott made the most of his elevation to boot three goals after displaying strong form in the Reserves while Lachie Hosie had a rare afternoon unable to find his radar with a tally of 2.6 from his eight shots.

Port’s Jack Watkins again found the footy with ease to tally 32 disposals, six clearances and eight tackles while Jeremy Cameron was influential for the second week in succession with 23 disposals, six clearances, five marks and two goals.

Ewan Mackinlay put his hand up for an AFL debut in Port’s last game of the season with 21 disposals and three goals while Logan Evans (22 disposals) and Hugh Jackson (21 disposals, one goal) put in encouraging displays.

Norwood injected itself into the Hostplus SANFL League’s top five with a vital 13-point win against North Adelaide at Prospect.

Now level on premiership points with sixth-placed Port Adelaide, the Redlegs boast a handy five percent advantage on the Magpies after scoring 11.10 (76) to 9.9 (63).

But that will effectively mean nothing next Saturday, when the Legs require a victory against the Pies at The Parade to gain a berth in the Elimination Final.

And they were forced to do it the hard way against the revitalised Roosters, who led by 12 points at the final change.

But with their season on the line, Jade Sheedy’s men piled on the next five goals in succession to lead by as much as 19 points when Jayden Gale nailed his second major in the 26th minute.

Norwood had 11 fewer inside 50s but that didn’t matter as Billy Cootee continues his great form with 22 disposals and a goal while key defender Jack Heard tallied 20 disposals and eight marks.

Legs captain Jacob Kennerley had 20 disposals, seven clearances and a goal while Finn Heard worked hard for his 19 disposals, nine marks, 18 hit outs and a goal.

Key Norwood forward Tristan Binder had an influence with three goals.

North’s Frank Szekely collected a match-high 24 disposals and two goals, one a beauty off the ground from a tight angle.

Mitch Harvey finished with 21 disposals and nine clearances while Oskar Faulkhead and Will Francou each had 20 disposals for the Roosters.

New-look forward target Reed Van Huisstede kicked three goals for North while Szekely and Nigel Lockyer booted two goals.

South Adelaide’s late-season surge continued with an encouraging 46-point win against Woodville-West Torrens at Magain Stadium. 

After displaying great development in losses to top three contenders Glenelg, Sturt and Adelaide, the Panthers finally made it count on the scoreboard by claiming the premiership points by leading at every change against the Eagles.

Keeping the visitors goalless until Zane Williams kicked truly in the third minute of the second stanza, the Panthers made the most of their 36-25 advantage at the clearances en route to a 14.10 (94) to 6.12 (48) scoreline.

South’s Oliver Davis cashed in with a team-high 29 disposals, seven clearances and six tackles while Luke Bogle racked up 25 disposals and five clearances.

Promising young pair Charlie Duncan and Phoenix Hargrave booted two goals with their 22 disposals while defender Oscar Clavarino was steady with his 21 disposals and seven marks.

Tye Gander booted three goals on debut for the hosts while Ryan Borlace, Corey Grocock and Eamon Wilkinson also kicked two majors.

Eagle James Rowe held his high in his 100th game with 32 disposals and six clearances while Kobe Mutch had 28 disposals and seven marks against his old side.

Young Eagles pair Lukas Cooke (25 disposals, one goal) and Jack Cook (23 disposals) were also bright lights on a tough afternoon.

Sturt extended its winning streak over West Adelaide to 20 with a barnstorming 85-point triumph at Hisense Stadium.

The Double Blues haven’t lost to the Bloods since Round 16 of 2015 and they ensured this would be the case with a crunching first-half performance before cruising to a 22.9 (141) to 8.8 (56) result.

Marty Mattner’s men piled on 14.3 in the opening two quarters while keeping the Bloods to just six behinds until Joel Parker broke the goal drought for the hosts in the 15th minute of the third quarter.

Sturt led by a mammoth 110 points at three-quarter time before the Bloods poured some respect back into the scoreboard with 7.2 to 3.1 in the fourth stanza.

Double Blues backman Zac Becker, who was the X Golf Player of the Day last round, tallied 25 disposals and 14 marks while emerging midfielders Angus Anderson (24 disposals, 11 marks) and Nick Sadler (23 disposals, two goals) were also prominent.

Magarey Medallist Will Snelling made a welcome return with 21 disposals while Tom Emmett was refreshed from being managed with 20 disposals, 12 marks and two goals for Sturt.

The visitors had a significant nine players kicking multiple goals with Luke Giacometti, Josh Hone and Connor McFadyen all kicking three each.

West midfielders Brady Searle and Lachie Squire battled had to collect 21 disposals each while Tom Morrish had 20.