Round 19 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Saturday

Norwood’s fierce desire spurred it on to memorable 10-point win against arch-enemy Port Adelaide at The Parade as it burst into the Hostplus SANFL League major round.

Claiming the Gallagher-Williams Cup and a berth in the Elimination Final, the Redlegs trailed by as much as 35 points late in the second quarter before displaying plenty of heart in front of a raucous home crowd to win 12.15 (87) to 11.11 (77).

With makeshift ruckman Finn Heard outstanding throughout the contest, Norwood built meaningful momentum by slamming on 6.3 to the Pies’ 1.3 in the third quarter as it transformed a 28-point half-time deficit into a two-point lead at the final change.

Port’s only score for the last term was a rushed behind in its favour as it desperately tried to cling on as both teams tackled with enormous ferocity.

The Redlegs were battling to find the sealing major after misses to Jackson Callow, Tristan Binder and Charlie Molan but an outstanding passage of play eventually broke the drought early in time-on.

Norwood’s Baynen Lowe swept out a handball at half-back to Billy Cootee, who kicked a long pass inside 50m to Callow who marked running back with the flight of the ball.

Callow then waited for his captain Jacob Kennerley to sprint ahead of him before passing to him deep in the pocket, where he marked and kicked truly from a snap set shot just 10m out.

Heard, rucking in the absence of injured teammate Luke Surman, played a career-best game with 32 disposals, 18 clearances, four marks and 22 hitouts resulting in him being adjudged the XGolf Player of the Game.

Cootee continued his sensational season with 24 disposals, five clearances and a goal while Nik Rokahr battled hard under duress with a knee concern to collect 19 disposals.

Callow made a successful return from his four-week suspension to kick 2.2 from 20 disposals and seven marks while Kennerley led from the front with 2.1 from 14 disposals.

Swingman Pierce Seymour, who has been outstanding in defence before being moved into attack, kicked three goals for the Redlegs.

Narrowly missing finals qualification, Port had Jack Watkins rack up 25 disposals, five clearances and eight tackles in a tireless display.

Josh Lai (23 disposals) and Nic Couroupis (16 disposals) consistently repelled the Redlegs’ attacks from half-back while Will Lorenz finished with 19 disposals.

Rory Atkins – who played his last AFL game the night before as the substitute – rallied hard early for the Magpies when he kicked four goals in the first term.

Dylan Williams kicked three goals for Port while Bailey Chamberlain kicked two.

Adelaide ensured it would take meaningful momentum into the 2025 Hostplus SANFL League finals series with a spirited two-point victory against a previously unbeaten Sturt at Thomas Farms Oval.

The Double Blues, seeking to be the first team since Port Adelaide in 1914 to go through the minor round undefeated, looked headed to break the long-standing record when Connor McFadyen goaled to give his side an 11-point lead midway through the final term.

But the Crows sprang to life as Brayden Cook converted his set shot on the verge of time-on before teammates Chris Burgess marked strongly on the lead before nailing his 25m set shot on a slight angle.

Burgess put the visitors in front and when nippy Jay O’Leary crumbed nicely and snapped truly, the Crows had a seven-point lead in the 24th minute.

Sturt continued to chase victory with desperation, premiership forward Josh Hone slotting through a classy finish on the run to put the hosts within a point in the 26th minute.

That would be Sturt’s last score though, with the ball camped inside its forward 50m as the final siren sounded resulting in the club’s remarkable run coming to an end as the Crows prevailed 14.5 (89) to 13.9 (87).

Adelaide – now primed to tackle Glenelg in the Qualifying Final – had Lachie Sholl perform strongly with 26 disposals, seven marks and a goal.

Midfielders Chayce Jones and Harry Schoenberg collected 20 disposals each while Blake Drury and Luke Nankervis had 19 possessions apiece.

Key Crows forward Chris Burgess booted four goals, while teammates Brayden Cook, Karl Gallagher, Toby Murray and Tyler Welsh kicked two each.

Sturt’s Will Snelling had a team-high 27 disposals, 10 clearances and 11 tackles while Casey Voss had 24 disposals and 11 marks.

Unheralded Blues midfielder Angus Anderson was arguably his side’s best with 23 disposals and two goals to go with six clearances and six tackles.

McFadyen kicked three goals for Sturt while Alex Holt and Hone joined Anderson in kicking two each.

Glenelg tuned up for its premiership defence with an impressive 86-point thumping of Central District at X Convenience Oval.

The Tigers – resting players such as Jarryd Lyons, Max Proud, Cole Gerloff and Cam McGree – blew the Bulldogs away by booting the first seven goals of the game to open up a 36-point lead at the first change.

It was an ominous signal as the visitors kept Central to just one behind in the second term while piling on another 6.3 to lead by 74 points at half-time.

AAMI Rookie Latrelle Pickett set the Ponderosa alight with two classy goals early before finishing with four on debut while Darcy Scott made an impression for the Bays to collect 22 disposals on a wing.

Glenelg controlled the clearances 47-19 with Luke Partington (29 disposals), Corey Lyons (23 disposals) and James Bell (24 disposals) having 20 between themselves.

Consistent Bays defender Jonty Schareberg continued his stunning season with a match-high 32 disposals and six marks while Matt Allen had 25 disposals and eight marks.

Captain Liam McBean joined Pickett in booting four goals for Glenelg while Darcy Bailey and 2025 Ken Farmer Medallist Lachie Hosie kicked three goals each.

Hosie finished with 65 goals for the minor round to win his second Ken Farmer Medal to go with his success in 2023.
Central held to just 6.6 (42) – its lowest score against Glenelg – had defender Rhett Montgomerie stand tall with 26 disposals and 14 marks.

Kade Dittmar battled hard for the hosts with 25 disposals and a goal while Luca Whitelum again caught the eye with 24 possessions and a major as his Bulldogs turn their attention to next Sunday’s Elimination Final.

West Adelaide ended its 2025 campaign in positive fashion with a gritty six-point win against South Adelaide at Hisense Stadium.

Chalking up their third win of the season, the Bloods ended the interim tenure of coach Sam Elliott with a hard-fought victory due to kicking an inaccurate 7.14 (56) to South’s 7.8 (50).

Racking up a significant inside 50 advantage of 49 to 33, the hosts led by five points at half-time before making their move in the third term with 3.2 to 1.3.

It would prove to be enough of a buffer despite the Panthers finishing strongly in the fourth quarter with two goals deep into time-on.

West’s Tom Morrish continued his strong finish to the season with 28 disposals and nine marks while teammate Brady Searle racked up 23 disposals, 10 tackles.

Bloods Jonti Schuback and Lachlan Squire each had 22 disposals while Cade Kennedy and Tom Scully kicked two goals each.

South’s Finn Emile-Brennan led the stats sheet for his team with 23 disposals and 12 marks while Elliot Dunkin had 22 disposals against his old side.

Exciting Panther Emmanuel Ajang booted three goals while Ben Shillabeer booted two for the visitors.