Round 6 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Saturday

Sturt’s staggering advantage at X Convenience Oval has stretched to an eighth win in succession, this time by 35 points against a previously unbeaten Central District.

The Double Blues haven’t tasted defeat at Elizabeth since Round 17 of 2015 and they ensured that impressive record would continue with a spirited effort in the absence of Tom Lewis (general soreness) and Flynn Perez (hamstring).

Trailing by eight points at the first change, the visitors kicked the only four goals of the second stanza to swing the momentum in their favour as they gradually increased the lead after half-time.

Star Sturt signing Will Snelling led the charge with 22 disposals, 17 tackles, nine clearances and a classy stoppage goal to be the Coles Value Player.

”It was another great win, we were close against North and the Eagles so it was good reward for effort after grinding away,” Snelling told Channel 7 after the match.

”It’s a nice feeling heading into the bye as well.”

Sturt coach Marty Mattner echoed Snelling’s sentiments after a two frustrating results heading into Round 6.

”We spoke before the game about when things don’t go our way, to embrace it,” Mattner said.

”And there were times things weren’t going our way today but if we play like that most weeks, we will be pretty competitive this season.

”I thought we were very good for four quarters, we are slowing getting there. We’ve got good balance between our talls and our smalls and it was good our forwards got some reward today.”

Sturt’s Jared Dakin lent valuable support in the middle with 24 disposals, eight clearances and eight tackles while James Mathews continued his eye-catching start to the season with three goals from 19 touches and four marks.

Sam Conforti also booted three majors for Sturt, including one from outside the 50m arc which carried the line comfortably to the northern end.

Missing Magarey Medallist Harry Grant, who had a minor knee injury, the Bulldogs started brightly to boot four of the first six goals of the afternoon.

Despite only having three fewer inside 50s than the Blues, the hosts could only manage two more goals as they fell to their first loss of the 2024 campaign.

Hard running pair Kai Pudney (24 disposals) and Kyle Presbury (22 disposals) tried hard to ignite their side while WAFL recruit Kade Dittmar collected 18 possessions for the Dogs.

Woodville-West Torrens survived a scare from an incredibly brave South Adelaide at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, holding on by just five points.

Determined to celebrate in style to honour milestone men Matt Goldsworthy (250 games) and Jarrad Redden (150 games), the Eagles were forced to dig in against the plucky Panthers.

The hosts’ advantage never exceeded more than two goals for the afternoon and even found themselves behind by that margin when South’s Angus Bradley kicked truly nine minutes into the third quarter.

Panthers’ giant Damon Freitag put the visitors in front by three points approaching the tenth minute of the last term with a reflex goal but that was to be his side’s final score of the match.

Eagle goalsneak Zane Williams then snapped what proved to be the winning major of the match just two minutes later, fittingly from an unselfish Goldsworthy goal assist by hand.

James Rowe led the way on the stats sheet for his side with 26 disposals and 1.3 while captain Joey Sinor had 23 disposals, 10 tackles and five clearances for the Eagles.

Mature-age recruit Luke McKay again impressed with 20 disposals and two goals while Connor Ballenden and Troy Menzel also kicked two each.

South’s Kobe Mutch ran into good touch with 27 disposals and a goal against his former team while Ollie Davis tallied 27 touches and eight tackles.

Arlo Draper returned from injury to collect 19 disposals and two goals while Freitag and Eamon Wilkinson booted two goals each for the visitors, who came agonisingly close to their first win of the season.

North Adelaide rebuilt valuable percentage on the back of an unanswered 13-goal run in its 84-point victory against Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval.

Finding themselves behind by four points at the first change, the Roosters turned it on as they piled on the pain for the Magpies to open up a 26-point lead at half-time, before stretching it to 65 points at three quarter-time.

As the visitors hit the scoreboard with eight goal scorers, including Lachlan Grubb (five), Nigel Lockyer (four) and Sam McInerney (three), they also turned the screws defensively.

After Port’s Ollie Lord, making a welcome comeback from injury, goaled in the 27th minute of the first term, his side wasn’t able to add another major until Hugh Ferrari kicked truly eight minutes into the fourth quarter.

North – with 61 inside 50m entries to Port’s 27 – had Campbell Combe again thrive in the centre square with 29 disposals and six clearances while Sam Ramsay made the most of his recall to notch 27 disposals.

Grubb played arguably his best game of League football to rack up 25 touches, nine marks and seven tackles to go with his five goals.

McInerney also collected plenty of ball with 22 disposals to go with his three majors as youngsters Hughen Wissman (24 dispsoals, one goal) and Charlie Dinning (21 disposals) also took steps forward.

Port’s Tom Clurey continued his positive push for AFL selection with 26 disposals and 10 marks while Josh Byrne had 22 disposals against his former team.

Tall Magpie Tom Scully enjoyed his opportunity in the ruck to rack up 17 disposals and 24 hit outs.

Glenelg displayed tremendous heart and spirit to outlast West Adelaide by 27 points at Stratarama Stadium.

The Bays effectively played the match with two less players in testing conditions after Will Stockman and James Bell were forced from the field inside the opening 10 minutes.

Makeshift ruckman Stockman landed awkwardly to suffer a serious leg injury while the loss of James Bell (concussion) was another major blow to the Tigers.

After grinding away to a 26-point half-time lead while holding the Bloods to just one goal in the opening half, Darren Reeves charges appeared headed for victory.

But West’s Kobe Ryan almost single-handedly turned the match on its head when he booted three goals in the third quarter to trim his team’s deficit to just six points nearing time-on.

Glenelg’s Hunter Window booted his first League goal to edge the margin to 20 points but then the Bloods looked like they may overrun the weary hosts when Luke Redfern kicked truly to put his side within seven points in the 12th minute of the final term.

The Tigers – still without premiership stars Lachie Hosie, Matt Snook, Cam McGree and Darcy Bailey – found something in red time though, kicking the final three goals of the match.

Gutsy midfielder Corey Lyons had a huge impact with 31 disposals, nine clearances, seven marks and five tackles while Billy Stretch stepped up with his vital final term goal and 21 disposals.

Matt Allen shook off his first term scare with a leg issue to finish with 19 disposals, 11 tackles and two goals while Luke Reynolds was his efficient self for the Bays with three goals from 12 disposals and seven marks.

Ryan finished with 21 disposals, 11 tackles and six clearances to go with his three majors while Sam Frost was also productive for the Bloods with 33 disposals, four marks and four clearances.

Former Tiger Brady Searle returned to the Bay for the first time in red and black to tally 24 disposals and 13 tackles.