Round 8 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Saturday

Glenelg certainly didn’t have its best day but it found a way to win after holding on by just two points against Adelaide at Stratarama Stadium.

Trailing for the majority of the first three quarters, the Tigers had Matt Allen step up to kick a classy match-winning goal in the 24th minute of the final term.

After marking strongly from teammate Toby Pink, Allen played on, wheeled around on to his left-foot before launching a 50m bomb on the run.

Adelaide had the ball camped inside its forward 50m arc at a stoppage when the final siren sounded, causing the Bays faithful to jump into celebration mode.

That’s because the visitors appeared set for victory when midfielder Jackson Hately put his side nine points in front in the 18th minute, less than five minutes after teammate Lachlan Gollant gave the Crows the lead with his fourth major.

But Glenelg game-breaker Liam McBean gave his team hope when he nailed his fifth goal of the game entering time-on, paving the way for Allen’s moment of brilliance.

Glenelg won the inside 50m count by 53-40 and had 44 more kicks yet seemed to battle hard for each of its 12 goals while in contrast, Adelaide’s goals came with an element of ease as the ball often got over the back to a vacant 50m arc in the first half.

McBean was outstanding with his five goals from 14 disposals and eight marks, including a vital one entering the 23rd minute of the final term.

Darcy Bailey did a fine job of not only keeping Tariek Newchurch quiet but also constructing play with his 26 disposals for the Bays while midfielders Luke Partington (31 disposals, five tackles) and Matt Snook (26 disposals, 12 tackles) were consistent throughout.

Allen tallied 22 disposals and seven marks to go with his match-winner while captain Max Proud made a successful comeback from a calf complaint to register 21 disposals, 10 marks and a rare goal from a set shot just inside 50m.

Unheralded Tiger Jonty Scharenberg was extremely steady in defence as he often made smart decisions with the ball before raking in a defining overhead mark in the 26th minute of the last quarter.

Adelaide midfielders Matt Crouch and Harry Schoenberg threatened to take the game away from the Tigers in the first half as they carried and distributed the ball in damaging fashion.

Crouch finished with 30 disposals and eight clearances while Schoenberg had 26 disposals, two goals, 11 tackles and seven clearances to put their hand up for AFL selection.

So too did Lachlan Gollant who continues to hit the scoreboard, this time booting four goals from 15 disposals while Tyler Brown ran into form with 24 disposals, six tackles and a major.

Central District breathed a sigh of relief to record a five-point win as Norwood missed its opportunity to tie up the scores after the final siren at X Convenience Oval.

Former Bulldog Connor Mclean had a set shot from 45m on a 45C angle but his kick sailed to the left of the goal for a behind, leaving the hosts to rejoice after a hard-fought victory.

Norwood veteran Matt Panos had early busted through a stoppage to boot a classy checkside goal on the run, putting the visitors within six points.

Neither side led by any more than three goals throughout the afternoon but the Dogs appeared to be in control of the contest for much of the second half.

After trailing by 13 points midway through the second stanza, Central clicked into gear with two goals in time-on to Luca Whitelum and Marcus Barreau.

Despite having less overall disposal, the hosts won the inside 50m count by 44 to 29 as they made the most of their transition play further up the field.

Central captain Jarrod Schiller continues to shine in the twilight of his career, racking up 23 dispsoals, eight clearances and 13 tackles while midfield teammate Harry Grant was also influential with 30 possessions, nine clearances and eight tackles.

Sturt recruits Mani Liddy (16 disposals) and Anzac Lochowiak (16 disposals, two goals) played their best games in Bulldogs’ colours while Luca Whitelum and Marcus Barreau both bobbed up for two goals.

Now laden with an 0-8 win-loss record for the first time since 1913, Norwood continues to creep closer to victory only to just fall short.

Redlegs premiership midfielder Nik Rokahr chalked up 28 disposals while Matt Ling had 19 and seven tackles and co-captain Matt Nunn finished with 17 touches.

Defender Pierce Seymour was a steady influence for the visitors with 23 disposals and seven marks while Jaco Oatey Medallist Harry Boyd had 15 disposals, six clearances, 29 hit outs and a goal.