Round 9 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Sunday

Glenelg had plenty to celebrate and it certainly did with style in its comprehensive 81-point thrashing of North Adelaide at Stratarama Stadium. 

Recognising the milestones of premiership trio Max Proud (200 games), Luke Partington (100) and James Bell (50), the Bays were also determined to put on a show for their 1985-86 premiership heroes rejoicing in their reunion.

And they certainly did with an extremely attractive brand of football which effectively shut the Roosters out of the equation with an eight-goal first quarter aided by a breeze to the Kernahan End.

Ken Farmer Medallists Liam McBean and Lachie Hosie each booted four goals while Luke Reynolds and Darcy Bailey contributed three each as the hosts piled on an accurate 23.8 (146) despite having 15 fewer clearances for the contest.

The Tigers’ 2023 premiership captain, Proud provided the heart-warming moment of the afternoon when he converted his free kick for a push out in the 17th minute of the final term.

Every Bays player on the ground rushed to congratulate the latest member of SANFL’s illustrious 200-club as he booted just the 18th goal since his League debut in 2012.

Proud was best afield as he tallied 23 disposals and 13 marks playing primarily from the back half before being switched late into the forward 50m arc.

Fellow milestone man Partington also enjoyed a day out with 26 disposals, nine marks, five clearances and two goals from the midfield.

He had plenty of assistance as Jarryd Lyons (24 disposals, two goals), Matt Allen (22 disposals, seven marks) and Corey Lyons (21 disposals) also stood tall in the clinical performance.

Proud was among 10 Tigers to join the goal scorers’ list with as many as seven kicking multiple majors as they solidified second spot on the ladder with a seventh victory of the season.

North’s dominance in the clearance column was largely due to star recruit Angus Schumacher who had 23 disposals and  six clearances at half-time before finishing with 36 disposals and nine clearances for the match.

Fellow midfielder Hughen Wissman also worked hard for his 26 possessions, 10 clearances and six tackles while North captain Alex Spina managed 19 disposals.

Oskar Faulkhead, Mitch Harvey and Kym LeBois, playing his first Hostplus SANFL League match since Round 16 2022, each kicked two goals for the visitors.

Port Adelaide ran over the top of a spirited West Adelaide to record a confidence-boosting 63-point win at Alberton Oval.

Playing for the first time with AFL Mid-Season Draft additions Mani Liddy, Ewan Mackinlay and Harrison Ramm, the Magpies were forced to withstand an initial onslaught from the emotion-charged Bloods.

With caretaker coach Sam Elliott taking charge in the absence of Adam Hartlett, the visitors were sprightly early on as they engineered 16 inside 50 entries to just four while kicking five of the first seven goals.

Taking a well-earned 10-point lead into the main change, Westies ran out of steam in the second half as they managed just 1.1 while the Magpies poured on an accurate 13.2 to send an ominous warning to its rivals.

Port, finishing with an inside 50 count of 43 to 36 whilst winning hit outs 62 to 28, was boosted by the presence of Liddy, who finished with 26 disposals, eight clearances, eight tackles and a goal in his first outing for the Pies.

Will Lorenz (29 disposals, six clearances) and Jack Watkins (27 disposals, two goals) were also key architects in the victory while Logan Evans responded positively to his surprise demotion to tally 24 disposals and five marks.

Magpies livewire Lachie Charleson booted three goals along with key forward Ollie Lord, while Ivan Soldo, Jordon Sweet, Jack Whitlock and Dylan Williams kicked two each.

West pair Brady Searle (27 disposals, 11 clearances, 12 tackles) and Kobe Ryan (28 disposals, six clearances and a goal) carried a heavy load for their team while Tom Morrish (21 disposals) and Lachie Squire (20 disposals) also chimed in.

Bloods small Dylan McCormick kicked two goals while Ned Stevens also kicked a pair including a beauty in the first term after shrugging a tackle.