Something to Crow About

South Australian coach Jade Rawlings hit the nail on the head after another closely-fought Kia State Game between SANFL and the WA Football League came down to the wire, the Croweaters leaving it late to secure a 13-point win at Adelaide Oval.

“There is a great rivalry between the two States and that was evident again in this game but full credit to our boys because when the game was on the line we rallied together, lifted and were able to get the job done,’’ Rawlings said.

In the last 20 minutes of the tight tussle SA owned the game, kicking 2.5 to just one rushed behind after WA had snatched an unlikely threepoint advantage when Mitchell Dobson made it four successive goals to the Black Swans four minutes into the final quarter. It was an unlikely lead for WA because the Croweaters seemingly were kicking themselves out of the game. After leading by 17 points at the half-time break, SA’s next eight scores were all behinds. SA kept missing gettable chances as it went 42 minutes without kicking a goal from late in the second to midway through the fourth quarters. But, as Rawlings said, when the game was on the line, the Croweaters were outstanding, refusing to believe they would be beaten. Speedy wingman Martin Frederick ended SA’s goal drought 15 minutes into the last term with an accurate set shot and key forward Connor Ballenden sealed the deal with a deadly long bomb five minutes later.

It was SA’s fourth consecutive win against the Sandgropers and saw it retain the Haydn Bunton Junior Cup and take a 50-48 lead in clashes between the great rivals. Woodville-West Torrens midfielderforward James Rowe was outstanding all game, winning the Fos Williams Medal as SA’s best with 26 disposals and a goal, while defender Darcy Bailey stepped up in his first State game to be leading possession-winner on the ground with 28 – and 10 marks – as always using the ball well. Midfielder Tom Lewis threw himself into everything, ending with a gamehigh nine tackles to go along with 19 disposals, while Liam McBean always looked dangerous in booting 3.3. Angus Schumacher won the Simpson Medal as WA’s best player.

The West End SA team is all smiles after winning the hard-fought Kia State game against the WAFL at Adelaide Oval last Friday. Photos: David Mariuz

Best-afield James Rowe is presented his Fos Williams Medal by Mark Williams.