South Australian Football Budget - Preliminary Final 2024 - Vol 98 - No. 22 15 Sep

Great Taste.

Low Carb & Mid-Strength.

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Sturt’s Will Snelling and Norwood’s Harry Boyd proudly display their Magarey Medals. Photos: David Mariuz

Will Snelling is hugged by mum Cathy after his emotional win.

HIGH EMOTIONS

BY ANDREW CAPEL, THE ADVERTISER “I didn’t want a vote in the last game.” With those words, Norwood ruckman Harry Boyd summed up his enormous respect for Sturt counterpart Will Snelling.

“With what he’s done this year and the challenges he’s faced, not only as a footballer but as a person, to be able to share it with him is a great honour and I’m happy to be called a joint Magarey Medallist with Will Snelling,” Boyd said after an emotional count at Adelaide Oval on Monday night.

In one of the most thrilling Magarey Medal counts of all-time, Boyd and Snelling entered the final round level on a staggering 34 votes each.

Sturt’s Round 19 votes against Adelaide were read first and the midfield ball magnet failed to poll in the Double Blues’ hard-fought 14-point win. Boyd knew he couldn’t lose but he – and an anxious Snelling – were left holding their breath as the final votes were called from the Norwood-Eagles clash, which the Redlegs won by 75 points. Like Snelling, he failed to poll after having a tough battle with Eagles giant Jarrad Redden.

It was the perfect result, with the two players who dominated the SANFL minor round jointly crowned as the State league competition’s fairest and most brilliant players.

Boyd broke the Magarey’s ruck curse, the 26-year-old becoming the first ruckman since Port Adelaide’s Ryan O’Connor in 2001 to win the Medal and only the second in 73 years. The previous ruck winner was Norwood great John Marriott in 1951.

Snelling’s win was just as popular.

The 27-year-old – a 2015 West Adelaide premiership player – claimed the Medal in his first season at Sturt and just two months after the sudden death of his dad and greatest supporter, Paul. An emotional Snelling dedicated his Medal win to his dad and said sharing it with Boyd was “really fitting”.

“Given what’s transpired, I think it’s great I played a stinker in that last game,” he said with a laugh. “It is a really fitting result. I had a bit of a lead there towards the end but I knew, given what a quality player Harry is, he would come home with a wet sail. To be able to share the Medal with him is incredible.”

Snelling said he had been riding an emotional rollercoaster since his dad’s shock passing and in the immediate aftermath “footy was my only release”. “It’s hard to put words to it all. It was really daunting going back to the club,” said Snelling, who missed two games following his

dad’s death. “But as soon as I got back there everyone was amazing and really got me out of a bit of a hole. The club was a bit of a safe haven for me.”

The 175cm pocket rocket said his dad would be proud of his win. “He’s always been proud and I think he would be really proud about this, I think it reflects how much work he put into me,” he said. “I like telling people how he never missed a game. In my five years in Melbourne (with AFL club Essendon from 201923) he would either drive or fly over every weekend to be there to watch. In my entire career I reckon he would have missed less than 10 games, including during Covid. He’s a massive loss and football’s not the same without him and I have felt that in the past few weeks.

Emotionally it’s been really taxing, really tough, but I’m just really happy to be able to share this with the rest of the family because they’ve helped keep me upright in the past month or so. Winning the Medal is a collective effort.”

Snelling’s mum Cathy rode the emotional rollercoaster of the exciting count, delighted and proud, along with being relieved Will’s two-game absence hadn’t cost him a thoroughly deserved Magarey Medal. sanfl.com.au

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PRELIMINARY FINAL PREVIEW

BY PETER CORNWALL

Glenelg champ Matthew Snook about to get his kick away, with the Bulldogs’ Luca Whitelum watching closely.

Snook has added 200 games to his stunning list of achievements this season. Is he looking for a third premiership to complete a remarkable career? Photo: Gordon Anderson

The Tigers juggernaut has an ominous look as they charge towards another grand final but surely no-one can be thinking of writing off preliminary final opponent Central after their 59-point second semi-final loss to Norwood.

Have people forgotten less than a month ago the Doggies set up the finals double-chance by beating the Bays in a classic comeback by a point? Or that a fortnight ago they stunned Sturt, on a run of 13 successive wins, in another fightback triumph by 11 points in the qualifying final at Adelaide Oval?

This Glenelg team knows what it takes to win flags and imagine the psychological boost – and the roar from Tigers fans – when last year’s Jack Oatey Medallist Lachie Hosie runs back out onto Adelaide Oval after recovering from knee surgery that has sidelined the spectacular forward since Round 7.

The thing the Central team knows best is making a fight of it, even in the unlikeliest scenarios. Their wins against the Bays and Blues are already the stuff of legend out Elizabeth way – in both games they looked all but out of the running as late as in the third quarter, trailing 0.5 to 5.4, then 1.2 to 5.8.

The first Central-Glenelg clash of 4

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the season, in Round 8, also was hard fought and could have gone either way. The Bays, in the middle of a six-game winning run, hung on for a seven-point win, Luke Reynolds booting the last goal at the 13-minute-mark of the final quarter but the Dogs having four shots after that, all for behinds.

A concern for Central this time around is the Tigers’ firepower, set to ramp up with Hosie’s imminent return. After booting 21.22 against South to round out the minor round, then 19.17 in the elimination final against the Eagles, the Bays slammed on six goals to none in the final quarter of the first semi-final against Sturt, the side with SANFL’s best defensive record. It was possibly Glenelg’s best footy of the season, with skipper Liam McBean and Reynolds each bagging four goals. While the Bays kicked away in style, key defender Max Proud was more important than anyone.

“I don’t know if I’ve seen Max play a better game,” Glenelg coach Darren Reeves said of Proud, who was swung onto dangerous Sturt forward Connor McFadyen when Will Gould pulled out late with back spasms, playing an outstanding game on him and having “some huge moments in the last quarter that were critical”.

But Reeves knows it all starts again on Sunday at 3.15. “It’s all about turning up again and being able to go again for 120 minutes … we respect what Central are able to do, they have been an outstanding team over the course of the year,” he said. “It’s going to be a huge challenge.” He remembers the clash at the Ponderosa less than a month ago – as does Paul Thomas. The Central coach said the Bulldogs had “lots of confidence” from their thrillers against the Tigers. “Down at Glenelg earlier in the year it was a seven-point ball game – we thought we played pretty well but didn’t take our chances in front of goal late,” he said. Taking your chances is critical in finals. The Dogs did against Sturt but against the Redlegs, after leading by eight points at quarter-time, they won the final inside-50 count 46-44 but didn’t make it count. Looking for better ball movement into attack and “sometimes it might be taking an extra stoppage instead of keeping the ball alive” were keys to Central capitalising this time. Like Reeves, Thomas is sure this will be a tough, tight contest with Central as competitive and combative as ever. “We feel it will be a really good prelim final,” he said.

DANGERMEN

BY PETER CORNWALL

AIDEN GRACE He’s a player who can turn a game with a freak snap, an opportunist forward who inspires his team-mates with his enthusiasm and passionate celebrations – a spark plug for a Central engine that has been purring along nicely in the past two seasons. He finished just three goals short of North’s Mitch Harvey in the chase for the Ken Farmer Medal but his goal against Norwood in the second semi-final lifts him one clear of Harvey as leading goalkicker for the year, on 46. Recruited from Glenorchy in Tasmania, the 189cm livewire has booted 133 goals in 76 games with the Doggies since 2021 and this year earned a place in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.

JAMES BELL The smooth-moving on-baller has stepped up in style this season. He doesn’t need a heap of touches to impact a game but his sheer brilliance can lift the players around him and he has averaged 18 disposals and chipped in with 12 goals in 2024. Born and raised in Shellharbour, New South Wales, Bell played soccer as a youngster and these days he seems to control the oval-shaped ball like it’s round. He has the ability to turn half chances into matchwinning moments, like he did in last year’s grand final when he snared the ball at the front of a pack and snapped a stunning goal that all but decided the game in the third quarter.

JEZ McLENNAN The Bulldogs’ star running defender is the man for the big stage, so he’s certain to make an impact in a do-or-die preliminary final. McLennan, who spent four years at Gold Coast before returning to Elizabeth last season, showed how he can step up in a stellar month early in the season when he won two Fos Williams Medals in SA’s wins against the VFL and WAFL. He finished the minor round with a flourish with 26 disposals and 11 marks in a big win against Port and maintained his season average in the second semi-final against Norwood on a largely forgettable day for Central with 19 touches, the most for any Bulldog.

LIAM McBEAN Glenelg’s inspirational captain has been a regular at the top of SANFL’s goalkicking list and after slotting four goals in his side’s stunning first semi-final win against Sturt he could top it again this year. While he can’t add another Ken Farmer Medal to the three he’s already won – North’s Mitch Harvey snared that with 45 goals for the minor round – with 44 he is now just two goals behind the leader, Central’s Aiden Grace. But The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year’s vice-captain has a loftier goal – to make it three premierships with Glenelg, this time as captain. The 202cm Tiger has stood tall with 313 goals in 131 games after joining the Bays from Richmond in 2017. sanfl.com.au

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DOUBLE DELIGHT

It’s hard to imagine a more popular result than Norwood ruckman Harry Boyd and Sturt midfielder Will Snelling being crowned joint winners of the 2024 Magarey Medal.

Boyd, who led the competition for hit-outs (averaging 42) and clearances (10), polled in 14 of his 18 games, earning eight first, four second and two third preference votes. He is the 13th Redleg to win the Medal and first from The Parade since Mitch Grigg in 2017-18. Snelling racked up eye-catching averages of 29 disposals and 11 tackles and polled in 13 of his 16 matches, with eight first and five second preferences. He became the 15th Sturt player to win the Magarey and first at Unley since Zane Kirkwood earned his second in 2016.

The pair’s 34 votes were the highest since 1985 when voting reverted to the current system when a player can earn a maximum of three votes a game. Before this year, the highest totals since ’85 were 29 by South’s Mark Naley in 1991 and Kirkwood in 2014.

West Adelaide midfielder Kobe Ryan finished third with 27 votes – an impressive tally that would have won him the Medal most years. Although he played two more games than Snelling, he finished just one behind the Medallist for most possessions in the minor round, with 466 (26 per game). The fact he had to manage a back issue all year after suffering a slipped disc in the off-season and even contemplating surgery makes Ryan’s achievement all the more remarkable.

Midfielder Brad Jefferies made it back-to-back Sturt Reserves Magarey Medal triumphs after the Double Blues had gone 30 years without a win.

The 21-year-old joined Blues team-mate Charlie Molan, who last year became the first Sturt player since 6

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Brendan Roberson in 1993 to win the Reserves Magarey. Polling 17 votes, Jefferies leapfrogged Glenelg runner-up Ben Ridgway with two votes in Round 19 against Central. Ridgway, who spent the last month of the season in the Bays’ league team, finished with 16 votes, while Glenelg team-mate Connor McLeod placed third with 15. Jefferies averaged 24 disposals, five clearances and six tackles in his 12 appearances.

Four players have won the McCallum Tomkins Medal as fairest and most brilliant in the Under-18 competition.

In a historic first, Glenelg’s Ben Camporeale, South Adelaide’s Phoenix Hargrave, Sturt’s Oscar Merrett and North Adelaide’s Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier each polled 18 votes. Tiger Camporeale, who was SA’s Under-18 MVP at the national championships, appeared in just six matches, averaging 32 disposals per game.

Hargrave, runner-up for the McCallum Tomkins Medal in 2023, averaged 25 disposals in his nine appearances for the Panthers, while Merrett averaged 19 disposals in 17 matches and Oudshoorn-Bennier averaged 26 disposals across his 17 games.

South Adelaide midfielder Kodah Edwards capped his memorable campaign by winning the Under-16 Best and Fairest Medal.

Edwards, captain of SA’s under-16 team at the national championships, polled 25 votes to edge out North Adelaide’s Memphis Webb on 23 and Panthers teammate Archie Van Dyk on 22. Edwards attracted five first preferences while averaging 24 disposals in his 16 appearances and hitting the scoreboard with 23 goals for the season.

Norwood’s newest Magarey Medallist Harry Boyd with partner Alessia Pivato.

Glenelg superstar Matt Allen, with partner Belle Spehr, continued to poll well, finishing fifth.

2024 MAGAREY MEDAL LEADERBOARD Will Snelling Sturt Harry Boyd Norwood Kobe Ryan West Campbell Combe North Matt Allen Glenelg Harry Grant Central James Rowe Eagles Baynen Lowe Norwood James Battersby Sturt Kobe Mutch South * Ineligible due to suspension

34 34 27 23 20 20 15* 15 14 14

Sturt’s Casey Voss with partner West Adelaide’s Kobe Ryan, who Isobel Kuiper, a star with the finished third for the Magarey Medal, with partner Zoe Venning, Blues’ SANFLW team. They both who has won back-to-back Bloods played in SA wins against WA this year. best-and-fairest awards.

Last year’s winner, Central’s Harry Grant, finished equal fifth despite being restricted by injuries to 15 games.

He is on the red carpet with partner Charlotte Nenke.

Central District’s 1984 Magarey Medallist John Platten with wife Leanne. Photos: David Mariuz.

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TEAM FIRST

BY ANDREW CAPEL, THE ADVERTISER

Roy Laird has never been one for personal fanfare. But his coaching record stands with the best of them.

In the rich history of the SANFL, only legendary Jack Oatey, John Cahill and Fos Williams have coached more premierships. Oatey (Norwood and Sturt) and Cahill (Port Adelaide) won a record 10 flags, while Williams coached the Magpies to nine. Laird sits just behind them with seven, having steered Central District to premierships from 2003-05 and 2007-10. It is such an amazing record it has landed a man who has always had a team-first mentality and has never sought the limelight in the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.

“Getting this honour is a bit hard to comprehend because I’ve never thought about something like this,” Laird said. “I’ve just always got on with things and appreciated the opportunities I’ve had through a football club (Central) and competition (the SANFL) I have supported since 1979. I started barracking for Central in ’79 when going to games gave me an incredible buzz. It was exciting to walk into SANFL grounds, the competition and grounds were on par with the VFL and I was caught up in it. Then to have the good fortune of first playing and then coaching the club I had supported was very exciting and something I had never dreamt of. So I am indebted to the SANFL for putting on the show and my club and the players I played with and coached along the way.”

Laird played 87 league games for the Bulldogs from 1989-97 and coached Central’s reserves to the 2002 flag before replacing Alastair Clarkson as league boss. He incredibly led the Dogs to flags in his first three years in charge then, after finishing runner-up to 8

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Central District coach Roy Laird makes his point. Photo: Peter Argent

Woodville-West Torrens in 2006, won four in a row from 2007-10.

Laird retired at the end of 2019 after 17 years as Bulldogs’ league coach with seven flags, nine grand final appearances and having missed the major round only three times.

So what was the secret to being such a successful SANFL coach?

“I fell into a great group of players,” he said in typically selfless fashion.

“It was just uncanny how it all came together, how a group of players came together to form an incredible bond.”

SCOTT THOMPSON was the ultimate team player, his main objective as a footballer to “contribute to the team”. He made an art form of it.

Thompson became one of Adelaide’s greatest and most consistent players. In 13 years on the Crows’ AFL list from 2005-17, Thompson finished in the top 10 of their club champion award nine times, winning the Malcolm Blight Medal in back-to-back seasons in 2011-12. The midfield ball magnet was third in the Brownlow Medal in 2012 and an All-Australian the same year.

Thompson’s individual success at Crowland was spectacular after he

spent the first four years of his AFL career at Melbourne, which selected him from Port Adelaide with the 16th pick at the 2000 national draft.

He played 39 games in four injuryriddled seasons with the Demons before requesting a trade to Adelaide at the end of 2004.

Thompson started playing footy aged eight with North Haven and progressed through the ranks before being selected in Port Magpies’ under-15 development squad. He made the under-17 Australian side and SA under-18 team and his path was set, leading to his drafting by the Dees.

“All I wanted to do was prepare myself to give me the best opportunity of playing a certain brand of footy where I would be able to contribute to the team consistently,” Thompson said.

“I never left any stone unturned to do that and always had the goal of making sure I was that team player my mates could trust.”

Thompson, now coaching Unley Mercedes Jets in the Adelaide Footy League, played 308 AFL games and earned a place in the SA Football Hall of Fame. “It’s certainly an honour and very humbling to have my name put alongside so many greats of SA football,” he said.

HONOUR ROLL SA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME 2024 LYLE GRIFFIN PLAYING RECORD • 179 games and 40 goals for North Adelaide 1946-57 INTERSTATE GAMES • 11 for South Australia PREMIERSHIP • 1952

ACHIEVEMENTS • Captain 1956-57 • Best and fairest 1952 • Sporting Life Team of Year 1951-52 • The Advertiser SANFL Team Of The Year 1952

• Magarey Medal runner-up 1952 • North Hall of Fame • North life member 1956 • SANFL player life member 1957

• Runner-up 2006, 2011

• SANFL player-coach life member 2019 • Central life member 2019

ROY LAIRD PLAYING RECORD • 87 games and 5 goals for Central District 1988-98 COACHING RECORD • Central 2003-19 • Premierships 200305, 2007-10

JADE SHEEDY PLAYING RECORD • 255 games and 117 goals for Sturt 2000-12 PREMIERSHIP • 2002 INTERSTATE GAMES • 5 for South Australia.

Captain 2008-09

ACHIEVEMENTS • The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year coach 2003-07, 2011

COACHING RECORD • Woodville-West Torrens 2020-23 • Premierships 202021 • State coach 2021-22 ACHIEVEMENTS • Magarey Medallist 2002 • Best and fairest 2004, 2006, 2008-09

• Fos Williams Medal 2009 • The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year player 2002, 2004, 2007-10, coach 2020 • Sturt captain 2007-12 • Sturt life member 2010 • SANFL player life member 2009

SCOTT THOMPSON PLAYING RECORD • 308 AFL games and 162 goals for Melbourne and Adelaide 2001-17 (39 games, 17 goals for Melbourne 2001-04, 269 games, 145 goals for Adelaide 2005-17)

INTERSTATE GAMES • 1 for Australia 2008 ACHIEVEMENTS • Adelaide AFL best and fairest 2011, 2012 • Adelaide SANFL best and fairest 2017 • All-Australian 2012

• Phillip Walsh (Showdown) Medal 2015 • Adelaide life member 2014 • AFL life member 2016

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BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

BY ANDREW CAPEL, THE ADVERTISER Jade Sheedy’s story is one of persistence and “gritty determination”. Once believing he was too small and skinny and not good enough to play football, the New South Wales country kid contemplated giving the game away at 16. Now he is a member of the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.

“It feels a bit embarrassing, to be fair,” Sheedy said of the glittering honour. “It doesn’t sit quite right with me because of the journey I’ve taken, which is a bit different to most. I developed late, grew late, used to sit on the bench a fair bit back in the country, never made any representative sides, never won any individual awards and at one stage – because I wasn’t very good – thought footy probably wasn’t for me. Then you grow a bit, mature a bit, put on a bit of size and get a bit fitter and things start to click.” Click they did. Born in Tumut, in the western foothills of the Snowy Mountains, and moving to Gol Gol on the banks of the River Murray aged five, Sheedy was encouraged to persist by Imperials under-17 coach John Clohesy and went on to not only make it in Mildura’s Sunraysia League but in the bright lights of the SANFL. Sheedy was lured to Sturt in 2000 by Double Blues defender Seamus Maloney, who was an Imperials product and whose dad, Peter, was club president.

“When I first came over it was really about whether I’d ever play league footy,” Sheedy said. But he became an all-time Sturt great, winning the Magarey Medal in 2002, when he tied with team-mate Tim Weatherald, and three weeks later becoming a premiership player.

He racked up 255 games in 13 seasons, captaining the Blues for six years, winning four best-and-fairest awards and was State skipper in 2008-09.

When Sheedy retired in 2012 he had no intentions to coach. But in 2015 he was lured to Athelstone in the Adelaide Footy League and he led the Raggies from Division 3 to Division 1 and a Division 2 premiership to become hot coaching property. Woodville-West Torrens won the race for his services and in his first two years at the helm he led it to historic back-to-back flags.

Asked about his stunningly successful journey, Sheedy, modestly, said it “all just unfolded”. “I try to be pretty relaxed about everything but I am a very competitive person,” he said. “I don’t like losing and have that real gritty determination to always try to be the best at whatever I do. I love the SANFL competition, both playing and coaching in it, and I guess it has all led to this honour, which is something I – and the family – are very proud of.”

Sturt legend John Halbert played on some of the game’s greatest centremen. He rates North Adelaide’s LYLE GRIFFIN as the toughest to beat.

Sturt’s Tim Weatherald and Jade Sheedy with their Magarey Medals in 2002.

Coach Jade Sheedy and captain Luke Thompson celebrate the Eagles’ 2021 premiership.

“Some centremen used to go kick chasing, the likes of Lindsay Head (West Torrens) and Jimmy Deane (South Adelaide) were wonderful players and really tough opponents but you always had a chance because they used to go ball hunting and run all over the ground,” Halbert said. “But Griffin was a different sort, he was more like me, a stay-at-home centreman. He was a very, very good player who was hard to get a kick against because, apart from being very talented, he was very disciplined. He didn’t give you a lot of space.”

Griffin played for North from 1946-57 and was selected in the Sporting Life Team of the Year in 1951 and ’52 – the equivalent of the modern-day All-Australian side.

He played 179 games and kicked 40 goals, represented SA 11 times and in 1952 was Magarey Medal runner-up behind Sturt’s Len Fitzgerald.

Illustrating his team-first approach he was voted North’s best team man in 1956, most unselfish in 1957, most effective player in 1948 and ’54 and most consistent in 1951, ’53 and ’55. Griffin, who is a member of North’s Hall of Fame, died in 2017, aged 89. sanfl.com.au

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PRELIMINARY FINAL 3:15PM SUNDAY 15 SEPTEMBER – ADELAIDE OVAL Broadcast: Live & free on Seven & 7plus | Live and on-demand on SANFL Now www.AFL.com.au & the AFL Live App | Live Radio - SEN 1629AM #SANFLBulldogsTigers

GLENELG

CENTRAL COACH: Paul Thomas COLOURS: Red, White and Blue

COACH: Darren Reeves

No

PLAYER

AGE..... HT. . .... GP...... GK......G......... B

No

2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 15 16 19 20 23 24 25 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 38 43 59

Jake Gasper Kai Pudney Leyton Chisholm Mani Liddy Kyle Presbury (C) Jai Larkins Zac Buechner George Kendall Jez McLennan Dayne Posthuma Billy Iles Adam Deakin Marcus Barreau Wilson Barry Dyson Sharp Hugo Munn Ryan Pickering Brinn Little Nick Lange Isaiah Dudley Luca Whitelum Aiden Grace Kade Dittmar Rhett Montgomerie Jarrod Schiller (C) Harvey Howe Beau Thomas

24..... 184...... 13........27......................

24......187......69........4.......................

24..... 194......20........7.......................

22..... 184......43........9.......................

27..... 182.....150......77......................

25..... 183......34.......12......................

26......191......42........3.......................

23..... 194......50........7.......................

24..... 184......43........2.......................

20.....200......11.........0.......................

29......178......59........4.......................

20......191...... 12.........1.......................

26..... 188......74...... 33......................

21.......187......20........6.......................

17...... 188.......4.........2.......................

24......197......58...... 42......................

21...... 199...... 10........0.......................

21...... 196......40........0.......................

26..... 186......62.......76......................

21...... 168......27...... 30......................

21.......187...... 51....... 26......................

27..... 189......76......133.....................

21.......187...... 17.........0.......................

24..... 190......48........2.......................

32......176.....254.... 100.....................

19......203......11.........0.......................

20..... 193...... 16........ 11......................

1 Will Gould 2 Jonty Scharenberg 3 Matthew Snook 4 Cole Gerloff 5 Liam McBean (C) 7 Luke Reynolds 8 Corey Lyons 9 Darcy Bailey 11 James Bell 12 Max Proud 13 Oscar Adams 14 Brad McCarthy 15 Jake Walker 16 Alex Martini 18 Billy Stretch 19 Cameron McGree 20 Lachie Hosie 21 Chris Curran 22 Matthew Allen 23 Riley Holder 26 Liam Wisdom 27 Nick Stevens 33 Austin Kitschke 34 Will Stockman 36 Will Chandler 37 Hunter Window 39 Archie Lovelock 40 Ben Ridgway

Rushed ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

PLAYER

COLOURS: Black and Gold AGE..... HT. . .... GP...... GK......G......... B

23......191......29........4.......................

26..... 184.....120......15......................

32..... 182.....205..... 46......................

25..... 185.....104......57......................

30.....202.... 131......313.....................

29..... 188.....154.....211.....................

26..... 182......58.......25......................

30......176..... 147..... 90......................

25..... 184......39...... 24......................

32..... 192.....189......17......................

21...... 199......20........2.......................

25......176...... 71.........3.......................

20..... 186...... 10........2.......................

25......181......92........7.......................

28......181......83...... 22......................

24.....200..... 41....... 11......................

27..... 188......79......193.....................

33..... 189.....158......15......................

26..... 193......96...... 93......................

21...... 192......58...... 29......................

24..... 185......23........0.......................

22..... 192....... 7..........0.......................

23..... 189...... 19.........5.......................

22..... 189....... 2.........0.......................

22..... 183...... 16........13......................

21.......172....... 9.........5.......................

19.......178......29........7.......................

19...... 182....... 6.........1.......................

Rushed �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

All figures on team sheets are official SANFL records for League games and goals.

LEAGUE CENTRAL GLENELG

1st

2nd

3rd

RD18 2024 @ X CONVENIENCE OVAL Central 6.9 (45) d Glenelg 6.8 (44)

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4th

Points

LEAGUE UMPIRES

FIELD: Ben Williams Mitchell Scott Giles Lewis (E) Sam Morgan

BOUNDARY: Benjamin B Williams Samuel Royans Dylan Speck Damian Robinson

GOAL: Thomas Mayo Thomas Oxford Braden Ford (E)

RD8 2024 @ STRATARAMA STADIUM RD11 2023 @ STRATARAMA STADIUM Glenelg 11.12 (78) d Central 10.11 (71) Glenelg 18.12 (120) d Central 8.9 (57)

STAT CHAT – PRELIMINARY FINAL

BY ROBERT LAIDLAW

Central fans have been loving the Bulldogs’ winning ways this season as they chase their first grand final appearance since 2011. Photo: David Mariuz

Liam Wisdom was a happy chappy after Glenelg’s first semifinal win against Sturt and why not? He’d been plucked from the crowd to play his part in the win after Will Gould pulled up sore in the warm-ups. Photo: Gordon Anderson

There’s a slice of history at Adelaide Oval on Sunday as Central District and Glenelg clash for the first time in a preliminary final.

Tigers fans have been provided with plenty of good memories from preliminary finals over their history.

Bulldogs, not so. Glenelg has had 15 wins and just six losses, while Central has just one victory from seven.

The Tigers’ 15 wins are only one behind the SANFL best of Norwood and Port Adelaide – but the Redlegs and Magpies have each lost 15 preliminary finals. The Bulldogs’ only success came in 1995 against Norwood, earning them their first grand final appearance (they lost to Port).

Central and Glenelg have met six times in all finals, for three wins each – the Tigers in the 1980s and the Doggies in 2008-09, which included the only grand final between the teams, in 2008.

Glenelg has ridden on the back of preliminary final victories to win three flags – in 1934, 1986 and 2019. The Tigers have played in eight preliminary finals since 1986 for seven wins, including against Adelaide in 2019 and South Adelaide in 2021. Central, which avoided preliminary finals by remarkably winning 12 consecutive second semi-finals between 2000-11, has only played in one prelim this millennium, a loss to eventual premier West Adelaide in 2015.

There have been two teams win three consecutive preliminary finals – Glenelg in 1986-88 and WoodvilleWest Torrens from 2004-06. The Eagles made eight of the nine penultimate games from 1999-2007 – missing just 2002 – for five victories.

Port’s 28.14 against North’s 14.7 in 1990 was the biggest preliminary final score but the 91-point margin was two points short of the 93-point Roosters win over Sturt in 1973. The highest losing prelim final score was Glenelg’s 16.18 against Sturt (18.13) in 1976. Norwood has the lowest score, 3.5 in 2011 against the Eagles (9.13). Eleven

preliminary finals have been decided by less than a goal, Norwood involved in seven, for four victories.

Of the 90 preliminary final winners since 1931, 34 have gone on to win the premiership, including a remarkable run of six consecutive seasons from 2015-20 – West, Sturt (twice), North, Glenelg and Eagles.

PRELIMINARY FINAL RECORDS

ADELAIDE CENTRAL GLENELG NORTH NORWOOD PORT SOUTH STURT WEST TORRENS WOODVILLE EAGLES

P

W

L

HS

LS

4 7 21 18 31 31 11 20 17 5 1 14

1 15 9 16 16 5 10 8 3 7

4 6 6 9 15 15 6 10 9 2 1 7

11.12 16.16 25.15 25.18 20.17 28.14 19.14 23.8 21.12 18.13 11.18 21.11

6.7 6.9 7.13 6.11 3.5 3.14 6.13 8.5 7.3 5.10 11.18 7.9

[HS – highest score, LS – lowest score] PAST 10 PRELIMINARY FINALS 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Port 13.12 (90) d South 10.10 (70) West 15.8 (98) d Central 6.9 (45) Sturt 15.13 (103) d Adelaide 10.8 (68) Sturt 11.7 (73) d Eagles 8.5 (53) North 15.10 (100) d Eagles 14.11 (95) Glenelg 16.9 (105) d Adelaide 11.12 (78) Eagles 16.15 (111) d South 10.8 (68) Glenelg 11.11 (77) d South 6.13 (49) Norwood 12.9 (81) d Adelaide 10.10 (70) Sturt 8.12 (60) d Adelaide 6.7 (43) sanfl.com.au

13

2024 SANFL U18 GRAND FINAL

12:00PM Sunday 15 September – Adelaide Oval Broadcast: Live stream on SANFL Now | Live scores at www.sanfl.com.au and SANFL App

CENTRAL COACH: Kyle Jenner

EAGLES

COLOURS: Red, White and Blue

COACH: Shane Reardon COLOURS: Gold, Green and Blue

No

PLAYER...........................................................................................

No

PLAYER...........................................................................................

4

Isaiah Nettle........................................................................................

2

Jamie Russell Swansson.................................................................

5

Beau Ryan (C)......................................................................................

3

Ray Sumner..........................................................................................

5

Zac Schwarz........................................................................................

6

Jack Hankins........................................................................................

8

Jack Cook..............................................................................................

10 Ariel Rothe...........................................................................................

11

Ryan Lane–Ellis..................................................................................

12 Mitchell McDonald............................................................................

14 Louis Switala.......................................................................................

10 Jake Hall................................................................................................

11

Zane Peucker.......................................................................................

15 Jesse Kurtz...........................................................................................

12 Lachlan Sands.....................................................................................

16 Josh Reichelt.......................................................................................

13 Harry Piggott.......................................................................................

17 Brodie Wills.........................................................................................

14 Hayden Willmott................................................................................

18 Tom Cochrane.....................................................................................

15 Isaac Edwards.....................................................................................

19 Jonah Pyman.......................................................................................

16 Jevan Phillipou....................................................................................

21 Riley McDonald...................................................................................

23 Oscar King............................................................................................

24 Sam Sibbick..........................................................................................

17 Oskar Kilpatrick..................................................................................

18 Lachlan Lucas.....................................................................................

19 Tarik Sauer............................................................................................

20 Albert Ebert.........................................................................................

27 Cameron Nairn....................................................................................

21 Rome Burgoyne..................................................................................

28 Brody Wilton........................................................................................

22 Jett Hasting (C)...................................................................................

29 Lachlan Giles.......................................................................................

23 Harry Dodd...........................................................................................

30 Tallan Rosenzweig............................................................................

24 Kade Herbert.......................................................................................

31 Dougie Cochrane................................................................................

25 William Hawker..................................................................................

32 Matthew LeRay..................................................................................

33 James Noack........................................................................................

34 Jack Gordon..........................................................................................

37 Charlie Nicholls (C)............................................................................

26 Logan Hughes.....................................................................................

27 Griffyn Hansen...................................................................................

28 Tate Delmenico...................................................................................

29 Thomas Luck.......................................................................................

30 Charlie West........................................................................................

38 Jonte Reimann....................................................................................

59 Jack Gray...............................................................................................

39 Aidan Schubert...................................................................................

60 Oscar Pearce........................................................................................

Rushed �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Rushed �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

U18 CENTRAL EAGLES

U18 UMPIRES

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Points

FIELD: Joshua Edwards (E) Matthew Rohrlach James Brittan Ben Thiel

BOUNDARY: Luke Simpson Joshua Read Sam Scarman Halli Finnsson

Official General Insurance Partner 14

sanfl.com.au

GOAL: Isabelle Rawsthorne (E) Alex Scarman Adrian Donaghey

U18 GRAND FINAL PREVIEW

BY PETER ARGENT

Central District under-18 co-captains Beau Ryan and Charlie Nicholls with Woodville-West Torrens skipper Jett Hasting at Adelaide Oval.

Central District has been around the mark all season – but it’s sure hit its straps at the right time.

But it’s up against another team that is on fire – after spending most of the campaign in the lower half of the table. The Eagles were fifth before edging ahead of North Adelaide and into the top four on percentage in Round 17. They have been on a roll since, knocking over Sturt in the first semi-final, with Jack Gray’s fourth goal decisive in a thrilling three-point triumph before overwhelming minor premier Glenelg by 49 points in the preliminary final.

The Dogs, who had been in a three-way tussle for the minor premiership with the Bays and Blues, were second going into Round 17 but with the same record (12-4) as third-placed Sturt, one win behind Glenelg.

But in the last two minor-round games they dismissed Sturt by 21 points, then booted the last three goals to pip the Tigers at the post by four points. The roll continued as the Dogs beat the Bays again two weeks later to gain direct entry into the grand final at Adelaide Oval. No last-gasp heroics were required this time as Central set up a strong 20-point win at the Bay. The Bulldogs, gunning for their first flag in the grade since their under-19 title in 2003, are coached by Kyle Jenner. The former Central star took over the role after four years in charge at Nuriootpa in the Barossa, Light and Gawler Association, where he engineered the 2022 premiership. A league premiership player in 2010, Jenner is confident of a good showing from his troops.

“Our two-week break has given the group the chance to freshen up and manage any sore spots,” Jenner said.

“Our message is to enjoy the week – you don’t want the lads to be playing the game in their heads too early.”

One of the Bulldogs’ biggest strengths is their talls are hard to match up on, Charlie Nicholls, Tallan Rosenzweig and Aidan Schubert being 197cm and having produced impressive seasons. “Charlie can also play down back as he has done in the State program

and for us on a couple of occasions,” Jenner said. “James Noack has been outstanding all year, predominantly in ruck or even as a key defender. We have won both games against the Eagles this year but they do have a number of players in college programs.”

When the Eagles won the under-16 flag two years ago, beating Glenelg at Adelaide Oval, current under-18 stars Jett Hasting, Kade Herbert and Thomas Luck were leaders.

Shane Reardon has been in charge of the Eagles’ under18s for 10 seasons. He led South Adelaide to an under19 flag back in 1995, with current Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin among his charges, and enjoyed titles with the Eagles in 2018-19 and 2021. This will be his sixth grand final appearance in this period.

“I felt if we could get the full squad available we would compete with the top teams,” said Reardon, who noted one of the Eagles’ strengths was the depth of their squad. “We have plenty of players who are prepared to play their roles and we are pretty even across the three areas of the ground.

“Jack Cook was among our best in both finals, Zac Schwartz has been consistent all year, Ray Sumner brings excitement and speed to the group and Jevan Phillipou (younger sibling of St Kilda’s Mattaes) has shown strong form since returning from an ankle injury.

Rome Burgoyne, with class and composure and the way he uses the ball, is another I’ve been looking forward to watching. It will be a highlight for the players and all the support staff, playing this game on Adelaide Oval.”

The midfield battle between Central’s dual sporting talent Matt Leray – he is also an impressive leg-spinner at Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club – third-generation Bulldog Tom Cochrane and the McDonald lads – Riley and Mitchell – up against Eagles Herbert, Hasting, Harry Dodd and Cook will be pivotal in this decider. It’s looming as an exciting climax to the under-18 season that could go either way. sanfl.com.au

15

2024 SANFL U16 GRAND FINAL

9:20AM Sunday 15 September – Adelaide Oval Broadcast: Live stream on SANFL Now | Live scores at www.sanfl.com.au and SANFL App

STURT

SOUTH COACH: Brett Hudson

COLOURS: Navy and White

COACH: Greg Crowden

COLOURS: Double Blue

No

PLAYER...........................................................................................

No

PLAYER...........................................................................................

1

Tommy Saunders...............................................................................

7

Angus Mills (C)....................................................................................

2

Oliver Inthavong.................................................................................

3

Cooper Knowles.................................................................................

4

Noah Farley..........................................................................................

5

Angus White........................................................................................

15 Lachie Werts........................................................................................

6

Hudson Boal........................................................................................

17 Will Ekberg...........................................................................................

7

Archie Van Dyk....................................................................................

8

Ethan Sheppard..................................................................................

21 Austin Huxtable..................................................................................

9

Cain Florance.....................................................................................

12 Naite Slade...........................................................................................

13 Carter Gallasch...................................................................................

24 Will Buckingham................................................................................

10 Kodah Edwards (C)............................................................................

28 Ben Barnard.........................................................................................

11

Otis Althorp..........................................................................................

33 Oliver Dixon.........................................................................................

12 Zemes Pilot..........................................................................................

34 Taj Garrett.............................................................................................

13 Noah Mulkerin....................................................................................

15 Archer Price.........................................................................................

16 Kody Shortridge..................................................................................

38 Jack Nelson..........................................................................................

41 Angas Moyse.......................................................................................

17 Callan Hart...........................................................................................

48 Jack Davies...........................................................................................

18 Tyler Lock..............................................................................................

52 Tom Lindsay.........................................................................................

20 Harrison Davey...................................................................................

53 Hugo Jaeschke....................................................................................

21 Kai Clark................................................................................................

22 Tom Connelly.......................................................................................

54 Kale Matthews-Hampton...............................................................

24 Brodie Bretones.................................................................................

56 Sebastian Nichols..............................................................................

26 Mitchell Clifton...................................................................................

58 Ivan Wilkinson....................................................................................

29 Ashley Lamshed.................................................................................

59 Ryan Davies.........................................................................................

30 Judd Cleggett......................................................................................

32 Kai Sharpe............................................................................................

33 Tyson Steinmuller..............................................................................

60 Griffin James........................................................................................

65 Jonah Lagana......................................................................................

35 Jackson Blacker..................................................................................

69 Lachlan Estcourt-Hughes...............................................................

Rushed �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Rushed �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

U16 SOUTH STURT

U16 UMPIRES

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Making our mark.

16

sanfl.com.au

Points

FIELD: Hayate Yamada (E) Spencer Davis Dylan Howarth Jayden Ridge

BOUNDARY: Jason Bethell Hugo Measday Hannah Timpani Edward Milsom

GOAL: Stewart Whiteaker (E) James Turner Ross Moore

U16 GRAND FINAL PREVIEW

BY PETER ARGENT

South Adelaide’s Cain Florance poised to take up the attack.

Sturt’s Griffin James in the thick of it in a ruck contest.

South Adelaide and Sturt have been the two top teams across the under-16 season, so it’s fitting they are facing off in the premiership decider. The Double Blues finished with 13 wins from the 17 minor round games while the Panthers were one game adrift, both teams with dominant percentages of 60-plus.

South grabbed direct entry to the decider by beating Sturt by 18 points in the second semi-final at Unley after the Blues had won the previous two clashes between the sides. Sturt bounced back with a 23-point preliminary final win against North Adelaide to earn a rematch.

The Panthers and Blues first clashed in Round 3 at Thebarton Oval, South winning a thriller by four points. But Sturt won comfortably in the next two clashes – by 59 points at Karen Rolton Oval and 49 points at Noarlunga.

South coach Brett Hudson said a grand final on iconic Adelaide Oval was “a huge opportunity for our group and a great experience”. Hudson has been coaching the Panthers since the Covid year of 2020 and snared an under-16 flag in 2021. “Our structures are heavily based around the contest and we have developed our ball movement over the season,” he said. “Our midfield group is one of our strengths.”

South’s midfield features State under-16 captain Kodah Edwards, who on Monday night was presented with the SANFL U16 Best and Fairest Medal and Archie Van Dyk, who finished third for the Medal and amassed a remarkable 40 touches and 10 clearances in the second semi-final. There’s also classy Cain Florance,

from Kangaroo Island, and under-16 All-Australian Gus White. Bottom-age talent Zemes Pilot, who has First Nations and African American heritage, brings plenty of X-factor to the table. Pilot (31 goals from the season) and Kody Shortridge (34) represent big dangers to the Blues.

Greg Crowden, has been coaching in various roles in Sturt’s under-16 program since its inception in 2009, said the Blues were “very excited … it’s about taking the opportunity”. The 2015 under-16 team that featured his son Mitch – who was drafted to Fremantle – went through that season undefeated. Returning full-time to Sturt’s development role this year, Greg has resumed as under-16 head coach.

“We have played about 60 players in our program this year, due to our demographics,” said Crowden, noting the Blues were just one player off their best team for the grand final. “A key is we share the load among our playing group.”

Rebounding defender Austin Huxtable has been consistent, while Tom Lindsay and Langhorne Creek’s Griffin James – who played A-grade country football this year – are expected to have an influence. Ryan Davies, Ivan Wilkinson and Naite Slade – son of eighttime Central District premiership star Matthew – are top-agers who are worth keeping an eye on. Sturt’s under-15s contributors to the team this year include Harvey Chapman in defence, Taj Garrett on a wing, Mitchell Brook, Will Buckingham, Oliver Easton and Carter Gallasch.

Proudly partnering the journey of footy in SA for 70 years. sanfl.com.au

17

STEP BACK IN TIME

INTO ANOTHER ZONE

BY DION HAYMAN

Dual Norwood premiership hero Michael Aish was a huge crowd pleaser, particularly at home games at The Parade – and look at the huge crowd here.

A freak Tony McGuinness checkside goal on the run proved the unlikely inspiration for Norwood’s astonishing comeback victory in the 1984 preliminary final, en route to its history-making premiership from fifth place on the ladder.

That’s the view of Neville Roberts, who booted five goals for the Redlegs in their 18-point win against Glenelg.

The Tigers were without Peter Carey for a second match, controversially suspended in the qualifying final for attempting to strike Central’s Brett Hannam. The Bays had hauled themselves off the mat after an horrific first 45 minutes when they slumped to 1.12 in response to Norwood’s 5.3.

Bizarrely, Alan Stringer’s flying miss on the run would have made it 1.13 but he received a somewhat fortunate free kick after being pulled down by Garry McIntosh while shooting for goal. Stringer converted and the Bays’ sputtering engine finally clicked into gear. It took Glenelg into the lead late in the second quarter, only for a deft flick by Roberts that released a running Glen Vardanega.

18

sanfl.com.au

Norwood led by five points at the main break but Glenelg continued its resurgence at the resumption.

Goals from Stephen Copping and McGuinness, at the seven-minute mark, stretched the Tigers’ lead to seven points. Two minutes later, Stephen Kernahan outpointed John Hall at a boundary throw-in and McGuinness sped past, gathered and executed an astonishing checkside kick at full throttle, punching the air in delight. But Roberts said it was the moment that changed everything.

“They all started yapping,” he recalled. “McGuinness is running around with his hand in the air, No. 1, they’re doing all that. I think what it did was it actually put us all into another zone. We always used to joke about Glenelg being ‘sunglasses and sports cars’, always frontrunners. And they weren’t really guilty of that stuff. It doesn’t matter.

That’s just how we psychologically used to get ourselves into a zone.

We thought, ‘That’s enough ammunition for us. You think you’ve got the game won in the third quarter? You’ve gotta be kidding yourselves!’ It was an enormous

motivator for us, almost the reverse of what you might expect when someone kicks a freak goal.”

McGuinness could have had a third goal but missed from a similar spot with a drop punt taking Glenelg to 8.18 to Norwood’s 7.9. But the Redlegs, who had been behind in their first two finals, roused themselves again. Norwood won the ball at half-back from Bruce Winter’s kick-out and skipper Danny Jenkins ran the length of the ground to provide an option. He ultimately marked a Vardanega free kick in the forward pocket and immediately handballed to Jim Michalanney, whose 20-metre leftfoot pass found a leading Roberts.

Two minutes later, Roberts goaled again and this time the mercurial Michael Aish was the provider, as he so often was.

Aish’s memory of the game is crystal clear, to the point of recalling Glenelg’s half-time score. “Wayne Stringer got a kick from (Mark) Hewett and he kicked to (David) Marshall but he’s overcooked it,” Aish remembered. “I came over the top and just kept running forward and found Neville and Neville

Glenelg champion Peter Carey’s suspension in the 1984 finals series was huge news and Tigers coach Graham Campbell believed it cost his side the flag.

doesn’t miss too many.” His recount undersells the quality of the mark – Aish at full stretch, knees into the back over a right-angled Marshall, before just maintaining his balance and hitting Roberts with a 35m pass. It was exquisite. Aish booted two goals himself in a 15-minute blitz as Norwood broke Glenelg’s spirit, closing the quarter with 6.1 to 0.1. He finished the day with 24 kicks, seven marks and 15 handballs to lead the Redlegs into the grand final. It came just a fortnight after he destroyed South in the elimination final with 36 touches and a career-high seven goals, a game he rates alongside the 1981 elimination final against West as his best. No wonder he enjoyed playing sides like Glenelg rather than Central, which automatically assigned Trevor Roe to shadow him.

“Trevor was an exceptional runner, probably a better runner than me, very fit as well and very disciplined the way he went about not really looking at the ball. He just looked at you,” Aish said. “Glenelg backed themselves in, which certainly made it more enjoyable for me.”

Sydney, Brisbane, Essendon, Richmond and St Kilda were all desperate to lure Aish east. “I went to Essendon for a week and slept

Sharpshooting forward Neville Roberts was always up for the big game, here outmarking great Port Adelaide defender Martin Leslie, and he played a key role for the Redlegs in their 1984 premiership assault.

on a mattress on Tim Watson’s floor,” Aish recalled. “But I had considerable anxiety. I should have had that anxiety addressed but I didn’t. Do I regret not going?

Probably. But I look back even today at what the Norwood footy club means to me because of my dad and what he was able to achieve and my brother and sons and all that, it was always going to be an incredible part of my life.”

The freakish rapport Aish carved with Roberts seemed instinctive but it was actually the product of hours of toil. “Every Thursday night after training, Neville and I would go to the side and we would smash balls at each other,” Aish said. “We’d do that for our hands work. Then we’d get someone to kick out from goals and we’d compete in the air. Neville was exceptional if he got in front of you. He’d hold his hands back and lock you in and you were never going to get around him.”

Roberts was acting on advice garnered from a Norwood legend.

“The one thing I learned when I arrived at Norwood, Johnny Wynne said to me, ‘you’ve gotta get a deal with these guys like Aish and (Keith) Thomas and Gags (Phil Gallagher)’ and I thought, ‘what the hell are you talking about?’ Roberts said. “What

he was talking about was basically some chemistry. We did end up with some incredible chemistry.”

The Redlegs also possessed incredible belief. “Norwood had a reputation for being able to win close finals,” Roberts said. “When I first went to Norwood, the one thing I learned about them was you’re never out of the game. I honestly believe it was the personality and culture within the footy club at the time. I think the one thing we had was our sleeping giant (club secretary) Wally Miller, the mentor to everybody. He gave us confidence just by looking at him. He would diagnostically be able to tell you why we’re playing so well. He’d say, ‘there’s nothing wrong with the cattle, the rest is up to you’. And I think Balmey (coach Neil Balme) was a great galvaniser of people. Our strategies were minimalistic. Our biggest strategy was we used the footy, we kicked it to someone in our jumper, that helped a lot. I think Balmey was the one who took Wally’s skill sets and belief in using the footy.”

Roberts, looking back on Norwood’s astonishing feats of the 1984 finals series, recalled thinking to himself on the drive home after one game, “you know what, we can win this”.

“It was an incredible period.” sanfl.com.au

19

2024 SANFL RESERVES PRELIMINARY FINAL

10:30am Saturday 14 September @ Thebarton Oval Live stream on SANFL Now | Live scores at www.sanfl.com.au and SANFL App

GLENELG

NORWOOD COACH: Aaron Jelfs No

COLOURS: Red and Blue

PLAYER

12 Ben Simpson.......................................................................................

18 Tom Graham........................................................................................

21 Xavier Tranfa.......................................................................................

COACH: Jared Millington

COLOURS: Black and Gold

No

PLAYER...........................................................................................

6

Hugh Stagg..........................................................................................

10 Declan Carmody.................................................................................

23 Oliver Sanders....................................................................................

24 Cooper Horsnell.................................................................................

26 Liam Robinson....................................................................................

25 Darcy Scott...........................................................................................

28 Max Hodges.........................................................................................

37 Isaac Saywell......................................................................................

28 Xavier Vallejo......................................................................................

38 Goy Lok..................................................................................................

29 Connor McLeod..................................................................................

39 Jayden Gale..........................................................................................

30 Marco Rossmann...............................................................................

41 Luke Bogle............................................................................................

42 Lachie Bates........................................................................................

43 Jay Polkinghorne................................................................................

35 Hayden Brokensha............................................................................

38 Lachlan Scannell................................................................................

44 Alex van Wyk.......................................................................................

41 Anders McShane................................................................................

46 Nich Weightman.................................................................................

42 Noah Sims............................................................................................

47 Harvey Pedler......................................................................................

49 Josh Gillow...........................................................................................

43 Todd Reid..............................................................................................

51 Josh Bradford......................................................................................

44 Sam Dunn.............................................................................................

53 George McLeod...................................................................................

45 Darcy Porter.........................................................................................

54 Tyson Walls.........................................................................................

55 Connor Kent.........................................................................................

46 Beau Symonds....................................................................................

56 Jacob Jones..........................................................................................

52 Cam Kiel................................................................................................

57 Damon Pitt...........................................................................................

53 Ryan Wurfel.........................................................................................

63 Henry Slade.........................................................................................

64 Marco D’Annunzio..............................................................................

Rushed ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ RESERVES NORWOOD GLENELG

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Points

55 Harry Francis.......................................................................................

57 Izayah Kean.........................................................................................

Rushed ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� RESERVES UMPIRES

58 Calem Krollig.......................................................................................

FIELD: Daniel Rogers (E) Jake Cuming Thomas Kelly Henry Klemm

BOUNDARY: Jayden Dunning Nathan Becker Blayde Harten Oakley Nilsen

GOAL: Michael Lombardi Patrick Backshall Jake Marnie (E)

TOPSPORT

20

sanfl.com.au

SHEARMAN MEDAL

Norwood’s Harry Boyd has added the RO Shearman Medal to his Magarey Medal as reward for his stellar 2024 campaign.

Boyd, the first Redleg to win the Shearman Medal in 11 years, polled 109 votes to hold off Sturt’s Will Snelling on 101. Heading into Round

19, Snelling had the chance to leapfrog Boyd with a perfect 10 but failed to attract a vote from the coaches, while Boyd gathered one from his last outing against the Eagles.

Boyd is just the second Norwood player to win the Shearman Medal,

Harry Boyd (Norwood)

109

Will Snelling (Sturt)

101

Baynen Lowe (Norwood)

76

Campbell Combe (North)

65

Kobe Ryan (West)

58

James Rowe (Eagles)

58

Matt Allen (Glenelg)

55

joining Matt Thomas in 2013. Voted on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis by the SANFL coaches during the minor round, the Medal was introduced in 2000.

It is named after five-time Sturt premiership superstar and SA Football Hall of Fame member Bob Shearman.

COLES MINI LEAGUER OF THE WEEK Angus McInnes Which SANFL match are you attending? Central v Glenelg

Playing with friends, learning new skills and kicking goals

Your local football club?

What would you do with $1 million? Go to lots of sporting

Golden Grove

What position do you play on the footy field? Midfield Favourite SANFL team?

Central District

Favourite SANFL player? Harry Grant What is the best thing about playing footy?

events, including AFL grand final, Ashes cricket series, NBA basketball

What do you like doing when you’re not playing footy? I love basketball and cricket, hanging with my family and friends and drawing

The best piece of advice given by your coach? Go hard at the ball, do your best and have fun

sanfl.com.au

21

SEASON STANDINGS 2024 2024 HOSTPLUS SANFL MEN’S LEAGUE 2024 STANLEY H. LEWIS TROPHY

(POSITIONS AT THE END OF RD 19)

Team

P W L

D

F

A

%

Pts

Norwood

18 15 3

0 1491 948

61.13

30

Sturt

18 15 3

0 1340 896 59.93 30

Central

18 12 6

0 1267 1146 52.51 24

Glenelg

18 11

0 1426 1186 54.59 22

Eagles

18 8 10 0 1383 1288 51.78

16

Adelaide

R

U18

U16

W

1500 625

650

325

700 3800

Glenelg

1100

600

700

250

950 3600

Central

1200 325

700

275

900 3400

Norwood

1500 700

150

50

750

South

400

475

200

300

1100 2475

18 8 10 0 1290 1315 49.52 16

Eagles

800

450

500

100

400 2250

North

18 8 10 0 1306 1402 48.23 16

North

800

350

450

300

200

2100

West

18 5 13 0 1109 1433 43.63 10

West

500

75

250

100

600

1525

South

18 4 14 0 1080 1558 40.94

8

Adelaide

800

0

0

0

0

800

Port

18 4 14 0 1078 1598 40.28

8

Port

400

0

0

0

0

400

F

7

2024 HOSTPLUS SANFL WOMEN’S LEAGUE

Sturt

Total

3150

(POSITIONS AT THE END OF RD 19)

P W L

D

F

A

%

Pts

A

%

Pts

South

14 11 3

0

551

288 65.67

22

Norwood 18 14 4

0 1295 934

58.1

28

Glenelg

14 9

4

1

486

485 50.05

19

Sturt

18 12 5

1 1324 997

57.04

25

Central

14 9

5

0

578

554

18

Glenelg

18 12 6

0 1336 1029 56.49

24

Norwood 14 7

6

1

501

376

57.13

15

South

18 9

8

1

977 1224 44.39

19

Sturt

14 7

7

0

490

507

49.15

14

Eagles

18 9

9

0

1175 1125 51.09

18

West

14 6

8

0

433

474

47.74

12

North

18 7

11 0 1193 1315

47.57

14

Eagles

14 4 10 0

430

479

47.3

8

Central

18 6 11

1

1079 1232 46.69

13

North

14 2 12 0

272

578

32

4

West

18 1 16 1

805 1328 37.74

3

51.06

2024 SANFL U18s Team

Team

P W L

D

2024 SANFL U16s

(POSITIONS AT THE END OF RD 19)

P W L

D

(POSITIONS AT THE END OF RD 17)

F

A

%

Pts

Team

P W L

D

F

A

%

Pts

Glenelg

18 14 4

0 1483 944

61.1

28

Sturt

17 13 4

0 1456 793

64.74

26

Central

18 14 4

0 1403 1078 56.55

28

South

17 12 5

0 1395 866

61.7

24

Sturt

18 13 5

0 1239 1070 53.66

26

North

17 12 5

0 1281

977

56.73

24

Eagles

18 10 8

0

54.16

20

Central

17 11 6

0 1282 909

58.51

22

North

18 9

0 1231 1264 49.34

18

Glenelg

17 10 7

0 1256 1089 53.56

20

West

18 5 13 0

986 1478 40.02

10

Eagles

17 4 13 0

889 1265 41.27

8

South

18 4 14 0 1091 1373 44.28

8

West

17 4 13 0

797

1321 37.63

8

Norwood

18 3 15 0

6

Norwood

17 2 15 0

660 1796 26.87

4

9

1315

1113

994 1422 41.14

LAST ROUND’S RESULTS

SANFL HOSTPLUS MEN’S LEAGUE

ADELAIDE OVAL FIRST SEMI-FINAL Sturt v Glenelg Glenelg 14.5 (89) d Sturt 9.4 (58) Crowd: 11,317 SECOND SEMI-FINAL Norwood v Central Norwood 14.10 (94) d Central 5.5 (35) 22

M

2024 RESERVES

(POSITIONS AT THE END OF RD 14)

Team

Team

sanfl.com.au

RESERVES

SECOND SEMI-FINAL Sturt 16.12 (108) d Norwood 6.5 (41) FIRST SEMI-FINAL Glenelg 11.3 (69) d Eagles 9.8 (62)

U18

PRELIMINARY FINAL Eagles 14.15 (99) d Glenelg 7.8 (50)

THE ROAD AHEAD ROUND 1 Easter Weekend

Norwood 11.11 (77) d Sturt 7.8 (50) Central 14.9 (93) d North 9.12 (66) Adelaide 13.18 (96) d South 14.7 (91) Eagles 20.13 (133) d West 10.9 (69) Glenelg 23.12 (150) d Port 13.6 (84)

AFL GATHER ROUND

ROUND 6

Norwood 10.12 (72) d Adelaide 7.12 (54) Sturt 11.10 (76) d Central 6.5 (41) North 18.11 (119) d Port 5.5 (35) Eagles 11.11 (77) d South 11.6 (72) Glenelg 10.10 (70) d West 6.7 (43)

ROUND 11

Norwood 18.14 (122) d Port 5.9 (39) Sturt 10.15 (75) d North 9.9 (63) Glenelg 16.12 (108) d West 8.8 (56)

KIA STATE GAME

ROUND 16

Glenelg 11.15 (81) d Norwood 6.11 (47) Central 12.2 (74) d North 9.8 (62) Sturt 9.14 (68) d Port 6.9 (45) South 10.11 (71) d West 7.8 (50) Adelaide 11.10 (76) d Eagles 8.12 (60)

BYE WEEKEND

SANFL 10.5 (65) d VFL 7.9 (51)

Sunday 19 May SANFL 16.13 (109) d WAFL 5.16(46)

ROUND 2

ROUND 7 First Nations Rounds

ROUND 12

ROUND 17

ROUND 3

ROUND 8 First Nations Rounds

ROUND 13

ROUND 18

Adelaide 11.9 (75) d Central 5.9 (39) Sturt 11.9 (75) d South 7.12 (54) Glenelg 9.13 (67) d Eagles 8.7 (55) Norwood 17.13 (115) d West 6.5 (41) Port 13.8 (86) d North 8.9 (57)

Norwood 18.10 (118) d North 9.9 (63) Central 6.9 (45) d Glenelg 6.8 (44) Eagles 17.16 (118) d South 9.7 (61) Sturt 13.11 (89) d West 4.8 (32) Adelaide 19.10 (124) d Port 6.11 (47)

ROUND 4 Anzac Weekend

ROUND 9 King’s Birthday Weekend

ROUND 14

ROUND 19

ROUND 5

ROUND 10

ROUND 15

FINALS

Norwood 10.11 (71) d Glenelg 7.5 (47) Eagles 21.12 (138) d North 7.4 (46) Central 15.7 (97) d Adelaide 5.12 (42) West 12.11 (83) d Port 11.13 (79) Sturt 16.9 (105) d South 5.10 (40)

Central 14.9 (93) d South 10.7 (67) North 10.3 (63) d Sturt 8.9 (57) Glenelg 16.10 (106) d Adelaide 10.8 (68) Norwood 6.14 (50) d West 5.7 (37) Eagles 12.11 (83) d Port 8.9 (57)

Sturt 11.16 (82) d Glenelg 6.8 (44) West 17.10 (112) d South 6.9 (45) Central 14.6 (90) d Eagles 11.9 (75) North 12.12 (84) d Adelaide 10.8 (68) Norwood 8.13 (61) d Port 6.7 (43)

Adelaide 16.7 (103) d Port 8.14 (62) Norwood 10.7 (67) d North 8.11 (59) Central 9.12 (66) d West 6.9 (45) Glenelg 9.16 (70) d South 6.7 (43) Eagles 12.11 (83) d Sturt 11.9 (75)

West 13.9 (87) d North 8.8 (56) Norwood 16.11 (107) d Central 8.9 (57) South 17.15 (117) d Yartapuulti 7.2 (44) Sturt 15.12 (102) d Kuwarna 6.5 (41) Glenelg 11.12 (78) d Eagles 10.7 (67)

Sturt 6.15 (51) d Yartapuulti 4.3 (27) Glenelg 11.12 (78) d Central 10.11 (71) West 11.8 (74) d Kuwarna 7.12 (54) North 14.10 (94) d South 8.8 (56) Eagles 15.9 (99) d Norwood 8.12 (60)

South 8.14 (62) d Adelaide 8.7 (55) Central 8.12 (60) d Eagles 7.12 (54) Glenelg 12.12 (84) d North10.12 (72) Sturt 9.11 (65) d Norwood 5.7 (37)

Weekend of Saturday 3 August Central 12.6 (78) d Port 7.11 (53) North 8.15 (63) d Eagles 6.4 (40) Sturt 10.10 (70) d West 3.7 (25) Adelaide 15.6 (96) d Glenelg 7.15 (57) Norwood 9.16 (70) d South 4.7 (31)

Norwood 14.18 (102) d Adelaide 5.9 (39) Port 9.7 (61) d Glenelg 6.11 (47) Sturt 8.14 (62) d Eagles 8.6 (54) Central 11.5 (71) d West 10.5 (65) North 9.18 (72) d South 10.4 (64)

Central 14.8 (92) d South 4.5 (29) Norwood 12.14 (86) d Central 6.8 (44) Port 15.7 (97) d West 10.17 (77) West 12.6 (78) d Eagles 5.9 (39) Eagles 15.12 (102) d Adelaide7.7 (49) Adelaide 14.9 (93) d North 7.13 (55) Sturt 14.8 (92) d Glenelg 10.12 (72) South 14.11 (95) d Port 12.8 (80)

Legend

Norwood 16.11 (107) d South 7.10 (52) North 16.7 (103) d Glenelg 10.15 (75) Sturt 12.14 (86) d Central 8.4 (52) Adelaide 17.9 (111) d West 6.7 (43) Port 15.13 (103) d Eagles 8.11 (59)

Glenelg 21.22 (148) d South 3.12 (30) Central 15.14 (104) d Port 5.6 (36) Norwood 19.8 (122) d Eagles 6.11 (47) North 17.7 (109) d West 13.14 (92) Sturt 7.18 (60) d Adelaide 5.16 (46)

Elimination Final Glenelg 19.17 (131) d Eagles 8.12 (60) Qualifying Final Central 8.2 (50) d Sturt 5.9 (39) First Semi-final Glenelg 14.5 (89) d Sturt 9.4 (58) Second Semi-final Norwood 14.10 (94) d Central 5.5 (35) Sunday 15 September Preliminary Final

AO

Sunday 22 September Grand Final

AO

Key: Bold = home team

A - Alberton Oval, AO - Adelaide Oval, CO – Centenary Oval, CS – Coopers Stadium, Norwood, FUS – Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga, HS – Hisense Stadium, Richmond, JP – Johnstone Park, MTKO – Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville, PO - Prospect Oval, R – Riverland, VH – Victor Harbor, SS – Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg, XCO – X Convenience Oval, Elizabeth Oval, TFO – Thomas Farms Oval, Unley

PUBLISHER

EDITOR Peter Cornwall

PHOTOGRAPHY Cory Sutton & David Mariuz

P (08) 8233 9433 W boylen.com.au

MEDIA CO-ORDINATOR Zac Milbank zac.milbank@sanfl.com.au

COVER

BACK COPIES | FOOTBALL & CORPORATE OPERATIONS P (08) 8424 2200 E admin@sanfl.com.au

DESIGN Henry Rivera & Patrycja Whipp

The second grand final spot is up in the air but Central’s Kyle Presbury and Glenelg’s James Bell will be doing all they can to get their side in there. Photo: David Mariuz

sanfl.com.au

23

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OFFICIAL SUPERANNUATION PARTNER Best Super Fund 2024 is awarded by Money magazine. Visit moneymag.com.au for awards criteria. Awards and ratings are only one factor to consider when choosing a super fund. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. General advice only. Consider the relevant Hostplus PDS and TMD at hostplus.com.au and your objectives, financial situation and needs, which have not been accounted for, before deciding. Issued by Host-Plus Pty Limited ABN 79 008 634 704, AFSL 244392 as trustee for the Hostplus Superannuation Fund, ABN 68 657 495 890. HP2810