ANOTHER season is done and dusted in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) with five teams eliminated from the League title race, including reigning premiers North Adelaide. Glenelg finished on top despite losing its final game, with Port Adelaide and Adelaide not far behind, and Sturt and Norwood rounding out the top five.

LEAGUE:

West Adelaide 6.14 (50) defeated by Norwood 10.8 (68)

Norwood bounced back from poor form of late to record a three-goal victory over an inaccurate West Adelaide at City Mazda Stadium. The Redlegs booted 10.8 to the Bloods’ 6.14 to run out 18-point winners and secure fifth spot on the table. Lewis Johnston had 29 touches, 12 marks, two clearances and two tackles, while Bradley McKenzie helped himself to 25 disposals and 11 marks. Under-18 draft prospect Dylan Stephens had another prominent game in the seniors with 22 disposals, six marks, three clearances and two goals. For the Bloods, Dallas Willsmore (29 touches, 16 marks) and Patrick Fairlie (29 disposals, 10 marks, four clearances and three tackles) produced good numbers, with Kaine Stevens and Christopher Schmidt reaching 30 disposals apiece in the loss.

North Adelaide 10.10 (70) defeated Woodville-West Torrens 8.9 (57)

North Adelaide avoided the wooden spoon with a nice 13-point win at home to finish off the season. The side was pillaged by AFL clubs at last year’s AFL National Draft, and had to overcome a points penalty for the 19th man issue in last year’s finals series, but have now jumped past the Bulldogs to avoid last place on the table. Aidan Tropiano had 29 disposals, 10 clearances, five marks and six tackles in the win, while Jarred Allmond (27 disposals, 14 marks, three clearances and three goals) and Tanner Smith (24 disposals, 11 marks and two tackles) were busy. For the Eagles, Jack Hayes finished with 22 touches, nine marks, four tackles, two clearances and a goal, while Scott Lewis was the other player to reach 20 touches with exactly that, as well as three marks, seven clearances, six tackles and a goal.

Sturt 11.11 (77) defeated Glenelg 9.11 (65)

Despite finishing on top of the table, Glenelg showed there is still much work to go, succumbing in a shock loss to Sturt by two goals. The Tigers booted five goals to three in the final term but the damage was done, already having the minor premiership sewn up, but head into the finals on the back of a loss. Sam Colquhoun (36 disposals, five marks, five clearances and eight tackles) did as he pleased for the Double Blues, while Fraser Evans (25 disposals, 10 marks and a goal) and Matthew Crocker (26 disposals, six marks, four clearances and three tackles) were also prominent. For the Tigers, Under-18 state captain Will Gould racked up 27 disposals and five marks, while Luke Partington finished with 28 disposals, two marks, five clearances and five tackles.

Central District 8.11 (59) defeated by Port Adelaide 22.17 (149)

Port Adelaide made a statement to the rest of the competition to finish inside the top two courtesy of a massive 90-point belting of Central District. Billy Frampton slammed home seven goals from 11 scoring shots, while Tobin Cox nailed five from seven and also took nine marks for his 17 touches. Jack Trengove (34 disposals, 11 marks and five tackles) and Sam Mayes (34 disposals, eight marks, eight clearances and five tackles) both booted goals, as did Zak Butters (27 disposals, eight marks, three clearances and four tackles). It was a disappointing result for the Bulldogs, with Jydon Neagle (18 disposals, seven marks and four goals) and Jarrod Schiller (24 disposals, nine clearances, four tackles and a goal) a couple of players who stood up in the heavy defeat.

South Adelaide 12.11 (83) defeated Adelaide 12.4 (76)

Adelaide suffered a shock loss to Sturt on the eve of finals, going down by seven points in a tight clash. Patrick Wilson was enormous for the Crows with 31 disposals, 10 marks, eight clearances, nine tackles and a goal, while Myles Poholke (26 disposals, six marks, seven clearances and three tackles) and Lachlan Sholl (21 disposals, four marks and four tackles) were also prominent. For South, Joseph Haines and Nicholas Liddle both shared in 31 touches in the win, while Samuel Overall booted 3.3 from 14 disposals and four marks. Matthew Rose (27 disposals, five clearances) and Joel Cross (24 disposals, five clearances and a goal) were other Panthers who stood out.

RESERVES:

West Adelaide 10.5 (65) defeated by Norwood 13.10 (88)

Norwood did what it had to do against West Adelaide, recording a 23-point win over the Bloods to finish the season on top of the Reserves table. Lachlan Pascoe (18 disposals, seven marks, three clearances, nine tackles and three goals) and Luke Surman (25 touches, eight marks, 11 clearances and four tackles) were both prominent, while Sam Barnett slotted four goals from 18 touches and 11 marks. For the Bloods, Sam May (28 disposals, seven marks, 10 clearances and seven tackles) and Will Day (26 disposals, eight marks, three tackles and a goal) both had big days out.

South Adelaide 16.4 (100) defeated Central District 9.10 (64)

It was not enough to make finals, but South Adelaide upset Central District to finish its season on the right note. The Panthers trailed by 19 points at half-time in a game that could have been much worse had it not been for the Bulldogs’ inaccuracy of 7.7 to the Panthers’ 5.0. The home side then piled on 11.4 to 2.3 after half-time to run away with the contest by 36 points. Luke Bogle picked up 29 disposals, five marks, six clearances, eight tackles and two goals, while Mark Noble helped himself to a game-high 33 disposals, eight marks, seven clearances and three tackles. Brett Kennedy and Cameron McGree shared in seven goals for the Panthers in the win. For Central, Ari Rigney had 24 touches, four marks, five clearances and a goal, while Isaya McKenzie picked up 26 disposals, six clearances and nine tackles, while Jordan O’Brien booted a goal and laid 12 tackles from 17 touches and five clearances.

Sturt 9.13 (67) defeated Glenelg 7.15 (57)

Sturt wrapped up its season with a narrow 10-point win over Glenelg, surviving a five goals to one final term from the Tigers to get home in a thriller. Potential Brisbane father-son prospect Casey Voss had a mammoth defensive effort with 23 disposals, 14 tackles, 10 marks and a goal in the win, while Hugo Munn worked hard up the ground for 26 touches, four marks, six clearances, 10 tackles and a goal. Joel Thiele (27 disposals, 13 marks, five clearances and nine tackles) and Adam Trenorden (26 disposals, four marks, six clearances, 10 tackles and a goal) were also busy. Josh Koster (28 disposals, four marks, eight clearances and three tackles) and Ben Sawford (25 disposals, two marks, eight clearances and three tackles) stood up for the Tigers in defeat.

North Adelaide 5.8 (38) defeated by Woodville-West Torrens 19.12 (126)

Woodville-West Torrens proved far too good for North Adelaide, smashing the Roosters by 88 points in the clash at Prospect Oval. Under-18 talent Josh Morris had a day out despite inaccuracy, booting five goals and four behinds from 12 disposals and five marks, while Jake Comitogianni (28 disposals, five marks and three tackles) and Jackson Mead (27 disposals, six marks, four clearances and two tackles) were massive. The Reserves side was stacked with potential draft prospects including Harry Schoenberg (22 disposals, eight clearances and a goal) and Lachlan McNeil (15 disposals, three marks, three clearances, seven tackles and a goal), while Harrison Morgan booted four goals from 10 touches and five marks. For North Adelaide, they had three big ball winners with Dylan Aldridge (31 disposals, nine marks and six clearances), James Schwarz (31 touches, three marks, seven clearances and six tackles) and Max Lower (28 disposals, seven marks, six clearances and three tackles) all finding plenty of the football.

UNDER 18S:

Glenelg 17.6 (108) defeated Sturt 10.9 (69)

Glenelg had an all-important win over bottom two side Sturt to book its finals place in 2019. The Tigers had a huge middle two quarters when they piled on 12 goals to one and effectively end the game from there. Potential Adelaide father-son, Luke Edwards had 17 disposals and booted four goals, while Sam Liambis (30 touches, eight marks, six clearances and a goal) and Adam Beaumont (27 disposals, six marks, six clearances, three tackles and a goal) found plenty of the football. For the Double Blues, Mani Liddy (25 disposals, three marks, seven clearances and eight tackles) was strong in midfield, while William Crane (21 disposals, five marks, four clearances, five tackles and two goals) hit the scoreboard.

Central District 3.3 (21) defeated by South Adelaide 11.14 (80)

South Adelaide produced a commanding 59-point win over wooden spooners Central District, never looking like losing as they had 11 scoring shots to one in the first term and went on with it from there. South Australian Under-18 key forward Daniel Sladojevic continued his strong form, booting five goals from 17 touches and six marks, while Tyler Oliver had 21 disposals, five marks, five clearances and four tackles. Samuel Falland (21 disposals, eight marks, two clearances and four tackles) impressed for Centrals, as did Rhys Cannizzaro (14 disposals, three marks, three clearances and nine tackles).

Woodville-West Torrens 11.8 (74) defeated North Adelaide 9.11 (65)

The Eagles knocked North Adelaide out of finals contention and finished on a strong note ahead of the post-season series, doing enough to enjoy a tight nine-point win. Luke Barnett had a game-high 30 touches as well as four marks, 10 clearances, eight tackles and a goal. Eagles teammates, Caleb Poulter (21 disposals, six marks, seven clearances and five tackles), Taj Schofield (18 disposals, five marks, four clearances, eight tackles and a goal) and Lachlan Hoile (25 disposals, six marks and three tackles) were also prominent. Charlie Dinning (29 disposals, five marks, seven clearances, four tackles and two goals) and Harrison Magor (29 dispsoals, five marks, nine clearances and six tackles were the two standouts in the losing Roosters’ side.

Norwood 7.16 (58) defeated by West Adelaide 11.9 (75)

West Adelaide locked up second spot with a crucial 17-point win over Norwood. Joel Groom had a big day out with 24 disposals, six marks, six clearances, eight tackles and a goal, while Mackenzie Nield (24 disposals, seven marks, four clearances, five tackles and two goals) and Beau Nunan (four goals) were busy in the victory. For the Redlegs, Xavier Tranfa was their best with 24 disposals, five marks, nine clearances, four tackles and a goal, while Daniel Fairbrother (19 disposals, seven marks) and Tristan Binder (11 disposals, three goals) also stood tall in defeat.