Each week we’ll be covering all the state league games in the VFL, SANFL and WAFL as a hub to find out how your reserve players are going in one central location. With the VFL split round over, next week begins the task of each state’s league consistent across the same weekend. We’ll have a dedicated reporter for each, so keep an eye out to find out how your affiliate teams or players have gone and who’s in line for senior selection.

VFL SPLIT ROUND:

SANFL

Norwood vs Port Adelaide (Thursday 3rd April)

Norwood 11.10 (76) defeated Port Adelaide 8.9 (57)

Norwood goals: Phillips 3, Bartlett 2, Newton 2, Bampton, Baulderstone, Evans, Murphy
Port Adelaide goals: Harvey 2, Haren, Hitchcock, Neade, Slattery, Stewart, Summerton
Norwood best: Panos, Dawe, Bode, Phillips, Webber
Port Adelaide best: Logan, Young, Summerton, Colquhoun, O’Shea.

Reigning premiers Norwood ran out 19-point winners in the opening game of the 2014 season against Port Adelaide. Despite losing a whole host of premiership players, the Redlegs led all night in a skilful four-quarter effort. Despite coming up against a much spoken about Port Adelaide outfit, comprising 15 AFL-listed players, Norwood dominated all night. Norwood’s attack on the football was first-class, lead by tenacious pocket rocket Kane Murphy (nine tackles). Matthew Panos was outstanding for the Redlegs, amassing 20 disposals, seven tackles and 10 clearances. He was well supported by speedster Simon Phillips and the ever-consistent Jace Bode off the half-back flank. By comparison, Port Adelaide lacked composure going forward and often fumbled in pressure situations. Hardnut Tom Logan was a standout for the Magpies, as was promising midfielder Aaron Young (13 clearances), who both did their chances of a recall to the senior side no harm.

Glenelg vs Sturt (Friday 4th April)

Glenelg 6.5 (41) defeated by Sturt 12.12 (84)

Glenelg goals: Hooper 2, Muir, Thorp, Joseph, Kirkby
Sturt goals: Duldig 6, Krause 2, Coad 2, Calabrese, Harms
Glenelg best: Lonergan, Agnew, Joseph, Nicholson
Sturt best: Kirkwood, Kurtz, Duldig, Coad, Stephens, Kane

The double Blues poor pre-season form vanished after an impressive 43-point win over Glenelg. After failing to win a pre-season game, things were looking grim for Sturt, with many predicting them to finish bottom after losing a number of Crows-listed players. However, they proved too quick for the Tigers, with the likes of Luke Crocker, John Greenslade, Jack Stephens, Tom Harms & Levi Krause all showing positive signs. New recruit Zane Kirkwood (Port Adelaide) dominated, collecting 36 touches and nine clearances. He worked extremely well alongside ruckman Angus Kurtze (53 hitouts). Veteran spearhead Matt Duldig head a night out, bagging six majors. It was a disappointing result for the Tigers, who have recruited well over summer and new coach Nick Stevens will need time for his squad to gel. On a positive note, former Essendon midfielder Sam Lonergan starred for the Tigers with 29 disposals, five marks and seven inside 50s. The highlight of the match was former Gold coast player Michael Coad’s huge hanger to the delight of 4500 fans at Gliderol Stadium.

Eagles vs Central District (Saturday 5th April)

Eagles 12.11 (83) defeated Central District 8.4 (52)

Eagles goals: McGregor 6, Wundke 3, Grocke, Goldsworthy, Lewis
Centrals goals: Retzlaff 2, Glenn, Gillbee, Mabon, Nason, T.Schiller, Barmby
Eagles best: Powell, Von Bertouch, McGregor, Lewis, Borholm, Martyn
Centrals best: Glenn, Thomas, Hoskin, Williams, White

Woodville-West Torrens continued their strong pre-season form after proving to be too strong for Central Districts in front of a dismal crowd at Woodville Oval. The Eagles stormed home to win 31 points in a heated affair, which saw Magarey Medalist Brad Symes carried from the ground after a sickening collision with key forward Adam Grocke, who was suspended for seven games. Symes’ career is now in serious doubt considering his extended history of concussion problems. The Bulldogs started well early, after former Brisbane Lion forward Bryce Retzlaff nailed a goal with his first kick, but it was all downhill from there. The Eagles played a fierce brand of football, which saw them create a number of shots on goal all day. Pocket rocket Lachlan McGregor bagged six goals and Michael Wundke chipped in with three. Veteran captain Luke Powell was instrumental, gathering 23 disposals and six clearances. Young gun Josh Glenn was best afield for the Dogs.

South Adelaide vs West Adelaide (Saturday 5th April)

South Adelaide 14.16 (100) defeated West Adelaide 8.3 (51)

South Adelaide goals: Eddy 4, Rose 2, Liddle, Dale, Macleod, Brooksby, Daniel, Veide, Boyd, Bass
West Adelaide goals: Fisher 2, Wong 2, Beech, Silverlock, Newell, Macreadie
South Adelaide best: Brooksby, Eddy, Veide, Liddle, Dale, Macleod, Thewlis
West Adelaide best: Schmidt, Macreadie, Beech, Homburg, Milne, Stevens

The Panthers pulled off a great 49-point win over West Adelaide under lights at Hickinbotham Oval. After a promising pre-season, Saturday’s victory finally gave South fans something to cheer about. The Panthers showed speed, desperation and swift ball movement through the middle of the ground in a dominant display. Big-man Keegan Brooskby was outstanding, gathering 19 disposals, seven clearances and seven marks to go with his 33 hitouts. Spearhead Brett Eddy was tremendous up forward, plucking 12 marks and booting 4.4. Jake Veide was a workhorse through the centre of the ground all night with seven tackles and five clearances. Chris Schmidt worked hard all day for the Bloods, dominating the clearance count with a whopping 12.

The gaping holes left in West Adelaide’s defensive structure by the departure of Joel Tippett (AFL) and Ryan Ferguson (VFL) were glaringly apparent. Things won’t get any easier for the Bloods, who take on a red-hot eagles outfit this Friday.

North Adelaide vs Adelaide (Sunday 6th April)

North Adelaide 20.13 (133) defeated Adelaide 12.14 (86)

North Adelaide goals: O’Keeffe 5, Mitchell 4, Obst 3, Stokes 2, Amato, Barnes, Combe, O’Brien, Shannon, M.Thring
Adelaide goals: Davis-Neale 3, Callinan 2, Atkins, Cameron, Ellis-Yolmen, Hurly-Wellington, Martin, Osborn, Shaw
North Adelaide best: O’Keeffe, Miles, Anderson, Thring, Amato
Adelaide best: Ellis-Yolmen, Martin, Lyons, Kelly, Davis-Neale

Despite being without a host of key players due to injury and suspension, the Roosters smashed newcomers Adelaide by a whopping 47 points at Prospect Oval. In a high-scoring contest, North Adelaide led from the opening siren and never looked like losing in a well composed, hard-running performance. Former Carlton rookie Rhys O’Keeffe was brilliant in his first game at Prospect for six years, bagging five majors. The pressure applied by North Adelaide all day was commendable; as they went on to cause a number of turnovers, especially up forward. New recruits Luke Mitchell and Alan Obst impressed early, slotting seven goals between them, as did Joe Anderson who had the job on former teammate Lewis Johnston, keeping him goalless. Brodie Martin pushed his case for senior selection, collecting 24 possessions and10 marks, as well as five inside 50s. Rookie-listed Crow Jake Kelly was outstanding, playing a role on key playmaker Leigh Ryswyk and limiting him to only 11 disposals.

Players To Watch:

Sam Lonergan (Glenelg): 29 disposals, 5 marks, 7 inside 50’s
Zane Kirkwood (Sturt): 36 disposals, 6 marks, 9 clearances
Cam Ellis-Yolmen (Adelaide): 28 disposals, 8 marks, 8 clearances
Rhys O’Keefe (North): 20 disposals, 5 goals
Aaron Young (Port): 28 Disposals, 13 clearances, 3 inside 50’s
Matthew Panos (Norwood): 20 disposals, 7 tackles, 10 clearances
Chris Schmidt (West): 23 disposals, 5 tackles, 12 clearances

WAFL

Perth has not made the WAFL finals since 1997, but the Demons are doing their best to remedy that, with two big victories to start the season. After beating Claremont by 65 points in round one, Perth found itself 44 points down against South Fremantle in round two. However, the team fought its ay back to lead by 17 points in the latter stages of the match, holding on to win by five points. For South Fremantle, it was a disappointing start to the year, with the team losing in round one, and starting last season with seven straight losses.

Perth’s victory was also the first time that the three Morton brothers, Jarryd, Cale and Mitch, played together. All three finished with 18 disposals, with Cale also contributing six inside 50s and two goals, and Mitch also finishing with two goals despite spending most of the game on the ball.

Results

Perth (19.9.123) defeated South Fremantle (18.10.118)
South Fremantle goals: Pickett 3, Martinez 3, Guglielmana 2, Saunders 2, Sokol, White, Scloithe, Kelly, Verrier, Cook, Bewick, Hams
South Fremantle best: Pickett, Guglielmana, White, Borovac, Cook
Perth goals: Collard 5, Stack 3, C.Morton 2, White 2, M.Morton 2, Leyendekkers, Hug, Boyle, Leeson, Houghton
Perth best: White, Hug, C.Morton, J.Morton, Leyendekkers

East Perth (16.13.109) defeated Swan Districts (14.7.91)
East Perth goals: Smith 3, McInnes 3, Wulff 2, Oakley-Nicholls 2, Sheed 2, Lycett, Hill, Payne, Johnson
East Perth best: Oakley-Nicholls, Blee, Butler, Wulff
Swan Districts goals: Rogers 2, Boekhorst 2, Faulkner 2, Anderson, Cary, Jukes, Geappen, Davis, Simpson, Riggio, Blakely
Swan Districts best: Blakely, Elari, Faulkner, Latch

Claremont (10.10.70) defeated West Perth (8.10.58)
Claremont goals: Foster 3, Richardson, Neates, Cameron, Ledger, Abbott, Bentley
Claremont best: Ledger, Cameron, Foster, Neates, Murphy
West Perth goals: Tsalikis 4, Keunen, Nelson, Van Berlo, Fowler
West Perth best: Tsalikis, Rasmussen, Tedesco, Nelso, Potente

Subiaco (16.12.108) defeated East Fremantle (6.16.52)
Subiaco goals: Hildebrandt 2, Kayler-Thomson 2, Yarran 2, Deluca 2, Waters 2, Mahoney, Hampson, Moore, Joyce, Stockley, Boland
Subiaco best: Hildebrandt, Deluca, Delahunty, Bristow, Rumble
East Fremantle goals: Williamson 2, Bristow, Lester-Smith, Dalziell, Young
East Fremantle best: Young, Jupp, Williamson, Read