SA Footy

STURT
Sturt coach Marty Mattner has named two possible debutants in his 23-man squad to confront South at Peter Motley Oval on Saturday.
Double Blues’ juniors Campbell Wildman (19, 188cm and 85kg) and Steven Slimming (18, 181cm and 72kg) have been listed on the extended interchange bench.
Wildman is originally from Walkerville FC while Slimming – from Unley Jets – is a member of the AFL Academy and this year’s McDonald’s SA Under-18 squad.
Currently sitting third on the premiership table, the Double Blues can draw within one win of first-placed South with a victory over the Panthers.

League
F: Greenslade, Voigt, M. Evans
HF: Hone, K. Beard, Hansen
C: Crocker, Battersby, Martin
HB: Jonas, Stephens, Harms
B: McMahon, F. Evans, Page

R: Osborn, Kirkwood, Riley
INT: Carey, Gilfoy, Wildman, Lienert, Slimming
IN: Wildman, Slimming

SOUTH
South Adelaide ruckman Peter Steffe will be rewarded for persistence when he makes his IGA League debut against Sturt at Peter Motley Oval on Saturday.
Originally from McLaren FC, Steffe (20, 205cm and 101kg) has spent the last two years in the Panthers’ Reserves developing his craft.
‘’It presents as a good opportunity for Pete,’’ South CEO Neill Sharpe said of Steffe, who previously led the ruck for the McDonald’s SA U18 team.
‘’He’s very diligent with his game and improving all the time so it’s great that he gets his chance.’’
Former West Adelaide wingman Richard Newell also appears set to play his first game for the club at the highest level after impressing in the Reserves with 31 disposals, 12 clearances, 10 tackles and two goals last round.
Midfielder Xavier Gotch has been recalled after banking valuable match fitness in the Reserves last week after overcoming a hamstring strain.
Scott Taylor and Pat Kerin have also been named on the extended interchange bench.
Defender Tom Fields will miss after having severe concussion against Norwood while lead ruckman Daniel Bass is out for two matches after being found guilty of striking Ed Smart in Round 7.
Much-improved half-back Emmanuel Irra is facing a stint on the sidelines after copping a ‘’reasonably serious’’ ankle injury against the Redlegs.
‘’We suspect he has some ligament damage but we’re waiting on him seeing the specialist,’’ Sharpe said.

League
F: Barnes, Haren, Overall
HF: Cross, Eddy, Hitchcock
C: Daniel, Seccull, Schwarz
HB: De Visser, Cailotto, Redigolo
B: Rose, Crabb, Gotch

R: Steffe, Veide, Liddle
INT: Brown, Newell, P. Kerin, Taylor, Rankine
IN: Newell, Taylor, P. Kerin, Steffe, Gotch
OUT: Fields (concussion), Bass (suspended), Irra (ankle)

Should be a good close game of genuine SANFL footy.
After Norths game, this is the one I'd vote to see.
Sturt or South by 0-5 points

A few big out's for South especially Bass who has been a beast in the ruck this season.

Good to get Gotchy back into the team.

We have better depth this season to cover these injuries so am tipping us to get the win in what i think will be a cracker of a game.

Expecting a decent crowd for this one.

Hollywood to slot at least 6 on the small Unley deck.

Go you Panthers!!!!!!!

johntheclaret wrote:Should be a good close game of genuine SANFL footy.
After Norths game, this is the one I'd vote to see.
Sturt or South by 0-5 points

I bet you say that to all the threads.

Match of the round. My tip: the South juggernaut to roll on, but only just.

Top of the table, 6 and zero vs third 3rd, won their past 4 lost one.
Two hours before the game and only 4 comments on the match thread. Interest at an all time high.

Carn the Blues! Should be a decent crowd.

Panthers with a few big outs but should get the Chocolates here....

Our biggest challenge so far.
Carn Blues!

therisingblues wrote:

johntheclaret wrote:Should be a good close game of genuine SANFL footy.
After Norths game, this is the one I'd vote to see.
Sturt or South by 0-5 points

I bet you say that to all the threads.

Well I got the result right, just not the score

therisingblues wrote:Top of the table, 6 and zero vs third 3rd, won their past 4 lost one.
Two hours before the game and only 4 comments on the match thread. Interest at an all time high.

thats cos our league is stuffed

Sturt 14.10 def South 7.4

Perhaps a reality check for South. Looked flat from the opening minutes and struggled to keep up with the DB's mid-fielders. Smashed in every department.

Hard to find too many reasonably players. Redigolo named best by the club, probably fair enough, was very good one on one. Debutants Steffe (44 hitouts) and Newell both showed a bit.

Sturt far too good.

Very good win to the Blues.
Sturt 14-10: 94
South 7-4: 46
Mark Evans finished with 4, including two in two minutes in the third quarter, which really got Sturt going.
Sturt started strong and were leading the Panthers 6 goals to 1 early in the second, when South managed to clog the Sturt forward line for about half an hour. Many forward forays were stifled in that time while the Panthers put their heads down and replied a few times, closing the margin to 10 points by the 6 minute mark of the third quarter. South continued to defend hard, leaving Sturt goalless from the 4th minute of the second quarter to the 8th minute of the third, and in the 17th minute, when Xavier Gotch answered Sturt's only goal for the quarter up to that point, I began to worry that they would begin to show the form that made them the top side and the team to beat.
Enter Mark Evans and a big pair of strong hands. Sturt kicked 7 goals to 1 from that point on, and was mainly enabled by the strong marking under pressure, which was a feature of Sturt's game today IMO. The long kicking for goals was another, especially in the final quarter when at least two goals were sunk from outside 50, and a couple went close. Kirkwood also showed he could take a grab or two under pressure. In the end Sturt took 100 marks to South's 66, and were a lot cleaner with their skills.
Not sure what to make of South, I read that they had a few players out, and then we got them after we had the bye, and a relatively full strength side. When the two sides meet again at Noarlunga it will surely be a lot tougher. South is not the first side to get a pasting at Unley, and we often play better than we really are on that hallowed surface.
My first game of the year owing to a very busy schedule, so still not sure who the players are, but I did notice Battersby, Riley, Crocker and Lienert were often amongst it. I was impressed with what I saw of Lienert actually, still 21 yo and looked quite mobile for a big fella, and took a good grab or two also. Sturt had winners all over the ground though, and I think the more I name those I thought played well, the greater the disservice to those I cannot name. But Harms went in and used the ball effectively on a number of occasions I saw.
I think the crowd might have reached about 2,500. A good turn out of South fans, and their cheer squad was very visible and vocal on the hill, especially as they threatened Sturt late in the second and early in the third. For me though, I thought the atmosphere was down for a game as important as that one. Sturt were perhaps an outside chance before the start of play, but they were the next logical challenger after South had disposed of the Ravens a couple of weeks back, there should have been a much greater atmosphere. If this is the size of the new SANFL "blockbuster" then I am not sure what to think. Hopefully there'll be weightier games as the season progresses.
The battle for top spot is well and truly on now. A shame that the SANFL has such a raffle of a draw at the moment; there are three sides that have dropped one game, and the side with the worst percentage of the three is top.
Looking forward to next week it's Friday Nwd v WA, Saturday, CD v Adel, and on the Sunday it's PA v SA and then NA v Sturt. No real certainties there I think, except South should hold their top spot against Port. The week after, round 10, is a full 5 matches (What? Who would have thought it, when we have ten teams?!), Sturt have Adelaide on the Saturday of that round, which is the only side Sturt has not played in the top 5 as yet. Having said that, I fear North and Glenelg just as much as I feared South before today. The competition seems even enough that almost anyone could win on their day.
Maybe Eagles the biggest worry of the lot.

TEAM...................P W L D % PTS
1. SOUTH..........7 6 1 0 55.41 12
2. ADELAIDE......6 5 1 0 58.88 10
3. STURT............6 5 1 0 58.57 10
4. EAGLES..........7 5 2 0 54.55 10
5. CENTRAL........6 3 3 0 55.15 6
6. NORTH.......... 7 3 4 0 48.01 6
7. GLENELG.......7 2 5 0 50.44 4
8. PORT............. 7 2 5 0 45.17 4
9. NORWOOD...6 2 4 0 43.78 4
10. WEST............7 0 7 0 33.72 0

There were some very odd scenes with the umpiring in this game. Twice I think a field umpire had a good chat with a boundary umpire regarding the deliberate OOB ruling. Both times the boundary ump called a ball touched before it rolled over the line and went out. Everyone's ready for a throw in until a field ump comes in, chats with the boundary ump, overrules him and gives a free. If the rule isn't stupid enough this sort of Three Stoogerism just makes it unbearable for all supporters.
Good game in all and good support for both clubs. Great to have Aidan Riley back.

2859 the crowd.

Compared to the usual 1400 at Noarlunga it was a great atmosphere. Lots of South supporters there which was good to see.

therisingblues wrote:Very good win to the Blues.
Sturt 14-10: 94
South 7-4: 46
Mark Evans finished with 4, including two in two minutes in the third quarter, which really got Sturt going.
Sturt started strong and were leading the Panthers 6 goals to 1 early in the second, when South managed to clog the Sturt forward line for about half an hour. Many forward forays were stifled in that time while the Panthers put their heads down and replied a few times, closing the margin to 10 points by the 6 minute mark of the third quarter. South continued to defend hard, leaving Sturt goalless from the 4th minute of the second quarter to the 8th minute of the third, and in the 17th minute, when Xavier Gotch answered Sturt's only goal for the quarter up to that point, I began to worry that they would begin to show the form that made them the top side and the team to beat.
Enter Mark Evans and a big pair of strong hands. Sturt kicked 7 goals to 1 from that point on, and was mainly enabled by the strong marking under pressure, which was a feature of Sturt's game today IMO. The long kicking for goals was another, especially in the final quarter when at least two goals were sunk from outside 50, and a couple went close. Kirkwood also showed he could take a grab or two under pressure. In the end Sturt took 100 marks to South's 66, and were a lot cleaner with their skills.
Not sure what to make of South, I read that they had a few players out, and then we got them after we had the bye, and a relatively full strength side. When the two sides meet again at Noarlunga it will surely be a lot tougher. South is not the first side to get a pasting at Unley, and we often play better than we really are on that hallowed surface.
My first game of the year owing to a very busy schedule, so still not sure who the players are, but I did notice Battersby, Riley, Crocker and Lienert were often amongst it. I was impressed with what I saw of Lienert actually, still 21 yo and looked quite mobile for a big fella, and took a good grab or two also. Sturt had winners all over the ground though, and I think the more I name those I thought played well, the greater the disservice to those I cannot name. But Harms went in and used the ball effectively on a number of occasions I saw.
I think the crowd might have reached about 2,500. A good turn out of South fans, and their cheer squad was very visible and vocal on the hill, especially as they threatened Sturt late in the second and early in the third. For me though, I thought the atmosphere was down for a game as important as that one. Sturt were perhaps an outside chance before the start of play, but they were the next logical challenger after South had disposed of the Ravens a couple of weeks back, there should have been a much greater atmosphere. If this is the size of the new SANFL "blockbuster" then I am not sure what to think. Hopefully there'll be weightier games as the season progresses.
The battle for top spot is well and truly on now. A shame that the SANFL has such a raffle of a draw at the moment; there are three sides that have dropped one game, and the side with the worst percentage of the three is top.
Looking forward to next week it's Friday Nwd v WA, Saturday, CD v Adel, and on the Sunday it's PA v SA and then NA v Sturt. No real certainties there I think, except South should hold their top spot against Port. The week after, round 10, is a full 5 matches (What? Who would have thought it, when we have ten teams?!), Sturt have Adelaide on the Saturday of that round, which is the only side Sturt has not played in the top 5 as yet. Having said that, I fear North and Glenelg just as much as I feared South before today. The competition seems even enough that almost anyone could win on their day.
Maybe Eagles the biggest worry of the lot.

TEAM...................P W L D % PTS
1. SOUTH..........7 6 1 0 55.41 12
2. ADELAIDE......6 5 1 0 58.88 10
3. STURT............6 5 1 0 58.57 10
4. EAGLES..........7 5 2 0 54.55 10
5. CENTRAL........6 3 3 0 55.15 6
6. NORTH.......... 7 3 4 0 48.01 6
7. GLENELG.......7 2 5 0 50.44 4
8. PORT............. 7 2 5 0 45.17 4
9. NORWOOD...6 2 4 0 43.78 4
10. WEST............7 0 7 0 33.72 0

Just the type of game where you could sit back with a couple of beers and enjoy the victory

You're probably right JTC.
I had to look after a 5 y/o most of the match, so I couldn't really sit back and appreciate the inevitable unfold in the last half quarter.

therisingblues wrote:You're probably right JTC.
I had to look after a 5 y/o most of the match, so I couldn't really sit back and appreciate the inevitable unfold in the last half quarter.

You could have if you'd drugged him



Only kidding before anyone fires up

The SANFL are now doing for purchase downloads of games. I used to have to wait two weeks for the dvd now I get the links to each qtr by my Monday

So theri, you can now enjoy it if you buy it online.

Thanks Jimmy.
I think downloading stuff from a website might be a little bit beyond my skill set though. I'll have a look at the SANFL website and see if it's not too challenging.
I struggle with photocopiers as it is.