SA Footy

Both teams coming off a loss.

South need to win to ensure finals football. West need to win for themselves.

South have been dreadful at times over the last 9 weeks. I expect Haren to come back into the side. Can not fathom how he was dropped.

Fingers crossed. South by a point.

Danger game for South.

I am sure Westies will want to finish off the season with a win to set up next year with confidence.

South, appalling football at times the last 9 weeks.

Haren must come in (bizarre exclusion against Port last game).
Nobes (kicking 7 goals against Central last game) would be handy up in the forward square.

These are the type of games South supporters always fear and nightmares are made of !

South by 2 goals.

Joel Cross to play his last game at Noarlunga, retiring at seasons end.

Crossy’s retirement announcement may just be a stroke of genius. I had already put a line through South’s season but if the team can’t lift for Joel Freaking Cross then I don’t know what they’d ever lift for. Panthers to win this week by 4 or 5 goals and then, screw it, you all know I’m crazy anyway, on to premiership glory to farewell a legend of not only South Adelaide, but the SANFL. Go the mighty Panthers and go Crossy!

Panfers by 74points.

penultimate game for souf i rkn, but should win

SOUTH

South Adelaide coach Jarrad Wright has made significant changes to his side as it prepares for its crucial clash with West at Flinders University Stadium.

Seeking victory to ensure a berth in the Elimination Final, Wright has sent Jack Elsworthy, Damon Freitag, Reece Milsom, James Loneragan and Luke Bogle back to the Reserves after the Round 18 loss to Port.

Promising youngster Arlo Draper will play in the Panthers’ U18 semi-final, ensuring there will be no less than six changes.

SA U19 midfielder Matt Roberts returns to a forward pocket while Nic Schwarz and Ben Haren have also been listed in the starting 18.

Bailey Griffiths, Mitch O’Neill, Jake Tarca, Jesse McKinnon, Daniel Nobes and Jaidan Kappler have all been named on the extended interchange bench.

Former captain Joel Cross will play his final match at Noarlunga after announcing he will retire at season’s end.

League

F: Fitt, Overall, Roberts

HF: Schwarz, Skinner, Wilkinson

C: H. Sampson, Gibbs, Turner

HB: Haines, Haren, Broadbent

B: Biemans, Summerton, Rose



R: Cailotto, Cross, Horne-Francis

INT: Heaslip, O’Neill, Kappler, Griffiths, McKinnon, Nobes, Tarca

IN: Schwarz, O’Neill, Griffiths, Haren, Kappler, McKinnon, Nobes, Tarca, Roberts

OUT: Draper (U18s), Loneragan, Elsworthy, Milsom, Freitag, Bogle



Reserves
Bogle, Brown, Coulthard, Douglass, Dumesny, Elsworthy, Freitag, Gaden, Hindes, Juckers, Kraemer, Loneragan, Lovering, McCreery, McGree, Megins, Milsom, Nye, C. Sampson, Sladojevic, Williams



WEST

West Adelaide coach Brad Gotch will make at least three changes to his line-up for the final match of 2021 at Flinders University Stadium.

Promising tall forward Harry Lemmey will play in the Bloods’ U18 semi-final while Nathan Batley and Lucas Meline were sent back to the Reserves.

This will open up at least three spots with possible AAMI Rookies Charlie Allan (Unley) and Michael Laudato (Seaton) among the six inclusions.

Also included on the extended interchange bench are Josh Gore, Aaron Anderson, Stuart Taverner and Ed Allan.

League

F: Haysman, Beech, Ellem

HF: C. Fairlie, Keough, Maguire

C: Boyle, J. Stevens, Chamberlain

HB: Redfern, Hupfeld, Murphy

B: Hill, Ryan, Duval



R: Cleeland, Squire, K. Stevens

INT: Karpany, Laudato, Anderson, E. Allan, C. Allan, Taverner, Gore

IN: C. Allan, E. Allan, Anderson, Gore, Laudato, Taverner

OUT: Lemmey (U18s), Batley, Meline

NEW: Michael Laudato (Seaton), Charlie Allan (Unley)



Reserves
Babic, Batley, Bock, Davidson, Elliot, Fejo, Gordon, James, J. Johnson, Kelly, Kirk, Lovell, Meline, Morrish, Patterson, Rana, Rundle, Schiller, Sherlock, Sinderberry, R. Stevens & Taylor

Is Draper dropped or are South prioritising their 18s over the League side?? Ditto for Westies but that’s understandable to an extent given this is there last League game.

Surely he plays league over 18s if he hadn’t be omitted on Form. Seems strange.

In all seriousness that’s a lot of changes. Not saying the panic button been hit but it’s been looked at.

South should still win but Westies would have firmed in the betting.

South, 9 possible ins, 6 definite outs

am Bays wrote:Is Draper dropped or are South prioritising their 18s over the League side?? Ditto for Westies but that’s understandable to an extent given this is there last League game.

Surely he plays league over 18s if he hadn’t be omitted on Form. Seems strange.

In all seriousness that’s a lot of changes. Not saying the panic button been hit but it’s been looked at.

South should still win but Westies would have firmed in the betting.

I think Draper was sent back to the 18s because better players are back from injury. It’s not the panic button, I think Jarrad Wright now has more players available and is picking his best team. The “ins” aren’t just randoms, certainly not prioritising U18s. Just my opinion.

West was a class below Glenelg last week but the intensity was there. If they bring the same intensity then they're a chance here. Bloods by 6 points.

am Bays wrote:Is Draper dropped or are South prioritising their 18s over the League side?? Ditto for Westies but that’s understandable to an extent given this is there last League game.

Surely he plays league over 18s if he hadn’t be omitted on Form. Seems strange.

In all seriousness that’s a lot of changes. Not saying the panic button been hit but it’s been looked at.

South should still win but Westies would have firmed in the betting.

South still have 2 u18's left in their 22, if they were prioritising u18's they would have dropped them down also.

Draper has struggled at league level IMO

Draper was fortunate to keep his spot following his debut, so have no issues with him being sent back to the 18s.

Changes had to be made, and they certainly have been!

Fair enough, move along nothing to see here

If anyone has a digital pass they won't be using tomorrow and don't mind sharing please inbox me details. I'm in Cairns. Cheers lads

Joel Cross best South player since Mark Naley. Joel Cross and Nick Liddle the best two interstate recruits at the same time ever!
The Panthers had better win tomorrow, the number of times in recent yars that this scenerio of must win the last game and depending on other results we fall out of the five in the last game after being the top five for most of the year is what makes South supporters alchohlics.

C'mon Gotchy .......be nice to South

John Casey coverage of Joel Cross retirement announcement on 7 news mid week was excellent
Great interview with Joel
John Casey was brilliant covering Olympic basketball, hopefully back covering SANFL finals
This is a good South side, should do well

So despite the lack of posts this game did go ahead..

South 12.17 def West 7.4

Pretty lacklustre first half, although with 5.10 v 2.2 in the breezy conditions South could have sewn the game up by half time. Put the foot down in the third, leading by around 70 points early in the last before putting the cue in the rack.

H. Sampson, S. Skinner, L. Fitt (back to back 4 goal games), B. Gibbs, J. Horne-Francis, J. Haines named best by South, while Westies gave the nod to L. Redfern, K. Stevens, L. Hill, J. Ryan, E. Allan, J. Boyle in their final match.

Consecutive finals appearances for the first time in 30 years

Well I was at my wife’s cousin’s wedding all afternoon and evening so I saw exactly none of the game. Updated myself with scores though and I’m happy the boys got the job done. South have lost games like this many times but the Joel Cross retirement must have done something! To the finals!!