RD 18 West Defeat South Review

[MagareyLegend]

Sampson had South doing tackling practice at 3qtr time ...... what a disgrace of a club South have become.

I have been a long time critic but yesterday they took it to new heights. I could not believe what I witnessed - get out of the comp you losers!

[SnappyTom]

As a neutral to both sides I see two sides to this result:
o great for football, West are returning to 'a winning culture'; competitive with the top sides, killing off those around and below them
o sad for football, as South are not progressing

Let's hope both can return to the winners list more often in future times.

Collins deserves a big pat on the back for what he's done in just two seasons - ultimately judgement will be more focussed in 2010, when expectation is that another step (into finals) needs to be taken.

Good luck to both clubs for the future.

ST...

[redandblack]

Sampson had South doing tackling practice at 3qtr time ...... what a disgrace of a club South have become.

I have been a long time critic but yesterday they took it to new heights. I could not believe what I witnessed - get out of the comp you losers!

It's not long ago that North were on the bottom, ML.

On your logic, we now get rid of South, then you'll want to get rid of the next bottom team, and so on. One day you might find it's your team's turn.

You get rid of South and although their support is not high, their supporters are then lost to the SANFL forever. Their remaining supporters, through necessity, are the most loyal supporters in the SANFL and deserve our support, not the dumb, easy, cheap shot 'losers' tag from so-called SANFL supporters.

[bundy]

Sampson had South doing tackling practice at 3qtr time ...... what a disgrace of a club South have become.

I have been a long time critic but yesterday they took it to new heights. I could not believe what I witnessed - get out of the comp you losers!

Ml you are the disgrace, making stupid statements like that.Look in your own backyard and your team not long ago.

[CENTURION]

There were south supporters there? Didnt notice any.

You know you're struggling when Westie fans start bagging you

After five wooden spoons in a row every bloodhound has its day and they have to get to bag someone! - Hope they dont listen to Midnight Oil though!

Conquistador of Mexico
The Zulu and the Navaho
The Belgians in the Congo
Plantation in Virginia
The Raj in British India
The deadline in South Africa

The story of El Salvador
The silence of Hiroshima
Destruction of Cambodia

Short memory, must have a short memory

The sight of hotels by the Nile
The designated Hilton style
With running water specially bought

A smallish man Afghanistan
A watch dog in a nervous land
They're only there to lend a hand
The friendly five a dusty smile
Wake up in a sweat at dead of night
And in the tents new rifles, hey, short memory

why would anyone listen to such a hypocrite as Peter Garrett?

[redandblack]

West v South from a Blood’s supporter’s viewpoint:

We’ve been used to games being over after 10 minutes for years now, but there was something different about yesterday. Sure, for some supporters it was great to watch some clean, fast flowing football, finished off with clinical precision to blow a game apart early, but for West supporters used to years of wondering if we’d struggle up to our average of 9 goals a game, it was a wonderfully confusing spectacle.

We’d seen us score the first 3 goals of a game early and then kick our 4th halfway through the third quarter many times before, but 2009 has been different. We’re getting better each week and quietly note the number of sides who claim they’ve played their worst game of the year against us, not because of our good play, but purely because they were down.

I watched the unfancied South Under 18’s wipe our 18’s off the park earlier, then watched Port rookie, big Matthew Martin kick 7 great goals as our Ressies won easily. To the main game, where we dominated early. Well, we dominated nearly all day. First to the ball, tough and direct, West put on an exhibition, to show that when the game plan works, it will worry any side. Although it made little difference, I thought South were a bit stiff with a couple of umpiring decisions, especially a very good tackle paid as ‘in the back’, that cost a goal.

There’s not much point recounting the game, with Westies passing the 20 goal mark before ¾ time and players from both teams just going through the motions in the last quarter, so I’ll go through the best players instead.

For West, James Ezard, once again, was dominant. Most of the class on-ballers in the league amass possessions because they know where to go to get the ball. Ezard does also, but he gets more hard earned ball than anyone else. Magarey Medal thoughts might be a bit premature, but he has to come into calculations now. The much maligned Steve Bailey had 16 possessions in the second quarter, run his proverbial off all day and used the ball well. Port Power’s future ruck problems might be eased by the form of Matthew Lobbe, who rucked well and was significant all around the ground. Ryan Ferguson once again showed why he’s not only the best defender in the league, but also the most courageous and Ryan Bennett continued his amazing transition from Renmark to an SANFL key forward with 4 strong goals. Fort Caruso relished being released from permanent forward duties to be an influential on-baller, kicking 3 goals as well and Bronik Davies toughness and run was outstanding all day. There were good players everywhere. Steve Morris was uncompromising and got plenty of good footy, Scott Bricknell gave terrific run from defence, Ben Fisher continued his excellently consistent form and Daniel Webb would have continued to impress AFL scouts looking for young tall forwards.

It has to be said that South were worse than poor. Their loyal supporters would have had every right to be dirty on them. West supporters well know how they feel. A win might have been blown away early, but they have a right to expect a team to put their body on the line for the rest of the game. Only a few did that. Not being familiar with South, of course, I’ll do my best to summarise their few better players. Cockshell was easily their best and could hold his head high. He and Lobbe both played well and had a great battle. Cockshell rucked just about all day and tried his heart out, with little support. After Cockshell, it was really hard. Torney tried hard, got a bit of the footy, but wasn’t effective, Cook came under notice now and again, but a lot of his possessions were deep in defence (then again, that’s where the ball was most of the day). Warren was well held by Cupido most of the day, but got away late to finish with three goals. I thought young Splitt showed promise, Farmer will be handy as he settles in and although he hardly touched the ball, McKenna had a good battle with Webb and although Sandery didn’t get much of it, I thought he tried hard.

James Boyd must have nightmares at the thought of Steve Morris running with him and was unsighted, apart from a few cheap possessions, while even South supporters would rightly say that some of the efforts by some wearing the blue and white bordered on embarrassingly non-competitive.

West were great and kicked straight. The margin can be forgotten, but their continued improvement can’t. I hope that such a poor result for South might be the catalyst for major action to be taken to turn around the attitude and fortunes of the Panthers. Their supporters, like Bloods’ fans, have proven their loyalty more than any others and deserve better from their club.

[blueandwhite]

Surely one of the darkest days in the 132yr history of the SAFC.

Thank you for your support R&B. Being a South Adelaide supporter and a passionate one is not easy-unfortunately it never has been. Who would support a club like South with its appalling record over the last 50 years ? Well a few still do and I'm proud to say I'm one of them. Our supporters are truly the most loyal in the sanfl.
Unfortunately the cheap, shallow,baiting barbs posted by ML are all too commonplace these days, as Southees we experience them at most sanfl venues where we play, but not at Richmond yesterday. Westies people know what the bottom of the ladder is like and obviously had some empathy for us.

As one of my fellow southees remarked to me at halftime yesterday, perhaps unfortunately we need a few performances like this for the penny to drop and then something may happen.
While it is easy to blame the players, the buck surely must stop with the board and the management of the club. The management must take ownership and responsibility for yesterdays result and the calamity we have witnessed this season.

[MagareyLegend]

I stand by my comments.

To relate the debacle that is South Adelaide Football Club since 1964 to any lean periods my club has endured in its history is totally inappropriate.

In any case North Adelaide premiers 1900, 1902, 1905, 1920, 1930-31, 1949, 1952, 1960, 1971-72, 1987, 1991 (13 total) and Champions of Australia in 1972 versus South Adelaide 1877, 1885, 1892-93, 1895-96, 1898-99, 1935, 1938, 1964 (11 total) surely says it all.

[Cambridge Clarrie]

Sampson had South doing tackling practice at 3qtr time ...... what a disgrace of a club South have become.

I have been a long time critic but yesterday they took it to new heights. I could not believe what I witnessed - get out of the comp you losers!

Idiot.

[redandblack]

Sampson had South doing tackling practice at 3qtr time ...... what a disgrace of a club South have become.

I have been a long time critic but yesterday they took it to new heights. I could not believe what I witnessed - get out of the comp you losers!

Idiot.

You sum up the thoughts of so many in one appropriate word, CC.

[am Bays]

R&B

There are a solid core of 1500 Bays supporters (not me as I was elsewhere 2000 -2007 but paid up though) ET, Pseudo, bayman, Mr JBeam et al who are every bit as loyal as West and South supporters during our dark years. Sorry to have a go on this thread but it irks me when people overlook our solid core who were there in the dis-Honorable years.

Yes South and West have a solid core of supporters who deserve the recognition you so aptly have mentioned here.

I saw a solid core of Norwood supporters yesterday who are doing it tough. Sturt, North and up until 2000 Centrals had that same solid core of loyal supporters who endured the bad times.

To me you can't put any one group of clubs' diehard supporters above the other, when it comes to loyalty

[redandblack]

Thanks for that, am Bays and I don't disagree with you at all. I suppose I was just stating the obvious fact that all the other clubs have had some reasonable success over the last 50 years and that South supporters haven't had much to cheer about for such a long time. Those left still supporting South week after week have my respect and admiration and I still think they are amongst the most loyal of supporters..

Having said that, I'm not meaning that any one individual South supporter is any more loyal or passionate about their club than most of us on here. I don't always agree with what you and other posters write, am Bays, but I certainly love your loyalty to your Club and I know you're as loyal and passionate about your Club as anyone.

For the record, I think I'm still an honorary Snout (?) and I enjoy the Glenelg boys contributions and catching up with them when I can. Look forward perhaps to meeting you at City Mazda soon, perhaps.

[southee]

Sampson had South doing tackling practice at 3qtr time ...... what a disgrace of a club South have become.

I have been a long time critic but yesterday they took it to new heights. I could not believe what I witnessed - get out of the comp you losers!

Mate, I remember watching footage on TV a few years ago with all your North supporters marching down Prospect way trying to save the survival of you club. Oh how the memory forgets.....

[PhilH]

Marching I might add with an odd supporter or two from other clubs who also didnt want to see an SANFL club fold.

[dedja]

Sampson had South doing tackling practice at 3qtr time ...... what a disgrace of a club South have become.

I have been a long time critic but yesterday they took it to new heights. I could not believe what I witnessed - get out of the comp you losers!

Mate, I remember watching footage on TV a few years ago with all your North supporters marching down Prospect way trying to save the survival of you club. Oh how the memory forgets.....

Short Memory indeed ML ...

[Blacky]

very short must be suffering from CRAFT

[southee]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zEWaUgr ... annel_page

In your face ML

[tigerland09]

Sampson had South doing tackling practice at 3qtr time ...... what a disgrace of a club South have become.

I have been a long time critic but yesterday they took it to new heights. I could not believe what I witnessed - get out of the comp you losers!

ML that is one of the most stupid comments i have heard on here, if you kicked out teams that peform badly for a period like south are after a whil you would be left with no one. West and the tigers would both of been gone in the last 10 yrs if that was the case.

[Sojourner]

Sampson had South doing tackling practice at 3qtr time ...... what a disgrace of a club South have become.

I have been a long time critic but yesterday they took it to new heights. I could not believe what I witnessed - get out of the comp you losers!

Without trying to play Devils Advocate, I think ML may well only be saying comments that perhaps a section of those that follow SANFL may well have shared at times over the years. When I grew up I suppose we had the luxury of their being a Woodville Football Club who in their short history had not won a flag and were a side that South generally played well against. Woodville have since become one of the most competitive sides in the SANFL and South are left at the bottom of the table and in terms of win loss ratios are a likely candidate to be the most under performing side in the SANFL. Sides like Central, Sturt and now Westies clearly can show that they can do their time at the bottom of the ladder and become competitive in the SANFL, South on the other hand can not. I don't have the stats handy but the number of times we have played in the finals since our last worse season in 1988 you can probably count on one hand.

It should not be unreasonable to expect a football club to at least see some type of resemblance of a cycle of success, all the sides in the WAFL have won a Premiership in the last 25 or so years except the new side Peel, it does the aims of the SANFL competition little good to see a club continiously floundering and being the charity case of the competetion. Hence why statements like the above are made from time to time.

The Irony is that South are or will soon be easilly the most cashed up side in the competition and the last club likely to fold for financial reasons. If there were consequences for a consistant poor standard of football, I do feel South would improve, I do think the lack of there being any actual consequence for poor performances has led to the current mess we are in.

[Cambridge Clarrie]

The Irony is that South are or will soon be easilly the most cashed up side in the competition and the last club likely to fold for financial reasons. If there were consequences for a consistant poor standard of football, I do feel South would improve, I do think the lack of there being any actual consequence for poor performances has led to the current mess we are in.

I agree. The fact that South haven't had to win to ensure their survival may indeed have further fostered a sense of complacency... They need someone to take the club by the scruff of the neck and change the culture. I thought Jack was that man so couldn't understand why they wouldn't just give him free reign for a year to have a go at turning the club around...

It's plainly obvious that the culture is rotten. Mediocrity is accepted. Like some other posters, I have great admiration for the South supporters who get out there each week with the continual hope that the team might just put forward an honest performance.

Things will eventually turn around. The trouble is, I'm thinking that at the moment that point may be getting further and further away...

Getting rid of a club is a ridiculous suggestion. There's nothing wrong with the SANFL having an odd number of teams (if I were a player I'd appreciate a bye every couple of months).