SA Footy

Post your thoughts about the game here.

looks like no-one went, Mightyeagles!

good win by the Double Blues against a desperate Port outfit
tight game with neither team giving much in the first half and Sturt went into half time with a 4 goal break, the 3rd quarter was good with both sides getting a run on, Port got to within 3 points but then Sturt kicked away and got out to 42 points at one stage and then held on in the last 1/4 to win by 29
best for Sturt, Wicksy again, Nelson, McGlone, Fittock and young Thring showed signs, Chambo kicked 4 to take his tally for the year to 89
for Port J. Clayton again, Elstone, DePasquale

not a bad crowd today either, not sure what it was but it looked like 3500 to 4000

Port 9.9 (63)
Sturt 13.13 (91)

Re-posting from db.org:

I think that's 3 in a row at Alberton as well. Must be a while since we've done that! (Cue Spelly)

Good team performance today, with the pivotal part of the game being the latter part of the 3rd quarter. I thought our 1st qtr was good but could have been even better with some straight kicking. The second quarter was a stalemate on the scoreboard but I think Port wasted some chances in attack. It did seem that the breeze was stronger out on the park than in the terraces for much of the game.

Wicks is in career best form and was BOG for mine. It was amazing how much latitude he was allowed all day and his disposal was pretty much spot on. McGlone and Nelson also had great games as did big Fabs who provided another forward option in the 3rd quarter. Chambo was pretty well held after half time. Many other contributers...Bentley early on, Fittock was solid yet again, Crane I think did the job on Clayton in the first half, Eckers had some good moments, as did Sheeds, Feast and young 'Frank' Thring.

A great result in Feast's 200th who was appropriately carried off the ground, victorious.

For Port, I think J. Clayton was dangerous when moved into the forward line but he was well held before that. Perry was good on Chambers after quarter time. Elstone, Murray, Thurgood and Summerton were all servicable.

Was Big Phil doing boundary rider media duties for Life FM today ?

it was a good win from sturt, port tried there heart out but they rely too much on summerton and j clayton. hargraves and waterhouse did nothing today, about time one of them hung up there boots.

kookas wrote:it was a good win from sturt, port tried there heart out but they rely too much on summerton and j clayton. hargraves and waterhouse did nothing today, about time one of them hung up there boots.

Hargraves just not sighted, I thought Clive tried hard and he kicked a nice long goal but the reliance on J. Clayton is huge

lesthemechanic wrote:Was Big Phil doing boundary rider media duties for Life FM today ?

No I wasn't les...

I actually got my first gig up in the box doing special comments and around the grounds / AFL scores because Phil Herden was sick and Daniel Schell pulled out from the special comments role. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a good game to be involved in the call with. Was great to work up close with John Nankervil and Doug Oakley, both great callers of SANFL football and today was no exception.

As for the game itself...

FINAL SCORES:
STURT: 4.4, 5.5, 11.7, 13.13 (91)
PORT: 0.2, 1.6, 5.8, 9.9 (63)

GOAL SCORERS:
Sturt: Chambers 4.4, Perrie 2, Gum, Bentley, Wicks, Eckermann, Nelson, DeLuca, Thring
Port: Thurgood, J. Clayton 2, Murray, Waterhouse, Summerton, Dolling, M. Clayton

MY BETTER PLAYERS:
STURT: Wicks, McGlone, Crane, Nelson, DeLuca, Fittock, Bentley, Herring, Gum
PORT: J.Clayton, Summerton, Elstone, Perry, Murray, Thurgood, Perkins

Crowd: 3,973 - Not too bad I thought

I thought that the Maggies looked pretty good in the early stages of the opening term but were just not effective with the ball going into attack, kicking against a breeze that was slightly across wind, blowing toward the scoreboard. Chambers looked very dangerous early but was a little inaccurate in the first term while Joel Perry fought back well in the 2nd half of the game to be amongst Port's better players. Daniel Wicks was superb on the wing, finding so much space and using the ball well while Ryan Herring and Tristian Gum were impressive across that half forward line for Sturt. Fabian DeLuca was pretty good in the ruck as well after coming back to the SANFL from about 4 weeks in the AFL with Port Power. He and 200 gamer Simon Feast had a good battle with Port's James Mieklejohn and Kerren Hall.

Young Pat Fittock was very impressive on the more experienced Daniel Hargraves while I thought Scott McGlone and Greg Bently were solid for Sturt in the first half. Port threw up a challenge in the 2nd term and Clive Waterhouse looked dangerous up forward but he was unable to make the most of his goal scoring opportunities kicking 2 behinds and 1 out on the full. Skipper Corey AhChee started up forward and looked good while Matthew Lokan and Josh Thurgood were providing good run and drive from the half back line. The second term was a bit of a dour struggle with both sides only managing 1 goal a piece but Port rued missed opportunities in front of goal with a little inaccuracy, kicking 4 behinds as well. Luke Crane and Jeremy Clayton were having a great battle in the midfield with honours being shared up until half time.

Unfortunately impressive 2nd gamer Brad Mercer went down with what looked to be a serious knee injury leaving the Maggies 1 down on the bench but they certainly lifted in the 3rd term to get right back into the game, beofre Sturt stretched their lead late. The home side had a great 10 minute spell throughout the 3rd term after Tim Ginever shifted Mark Clayton up forward who gave them a strong target in attack while young Steve Summerton dribbled through a clever snap shot for goal of the day. Showing the true fighting spirit synonymous with the team from down Alberton way, the Magpies got right back into the contest bridging the gap to as little as 3 points, before the Double Blues took control late in the 3rd term. Sturt lifted their work rate and were able to convert on the scoreboard taking their lead out 35 points at the final change.

The visitors looked like they would go on to record a comfortable win in the last term but to the Magpies credit, they didn't give up the battle outscoring their more fancied opponents 4 goals to 2. The superstar in Jeremy Clayton was moved to full forward, kicking 2 six pointers himself and playing a part in another couple of Magpie majors. Josh Thurgood was also thrown into attack and bobbed up with 2 late goals but in the end, Rick MacGowan's side settled to kick their 2 goals for the term in the latter stages going on to record a comfortable 5 goal victory. With the Double Blues win, they hold top spot on the ladder for another week while the Magpies managed to keep their spot in the 5 despite the loss due to the fact that 6th placed North Adelaide went down to the Bays at Challenge Recruitment Oval.

Finally, congratulations to big Simon Feast on reaching his 200 game milestone in the SANFL today. A great effort from the premiership ruckman who was appropriately chaired from the ground after the win on the shoulders of team mates Brant Chambers and James McLeay. Well done Feasty, a great effort.

Good summary Phil

I thought Ports forwards were pathetic for most of the game, you'd hate to be a backman at Port Magpies, they are always under pressure because their forwards don't work hard enough off the ball with their 1% ers, chasing, tackling, holding the ball inside 50.
Sturt were more accountable than their opponents today.

I thought Port threw everything they had at Sturt today, but they rely on too few to do too much. All credit to them though, they tried their hardest. Sturt looked better today than they have for weeks, but are still not back to the best we have seen this season.

godoubleblues wrote:

kookas wrote:it was a good win from sturt, port tried there heart out but they rely too much on summerton and j clayton. hargraves and waterhouse did nothing today, about time one of them hung up there boots.

Hargraves just not sighted, I thought Clive tried hard and he kicked a nice long goal but the reliance on J. Clayton is huge

Waterhouse did more than Hargraves but not by much

I have to say that Clive's game today seemed very selfish to me...taking a mark on 50, then walking from his mark with his back to goal, taking impossible pot-shots at goal without looking for a teamate in a better position. I am guessing that teams with those types of key forward don't tend to win many GFs. He was soundly thrashed by Fittock.

As for Hargraves...he just looked, well...ginger

They both got to learn theres more to the game of football than having the ball delivered on a silver platter, there is such a thing as chase, tackle, shepherd, harrass, smother, its what they call 1%ers & thats very much what TEAM FOOTBALL is all about.

purch wrote:I have to say that Clive's game today seemed very selfish to me...taking a mark on 50, then walking from his mark with his back to goal, taking impossible pot-shots at goal without looking for a teamate in a better position. I am guessing that teams with those types of key forward don't tend to win many GFs. He was soundly thrashed by Fittock.

As for Hargraves...he just looked, well...ginger

I agree Waterhouse was beaten but as you have put it, he did take some grabs and because Fittock had his measure was forced to be selfish with impossible shots on goal. which is more than what Hargraves did all game. Did he even have a set shot on goal???

Where is Fittock from, he seems to be a silent achiever, is he from Sturt's junior sides?

GWW wrote:Where is Fittock from, he seems to be a silent achiever, is he from Sturt's junior sides?

he came down from Darwin at the start of 07, played one or two games at the end of last year

It's always good to come away from Alberton with a win. That's 3 in a row now.
More importantly it's great to come away from Alberton alive!
I would have thought Port would have been a tougher opponent than what was shown today, considering they are still playing for a spot in the finals.
A pretty scrappy game by both sides. The oval surface was pretty good, a little spongy, but nothing like the bog at Unley at the moment.
I'm sure that training on a bog has a big bearing on how a team plays, especially in the skills department.

purch wrote:I think that's 3 in a row at Alberton as well. Must be a while since we've done that! (Cue Spelly)

It hasn't been a while - it's actually the first time that Sturt have won three in a row at Alberton.

spell_check wrote:

purch wrote:I think that's 3 in a row at Alberton as well. Must be a while since we've done that! (Cue Spelly)

It hasn't been a while - it's actually the first time that Sturt have won three in a row at Alberton.

Wow! Gotta love that! Superbitch status?