Round 21 1999

GLENELG

2. RAIDIS, Michael

3. REUBENICHT, Grant

5. HIGGINS, Brett

7. NICHOLAS, Simon

9. BURKE,Alistair

11. WINSTANELY, Todd

13. SCRIPPS, Justin

14. BARTLETT, Alan

16. SHERWOOD, Paul

18 MCENTEE, Ben

20. KELLY, Richard

21. CHIGWIDDEN, Nick (C)

24. VISKA, Mark

25. CARR, Joshua

29. GRENVOLD, David

33. GIGNEY, Damian

36. PICIOANE, Lance

40. FOGDEN, Brooke

44. COOK, Sudjai

46. HOWARD, Brent

COACH: Tony McGuiness

1. BROWN, David

2. PEDLER, Simon

3. OBST, Andrew

4. PHILLIPOU, Samual

10. CLAYTON, Mark

11. SPANAGEL, Michael

12. ASHLEY, Mathew

13. HAHN, Scott

15. POULTON, Jared

16. SHEEHAN, Damian

17. FIEGERT, Nigel

18. KING, Jamie

20. FIORA, Aaaron

22. FRASER, Darren

23. McGUINESS, Phil

25. EVANS, Paul

26. MORGAN, Danny

28. WADE, Mark

30. POOLE, Darryl

32. NORTHEAST, Paul

33. O'LAUGHLIN, Ricky

41. DEMPSEY, Gregory

44. BROWN, Damian

46. BASCOMBE, Brenton

47. SMITH, Phillip

51. McDOWALL, Nathan

53. HOLMES, Shane

COACH: Stephen Williams

TIGERS STAKE CLAIM

By Doug Robertson.

A fast and furious Glenelg stormed into the top three yesterday, embarrassing Port Adelaide by beating the premier at its own crunching game at Glenelg oval. In the most outstanding style the Tigers have shown for more than five seasons, they powered to a near unblemished 17.9 (111) to 8.13 (61) win. A 10-goals to two last half virtually booked a finals spot and set up a genuine crack at the crucial double chance.

Coach Tony McGuinness had the Tigers playing a brand of uncomprimising football that has toppled all sides but Sturt- their opponent next week. McGuinness said yesterday's win was Glenelg's finest in his two seasons as coach.

Led by gutsy Richard Kelly and the tireless Nick Chigwidden, Glenelg played with a touch of genius that created an atmosphere reminiscent of their clashes with Port in the 1970s and 80s.

The only drawbacks for Glenelg were an injury to ruckman Brooke Fogden 90 seconds in, and a report on defender Michael Raidis by umpire Kevin Chambers for allegedly deliberately tripping Shane Holmes in the second term.

Glenelg knew on Friday night it had lost ruckman Matthew Golding to Adelaide, but when Fogden went down, McGuinness called Todd Winstanley off the bench with devastating effect. The former West Adelaide reserves defender- with Kelly and Chigwidden- immediately led the Tigers with aggression at the ball and fearless attack.

Glenelg laid 26 effective tackles to Port's 19 and each Tiger took delight in driving opponents into the turf when the chance arose.

Josh Carr was brilliant, with his in-close work on Port skipper David Brown having the most influence. The umpires- who enraged fans by missing head high tackles- tolerated Carr's persistant niggling on Brown, except for one occasion when a free on the wing resulted in a Magpie goal.

Glenelg belted Port 6.2 to 1.4 in a senstional third term and added 4.3 more as it powered home.

"It was no different to the way we have been playing. There is a consistency there and a genuine attack on the footy," McGuinness said. The strength of the side is the ability to sustain pressure throughout a game."

Port coach Stephen Williams, face showed the opposiste side of a one-sided contest, at least after half time. He said he would not accept the substandard effort from his players, but admitted it was Glenelg's pressure that causes the Magpies to flop.

Williams said "a lot" of Magpies were now under notice that their spots were in jeopardy.

Glenelg played with aggression and spirit not seen for years to humble top side Port by 50 points at the Bay. Perhaps this year's premiership isn't a foregone conclusion after all. Glenelg have now won six in a row and are the new form team of the comp.
 
After Fogden went off early with a knock to the knee, the unheralded Winstanley took over in ruck to send the Tigers streaming into attack. Glenelg stormed out to kick the first three goals of the match and surprised the Magpies with their hardness at the ball, or the player with it. The Magpies then dragged themselves back into the match as Phil McGuinness found plenty of Sherrin and Evans awoke on the forward line to kick a couple. Port got as far as nine points up late in the second term and it seemed as tho' they had weathered the early storm and would take control as expected. However Glenelg rallied again through Carr (two goals), Kelly (25 disposals, 5 tackles and a goal) and Chigwidden (29 possessions and a goal) to grab back the lead before half-time.
 
After such a pulsating and even first-half the second-half could not have provided more of a contrast. Glenelg ruled supreme in virtually every position on the field to rattle on ten goals to two after half-time. Picioane and Sherwood were coolly in control in defence, six-gamer Ben Howard gathered touches and ran away from his opponents at will, McEntee (four goals) did a Graham Cornes impersonation in the forward line and Brett Higgins lurked for three goals against his old team. Feddema (three goals) and Bartlett (two) rounded out things on the forward line. For Port, McGuinness (28 possessions, 2 goals) and Brown (18 possessions) were really the only two players to shine. Fiegert in defence was okay and Ricky O'Loughlin (18 handlings and a goal) showed a bit of spark up forward but there were too many Port players willing to leave the hard work to their teammates.
 
About the only consolations Port have are that they were ripe for a loss after virtually sealing the minor premiership last week, and that they will have quite a few AFL-listed players to choose from (plus the injured Leys and Carter) if they meet Glenelg again in the finals. Glenelg have to realise that the finals haven't started yet and they will need to keep winning for another month if they want to become the first team since South in 1964 to go from bottom to top in one year.