|
|
|
| 1st
| 2nd
| 3rd
| Final
| Pts
|
| Sturt
| 5.0
| 6.3
| 8.10
| 9.11
| 77
|
| Glenelg
| 1.3
| 3.5
| 4.8
| 9.11
| 65
|
|
|
Unley Oval. Crowd 3,422
By PETER CORNWALL
Sturt stormed into the finals with a stunning 12-point win against minor premier Glenelg at Peter Motley Oval.
The Blues went into the clash knowing they had to beat the high-flying Tigers to be certain of competing in the major round for the fourth successive season but they also knew they would have to earn it – Mark Stone’s talented Glenelg line-up had lost just two of its previous 23 games.
Sturt, beaten at home in the previous two weeks by Norwood and Port Adelaide, set up the triumph with five goals to one with the strong breeze in the opening quarter but had to dig deep to claim the crucial win when the Tigers stormed home to the northern scoring end in the last term.
When Luke Reynolds soared over the pack for a spectacular mark, then slotted his second goal at the 14-minute-mark of the last quarter Glenelg was within just five points and looked primed to charge to its 14th win of the minor round.
But, despite kicking into the teeth of the strong wind, the Blues refused to concede their season was over. With human wrecking-ball Aidan Riley crashing through packs with a single-minded determination to get his hands on the footy first – he won a staggering 18 clearances in a remarkable performance – Sturt owned the decisive next 10 minutes of the game.
Steven Slimming earned a free kick 50m from goal – out of his range – but he handballed to defender Fraser Evans, who charged past and bombed a massive left-foot goal from 50m.
Tall forwards Jake Sutcliffe and Josh Patullo followed with majors and the Blues were out by 24 points at the 26-minute-mark, their elimination final spot sealed against long-time rival Norwood.
Glenelg kept coming for consolation goals from Jonty Scharenberg and Darcy Bailey but there was no late goal for Reynolds, who was left one goal short of sidelined team-mate Liam McBean in the race for the Ken Farmer Medal.
Hard-running Sam Colquhoun, the highest possession-winner in the SANFL this season, set the Blues on their way all day with 36 disposals, ever-improving 21-year-old ruckman Daniel Fahey-Sparks won a whopping 46 hit-outs, Matthew Crocker and skipper Zane Kirkwood earned plenty of the footy and Patullo stood tall on a day that seemed over for him when he was carried from the ground on a stretcher after a heavy knock early in the second quarter. He returned for the second half his head swathed in bandages and finished with four crucial goals.
Tigers midfielder Luke Partington again showed the touches of class that have him standing out as Magarey Medal favourite, earning 28 possessions, while powerpacked dual All-Australian under-18 defender Will Gould had 10 rebound-50s in his 22 clearing kicks as he continued to display what a bright future he has in the game.
Carl Nicholson provided plenty of dash with 21 touches in his first league game since Round 6 after being struck down by an Achilles injury.
Mark Stone’s Tigers, having earned their first minor premiership in a decade, have a week off before coming up against the winner of the Port v Adelaide qualifying final in the second semi-final on Sunday, September 8.
Glenelg’s Luke Reynolds finished with two goals, falling one shy of team-mate Liam McBean who won the Ken Farmer Medal with 46 majors.
LEADING DISPOSALS –
Sturt: Colquhoun 36, Crocker 26, F. Evans 25, Riley 23, Kirkwood 21.
Glenelg: Partington 28, Gould 27, Agnew 23, Nicholson 21, Motlop 20.
GOALS –
Sturt: Patullo 4, Sutcliffe 2, M. Evans, F. Evans, J. Hone, Pearce, Read.
Glenelg: Bailey 3, Reynolds 2, Motlop, Agnew, Slade, Scharenberg.
Best -
Sturt: D. Fahey-Sparks, A. Riley, R. Illman, F. Evans, J. Patullo, S. Colquhoun
Glenelg: M. Motlop, B. Agnew, L. Partington, B. Close, W. Gould
MAGAREY MEDAL VOTES -
3. Colquhoun (S)
2. Fahey-Sparks (S)
1. Partington (G))
