Round 1 2011

Glenelg produced one of their greatest ever comebacks to defeat Sturt by 19 points at Gliderol Stadium on Saturday.

The Tigers found themselves 41 points behind at the last change, but rallied to kick ten consecutive goals and create a piece of history that will be talked about for decades to come.

Before the drama of the final term unfolded however, it was a largely disappointing performance from the Bays. The match did begin with promise though as Glenelg set themselves with great tempo and quick ball movement through the middle and down the wing early.

By contrast Sturt struggled to kick with the breeze at their backs, consistently fading shots to the left in the first quarter. It took former Tiger Matthew Duldig to make the breakthrough for the Double Blues, and he went on to prove a focal point up front with four goals for the afternoon.

The lead began to seesaw as the game got scrappier and the sides went goal for goal into the second quarter, but the momentum shifted as Sturt’s run improved and they broke open a lead with consecutive goals. Kirkby steadied the Tigers with the team’s fourth, but the Double Blues continued to run the quarter out the stronger side and finished the half with an 11-point buffer.

From there the Tigers watched the Double Blues dominate the game, kicking five goals to none and seemingly setting up an unassailable 41-point lead. Glenelg looked lost and were easily beaten to the ball; mere spectators to the bitter-sweet sight of Duldig kicking three goals in 10 minutes

And after Brodie Martin goaled almost virtually from the first bounce of the final term, Sturt looked to have killed the game off.

But not buoyed by their significant deficit, the Tigers continued to press and kicked their first goal since the second quarter, through Trevor Cranston. They restored some momentum with quick-fire consecutive goals, and when second-gamer Drew Clayfield produced an inspirational long bomb to further cut the Sturt’s lead, it was evident that the turning point had arrived.

Glenelg continued to dictate play, and as Ruory Kirkby booted the Tigers’ fifth major in a row the game was well and truly on. With the sides at just 13 points apart with ten minutes left, Glenelg were too good all over the ground for a tiring Sturt side. As the deficit continued to close, it was left to debutant Wade Hancock to put the Tigers in front with his first kick of the day.

It would have been easy for Glenelg to let up but they didn’t give their opposition an inch, brushing Sturt aside in the final minutes to take out the game by 19 points and record a memorable victory.

The final quarter comeback, a reversal from 47 points down early in the last quarter to 19-point winners, was reportedly the equal biggest in League history.

Glenelg

• Goal Kickers: R. Kirkby 3, T. Cranston , W. Hancock , P. Adlington , D. Clayfield , T. Grima , K. Tenace , B. Murphy , B. Kane , D. Kirk , M. Ruwoldt , B. Agnew
• Best Players: P. Adlington, B. Kane, S. Rudolph, M. Ruwoldt, R. Kirkby, B. Murphy

Sturt

• Goal Kickers: M. Duldig 4, J. Plant 2, B. Martin 2, J. Johncock , C. Stokes , L. Crane , A. Riley
• Best Players: M. Jaensch, A. Thomson, A. Kurtze, J. Hinge, B. Martin, M. Duldig

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