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Grassroots: Local footy round-up

Sep 02, 2015
Luke Barmby in action during Centrals' must-win game against South. Photo: Peter Argent

Luke Barmby in action during Centrals' must-win game against South. Photo: Peter Argent

In this week’s column, the stats reveal why crowds might be staying away from the SANFL, a couple of country titles settled, landmarks in the SANFL finals, and the tight battle for the Ken Farmer Medal.

Bulldogs bolt in

Before grabbing fifth spot on the final Saturday of the minor round, Central District had not been in the top five at any other point during the minor round.

“We won six of the last eight games,” Bulldogs coach Roy Laird said.

“Early in the season we’d won just one of our first six and there was a draw in there as well.

“(It’s a) credit to the playing group and their attitude to persists and hang in there.

“The group was competitive in every game we played it this year.

“‘We dragged the mistake ratio back our way in the second half of the season as well.”

Surviving a late charge by the South Adelaide side on a pristine and amazingly windless day at Noarlunga Oval, the Bulldogs have bounded into the major round with a seven-point victory.

Just needing to win, Central District leap-frogged the Panthers into fifth place and an elimination final berth against Norwood.

The star in the contest was defender “Milky” Luke Barmby who dominated as a long kicking and dashing half back.

His efforts included two huge bombs from outside the 50 metre arc, which resulted in team lifting goals.

SANFL getting too defensive

The simple statistics prove it: there has been a dramatic shift towards the defensive side of the game by our state league coaches.

This year the average “points for” over the course of the minor round has been two goals down on each of the past three seasons. That equates to an average of four fewer goals being kicked per game this year.

And we wonder why the crowd attendances are down.

Memo to the SANFL coaches: if you play more attacking football, this will elevate the interest in SANFL football and the passion of the supporters.

Year       “Points For”   Average

2015          12,280                 68.22 (18 games)

2014          14,523                 80.68 (18 games)

2013          14,429                 80.16 (20 games)

2012          14,606                 81.14 (20 games)

2011          15,404                  85.57(20 games)

2010         13,979                   77.66 (20 games)

Milestones in first week of finals

West coast lad who started at Port Adelaide and went on to be a premiership player with Central District, Kyle “Alfie” Jenner will play his 150th league game against Norwood in the Elimination Final on Sunday.

“Alfie has always been team-driven footballer,” says Bulldogs coach Roy Laird.

“He is a courageous and ‘hard at it’ player.

“One of Alfie’s strength he has a strong football brain.

“There is no doubt he’s influential member of our group.”

Jenner started his career with Port Adelaide, debuting in 2005 before playing the ’08 season back on the West Coast with the Cleve Bombers. He had a second crack at the SANFL with the Bulldogs the following year.

“The 2010 premiership was the absolute highlight – being dropped for the ’09 grand final was the catalyst to ensuring that didn’t happen again,” Jenner told InDaily.

West Adelaide midfielder/forward Shannon Green plays his 100th League match in the Qualifying Final against Port Adelaide on Sunday.

From the Edwardstown junior program like team mates Adam Hartlett and Nick Homberg, Green made his SANFL debut in 2007 against North Adelaide at Prospect Oval, under Wayne Weidemann.

“It has taken too many years to get here,” Green laughed.

“I must have averaging about nine or 10 games a season.

“My second 50 certainly came around more quickly than the first.”

Under previous coach Andy Collins he played predominately as a half back. That changed in the final game of the 2014 season when new coach Mark Mickan pushed him forward. The move has paid off, with Green kicking 42 goals this year – easily his best scoring effort in any season.

“Previously to this year, I had 10 or so goals in my entire league career,” he said.

Ron not ready for recall

With Seamus Maloney resigning with one year to run on his contract with Sturt have the Double Blues got a ready-made replacement in their Under 18s coach.

There is only one issue – he isn’t interested.

“It is the furthest thing from my mind at the moment,” Ron Fuller told InDaily.

“I’ve enjoyed my role with the under 18s.

“We were knocked out in the elimination finals by Glenelg, but I was proud of our effort.

“It’s not a level playing field, as they (the Bays) played a number of over-agers and a lad came back (Mason Redman), who was playing league last week.”

Ron Fuller has ruled out stepping up to the Sturt senior coaching job.

Ron Fuller has ruled out stepping up to the Sturt senior coaching job.

Fuller took on the Sturt role  after finishing his league tenure at South Adelaide.

He was a successful junior coach at the Eagles, before he took over the senior role and took Woodville West Torrens to the 2006 flag.

Maloney was appointed as the Sturt’s Senior Coach in a part-time capacity in mid ‘11.

Last season he coached the team to their first final’s appearance since 2009, although they lost in straight sets.

The Double Blues, who last won a flag in 2002, finished eighth this year with six victories, dropping away dramatically in the second half of the season.

Country flags

There were a couple of country flags decided last weekend.

In the grant final at the Far West Aboriginal Sporting Complex, Thevenard Magpies triumphed over the Koonibba Roosters by five goals.

The Mapgies controlled the majority of the contest. They were 39 points up at the main break and, even after letting the Roosters kick five foals of the match, Thevenard still had a big win.

Brayden Paues was the Magpies best followed by Matthew Hartwig (four goal), Jarrad Trowbridge and Lionel Wilson.

Keeping the Hornridge Magpies goal less to half time, the Roxby Districts side had a mammoth 99-point win in the Far North Grand Final at Roxby Late.

Mail Medallist James Telfer was also best on ground in the decider. Ryan Sargood, Alex Stopp and Gavin Shephard were key contributors as well.

The Pods versus Alleway show

The only real interest in the final round clash between Adelaide and Glenelg at Gliderol Stadium was who would take home “Ken” – the SANFL’s goal-kicking award, the Ken Farmer Medal.

Before the game started Alleway had 44 goals while Podsiadly, who started his season in defence, was sitting on 35.

As expected the Crows had a big win, but the main plot was all about which forward would win medal.

“Pods” was outstanding early and had eight goals to half time.

He kicked his 10th goal late in the third quarter and looked like romping away with the award.

Alleway’s first half was one to forget, being well beaten by Sam Shaw.

He finally crumbed his first goal of the game, 15 minutes into the third quarter and kicked a second on the three quarter time siren.

At this point Alleway was on 46 and Pods on 45.

James Podsiadly fell just short of snatching the Ken Farmer Medal.

James Podsiadly fell just short of snatching the Ken Farmer Medal.

In the last quarter the Glenelg veteran kicked a goal at the 10 minute mark to draw two clear.

But Podsiadly was still getting plenty of chances.

He had four shots at goal in the final term, but only snaffled 1.3, giving Alleway the medal by one straight kick.

Podsiadly had a night out – 29 disposals, 18 marks and 11.6 – the biggest haul in a SANFL game in many a day. Alleway finished with 3.3 and “Ken”.

Grassroots is published every Wednesday during the football season.

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