Round 7 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Super Saturday

A five-goal surge in the third quarter was enough to swing the game in Glenelg’s favour as it hung on for a spirited nine-point win against Central District at X Convenience Oval.

And it was sparked by an unlikely source in first-year Tiger Matthew Coulthard, who kicked two of his game-breaking four goals in the match-defining period.

Playing just his third Hostplus SANFL League game, the former South Adelaide junior displayed his class in the wet weather as his two majors in succession turned a three-point deficit into a nine-point advantage.

Bays milestone man Liam McBean, featuring in his 100th League match, then nailed a long set shot, followed by a conversion from Tiger Cole Gerloff which had the visitors suddenly riding high with a 22-point buffer.

A set shot goal to Central’s Oliver Shaw from distance was timely before the final change and when veteran teammate Justin Hoskin ventured down from defence to goal on the run, the Bulldog faithful were in full voice.

Dogs forward Aiden Grace then put the hosts within a kick with his set shot before that man Coulthard, produced a fine piece of play to effectively boot the sealing major in the 16th minute of the fourth quarter.

After a clean pick up and handball at centre-half forward, the 22-year-old raced back into his forward 50m arc to receive a handball from McBean before snapping truly from 20m.

Magarey Medallist Luke Partington finished with a game-high 36 disposals, six clearances and six tackles for the Bays as fellow midfielders Matthew Snook (27 disposals, 10 tackles) and Brett Turner (26 disposals, five clearances) also worked hard.

Tiger defenders Toby Pink and Brodie Newman were outstanding again, this time in the absence of captain Max Proud (calf), while forward Luke Reynolds showed off his preparedness to do the team thing by regularly finding himself at half-back to lend a hand.

Central showed tremendous endeavour to work its way back into the contest when it could have easily wilted in the wake of Glenelg’s third term blast.

Hard-running midfielder Harry Grant collected a team-high 28 disposals, eight clearances and eight tackles while Hoskin tallied 22 disposals, six marks and his fourth-term major.

Dogs captain Jarrod Schiller loved the conditions in tallying 20 disposals and a goal from stoppage while mobile ruckmen Billy McCormack (17 disposals) and opponent Cam McGree (15 disposals) had an entertaining duel throughout the afternoon.

A desperate lunge-tackle from star Sturt defender Casey Voss in the final minute helped Sturt continue its unbeaten run with a thrilling two-point win against South Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium. 

Needing a goal to secure a third win of the season, the Panthers had Ben Heaslip set to boot the ball deep into their 50m arc when Voss struck with a fine defensive play.

The force of his tackle ensured Heaslip couldn’t get boot to ball as the Double Blues regained possession to cling on for a seventh consecutive victory, equalling the club’s 7-0 start to the 1974 premiership campaign.

Sturt skipper James Battersby kicked two behinds earlier in the final quarter and just as it seemed the visitors had secured the premiership points, South’s Ben Shillabeer received a free kick in front of goal for an incident off the ball.

Shillabeer, an inclusion into the side for Round 7, duly converted in the 25th minute to give the hosts a pulse, only to be thwarted by Voss’ magnificent play.

Finishing with a team-high 24 disposals and 11 marks, Voss produced his best performance of the season as teammate Marty Frederick enjoyed the space at Noarlunga to register 21 disposals.

Double Blue Tom Lewis racked up an incredible 21 tackles to go with his 20 disposals while Battersby was his tireless self with 19 disposals, 11 tackles and five clearances.

Bigman Lachlan Burrows continued his fine form with three goals, including one one the run from 60m, while West End State forward Josh Hone booted two majors, including a checkside set shot from the boundary.

Losing forward Darnell Tucker, who was stretchered off in the 17th minute of the final term, the Panthers had Mitch O’Neill (25 disposals) and Kobe Mutch (24 disposals) battle hard through the centre square as Oliver Davis and Hayden Sampson had 19 touches each.

Former GWS forward Zac Sproule continues to impress in his first SANFL season for South, booting three goals to take his season tally to 18.

North Adelaide eventually wore down a persistent Port Adelaide as it held on for an eight-point victory at Prospect Oval.

Led by reigning Magarey Medallist Aaron Young and five-goal hero Noah Casalini, the Roosters threatened to break the game open on more than one occasion in the second half.

But the plucky Magpies kept coming, trimming their deficit to seven points midway through the fourth term before kicking the last two majors of the game deep into time-on.

And Tyson Goldsack’s charges were coming again as they entered deep into their 50m arc, only for Roosters defender Reed van Huisstede to take a well-judged contested chest mark to take the sting out of the visitors’ surge.

Bob Quinn Medallist Casalini, a potential selection in Wednesday’s AFL Mid-Season Draft, kicked three of his five game-breaking goals when it mattered most in the final term.

The classy left-footer has a knack of timing his run nicely off hands, as he did with one of his snapshot goals as he brought the Prospect faithful to life nearing the final siren.

Casalini kicked 5.2 from his 16 disposals while Dyson Hilder was also effective in attack for the hosts with four goals from 12 disposals and six marks.

Young returned to his brilliant best for the first time in 2023 while racking up 30 disposals, 12 clearances and two goals.

North wings Jake Patmore (27 disposals) and Frank Szekely (26 disposals) continued their hot touch while AAMI Rookie Max Blacker found the ball easily on debut to collect 25 disposals and 11 marks in an exciting sign for the future.

Port had the consistent Trent Dumont lead its disposal tally with 25 and a goal while Jase Burgoyne registered 24 possessions.

Second-year draftee Josh Sinn produced arguably his best SANFL game with 24 disposals, seven marks and two goals while bigman Brynn Teakle keeps up the selection pressure with 20 touches and six clearances.

Woodville-West Torrens jumped into the top five with an emphatic 56-point win against West Adelaide at Hisense Stadium.

Restricting the hosts to just one goal for the first half, the Eagles looked every bit a finals-bound outfit as Fos Williams Medallist James Rowe continued his hot form with three goals and 26 disposals.

Rowe’s impact on the match was significant as he not only hit up teammates but also the scoreboard as he helped ensure his side would lead comfortably at each change en route to a third win of the season.

The 23-year-old former Crow received great support from midfielders Riley Knight (28 disposals, six clearances) and Adam D’Aloia (27 disposals) while skipper Joseph Sinor remains on a high after captaining his State to victory, collecting 24 disposals, laying 13 tackles and kicking a goal.

Wodonga recruit Max Beattie again hit the scoreboard for the visitors with 2.2 from his 17 disposals and seven marks as he makes a seamless transition into SANFL ranks as long-kicking left-footer Will Pearce also bagged a pair.

The loss was West’s most disappointing this season after displaying plenty of spirit in each previous outing, regardless of the result, under first-year mentor Adam Hartlett.

Rebounding defender Callum Park again led the way statistically for the Bloods, racking up 25 disposals while acting captain Isaac Johnson registered 21 disposals and nine marks.

GWS recruit Sam Frost returned to the line-up after a hamstring strain to show great promise with 22 disposals, six marks, six clearances and six tackles in his third outing for the hosts.