Round 8 SANFL Snapshot – Super Saturday

North Adelaide responded to all of Port Adelaide’s challenges to assert itself at the top of the Hostplus SANFL League table with a 47-point win at Alberton Oval.

Now sitting nicely with a 7-1 win-loss record, the Roosters looked on track for a trouble-free afternoon when they kicked the first four goals of the game while keeping the Magpies to just three behinds in the opening term.

But the hosts, who lost goalsneak Orazio Fantasia early in the firs term with an injury to his left quad, managed to spring to life by trimming the margin back to three points late in the second term as Mitch Georgiades hit the scoreboard with two majors.

That would be Port’s last serious threat though, as another goalless quarter after half-time allowed North to strengthen its authority on the match as former Magpie Aaron Young enjoyed a day out with 41 disposals, 12 marks, four clearances and a goal.

Young was aided by the efforts of fellow Roosters Harrison Wigg (32 disposals), Campbell Combe (27 disposals) and Will Combe (24 disposals) as forward Dyson Hilder, Nigel Lockyer, Lachlan Grubb and Sam McInerney (two goals) shared the scoring load.

The only sour point for the visitors was the sight of Magarey Medallist Combe leaving the ground in the fourth term clutching at his hip, leaving North fans to hold their breath.

Port youngster Jase Burgoyne was a major positive for the afternoon with 33 disposals and four clearances off half-back, the son of Peter Burgoyne also taking an eye-catching pack mark in the final term.

Smooth-moving Jackson Mead had 22 disposals while Tom Corcoran was rock solid in defence with 23 disposals and seven marks.

Seeking to push their claims for AFL selection, Xavier Duursma and Georgiades both collected 20 possessions, the latter also kicking two goals.

Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Riley Knight inspired his side to a statement-making 49-point win against Sturt at Wigan Oval.

The former Crows on-baller was seemingly unstoppable on his way to racking up a remarkable 48 disposals and nine marks, while also laying five tackles as his side led at every change.

Seemingly strangling the life out of the fellow finals contender Double Blues, the Eagles had plenty of scoring threats at the other end as Daniel Menzel booted three goals while five teammates booted two each.

As Knight did as he pleased through the centre square, he had plenty of helpers as Dylan Clarke (29 disposals, 10 tackles) and Joseph Sinor (27 disposals, two goals) also had strong influences on the outcome.

First-year Eagles defender Lachlan Hoile collected a career-high 25 disposals and four clearances as the experienced Jimmy Toumpas made a welcome return from injury to register 23 possessions and nine marks.

Sturt midfield pair James Battersby (31 disposals, seven tackles, eight clearances) and Pat Wilson (25 disposals, 11 tackles, six clearances) tried to stem the tide but it was to no avail as creative forward James Richards booted three goals for the hosts.

Glenelg slipped and slided its way to an unflattering 32-point win against Central District at X Convenience Oval.

With the Elizabeth deck overwhelmed by sudden downpour minutes before the opening bounce, the Tigers were forced to roll up their sleeves to earn a gritty win on the road amid the puddles of surface water.

Restricting the Bulldogs to just three goals for the game, the visitors appeared in control of the contest throughout without translating this onto the scoreboard until forwards Lachie Hosie and Liam McBean booted a goal each during time-on of the fourth term.

Glenelg had far more of the ball with an extra 110 disposals and 10 more clearances, ensuring the Bulldogs would struggle to score despite only having one fewer inside 50m entry.

Recast Bays defender Darcy Bailey used the ball nicely in the wet conditions to rack up 33 disposals and eight marks while fellow defenders Max Proud and Andrew Bradley (19 disposals) were cool heads in the back half.

Jack Oatey Medallist Matthew Snook revelled in the weather to collect 30 disposals and nine tackles while Billy Stretch and Corey Lyons provided polish at times with 24 touches each.

McBean, Hosie and Luke Reynolds kicked two goals each while fellow Tiger Hugh Stagg made the most of an open 50m arc to pounce on a long ball from teammate Riley Holder.

Central’s Schiller brothers were unsurprisingly working tirelessly as Travis collected 23 disposals and Jarrod 21 while tall defender Jack Carpenter impressed in his second League game with 18 disposals, four marks and three tackles.

South Adelaide rejoined the winners list as it kept pace with the top five with a comfortable 30-point win against West Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium.

Having lost four of their past five games entering the contest, the Panthers produced a match-winning second half after trailing by a point at half-time to boot 8.5 to the Bloods 3.4 across the final two terms.

Both teams failed to register a goal in the opening quarter but South eventually translated its inside 50m advantage – 57 to 35 – onto the scoreboard as key forward Ryan Garthwaite (three goals) had plenty of support from creative goalsneaks Jye Menzie (three goals), Eamon Wilkinson (three goals) and Kim Kantilla (two goals).

Panthers ruck Keegan Brooksby asserted himself in the centre square and around the ground to tally 17 disposals, six marks, five tackles and 36 hit outs as the midfield load was shared by Oliver Davis (24 disposals, nine tackles, seven clearances), Hayden Sampson (26 disposals), Reece Milsom (20 disposals) and Sam Ramsay (20 disposals).

Polished Panthers defender Elliot Dunkin performed strongly against his old team for the first time, collecting 19 disposals while applying a staggering 16 tackles.

West was again led by Josh Carmichael, with the Merbein recruit finishing with 27 disposals and a massive 55m goal while defender Callum Park gained plenty of territory with his long kicks out of the back half.

Hamish Hartlett racked up 20 disposals for the Bloods while Josh Gore was extremely lively in booting four goals straight from his nine disposals.