Round 8 SANFL Previews

Courtesy of Chris Kendall, from the SANFL website and Sportsbeat:

2015 SANFL ROUND EIGHT PREVIEWS

West Adelaide v South Adelaide (City Mazda Stadium) – Friday 7.10pm
HEAD TO HEAD: WA 145, SA 96, Drawn 2
LAST THREE ENCOUNTERS:
2014 Rnd 17: SA 10.13 (73) d WA 8.2 (50)
2014 Rnd 1: SA 14.16 (100) d WA 8.3 (51)
2013 Rnd 21: WA 23.8 (146) d SA 3.11 (29)

Third hosing fourth in a great indication of where both of these teams are sitting in the overall scheme. West were brutal in their dismantling of Glenelg two weeks back, despite having a number of their Under 18 first choice players unavailable. Their slick ball movement, precise disposal and high scoring rate was far too much for a deflated Glenelg and sends an ominous warning to those who underestimate them. South had chances against Norwood but missed too many targets when rebounding from defence to gain sufficient momentum. Losing Nick Liddle before half time hurt their rotations, but some of those handed the opportunity to step up failed to grab it.

After an indifferent 2014 and some key inclusions, there is no question that the Bloods have adapted well to coach Mark Mickan’s style and are causing real headaches for opposition with the number of attacking options. South’s defence concedes an average of 71 points a match, against a West attack averaging 110 points a match, so this will be a real test of the Panthers’ resolve and ability to shut down the likes of Aaron Fielke, Jonathon Beech and Jason Porplyzia while kicking a winning score of their own. South need more talls in attack to take the load from Brett Eddy, as they enter the forward 50 plenty of times but tend to rely on crumbing forwards when Eddy is contained. At home, West look hard to hold out and move into second spot for at least 36 hours.
Radio: 5RPH
Tip: West Adelaide 13-24

North Adelaide v Norwood (Prospect) – Saturday 1.10pm

HEAD TO HEAD: NA 112, Nwd 144, Drawn 6
LAST THREE ENCOUNTERS:
2014 Rnd 15: Nwd 15.13 (103) d NA 7.8 (50)
2014 Rnd 4: NA 14.7 (91) d Nwd 9.16 (70)
2013 GF: Nwd 10.12 (72) d NA 4.8 (32)

A season that promised plenty for North has spiraled downwards rapidly, as they sit 1-5 and already looking unlikely to see finals action. Starting with great promise in a five goal opening term against the Eagles, they only kicked two more for the match and looked bereft of confidence the longer the game progressed. No such issues for the Redlegs, who withstood a challenge from South but held sway to build to a 6-1 record atop the ladder. Spreading their scoring options around again, with eight individual goalscorers, illustrated how hard it is to halt their flow from defence and close the midfield run.

The challenges for North in this encounter are all around the park and this will really stretch an outfit already undermanned through injury and form. The encouraging aspect for coach Ken McGregor is that a number of his less experienced players are taking their opportunity and responding, such as Kym Edwards and Heath Caldwell, and indicating their desire to turn things around at Prospect. Whether there are enough teammates willing to join them will be the challenge against the SANFL benchmark. Some of the lesser known names at The Parade, such as Pat Levicki and Henry Cross are seizing their chances and making it harder for the opposition to shut down all options, and their multi faceted attack is also proving very hard to close down consistently. While these clubs have shared some great battles over the years, on paper this doesn’t appear one of them.
Radio: 5RPH
Tip: Norwood 37-48

Central District v Adelaide (Playford Alive Oval) – Saturday 2.10pm

HEAD TO HEAD: CD 1, Adel 1
LAST TWO ENCOUNTERS:
2014 Rnd 10: CD 10.11 (71) d Adel 9.11 (65)
2014 Rnd 3: Adel 16.16 (112) d CD 9.7 (61)

Despite some narrow misses, the ledger still sits frustratingly at 1-5 for the Bulldogs. A lacklustre first term cost them a chance of the points last fortnight against Sturt, where the 19 point quarter time deficit wound back to 14 points by final siren, despite five goals from Bryce Retzlaff. The younger players have clearly indicated their willingness to buy into coach Roy Laird’s game plan, but their confidence needs a win to keep the spirits high. Adelaide are still yet to taste SANFL victory in 2015, and their penchant for playing in fits and starts again bit them when they coughed up a significant lead before a 35 point defeat at the hands of Port Magpies in Balaklava.

Central still play in fits and starts at times, but when allowed the space to move freely around Elizabeth Oval, they can work the ball quickly around the flanks into the forward 50, but they do need more attacking options outside of Retzlaff and Goodrem, who combined for eight of the 14 goals against Sturt. Their more experienced campaigners, however, need consistent support from the younger players, but oddly, it seems almost the opposite with Adelaide. Some of their older players are coming in and out of the contest, while top-up players like Charlie Molyneux, Matt Spencely and Luke Carey have been solid contributors. While Adelaide average 72 points a match, they concede an average of 92 points, and the promotion of Jake Lever to the AFL will only serve to make it tougher for their defence. This should be a close one, but will favour Central to bank the two points.

Radio: Life FM
Tip: Central District 13-24

Port Magpies v Glenelg (Alberton Oval) – Sunday 2.10pm

HEAD TO HEAD: Port 174, Gl 68, Drawn 6
LAST THREE ENCOUNTERS:
2014 Rnd 18: Gl 13.14 (92) d Port 8.12 (60)
2014 Rnd 2: Port 29.15 (189) d Gl 5.7 (37)
2013 Rnd 23: Port 14.12 (96) d Gl 11.14 (80)

The Magpies found their mojo against Adelaide with a devastating second half to take the points at Balaklava, but still don’t look to be the same dominant force of 2014. No question that some injuries at AFL level have hurt their SANFL options, but allowing for that, they don’t seem to have the same freedom of movement and ability to score as quickly as they did last year. Glenelg’s 2015 season is slowing sinking to an abyss, with a 112 point hiding at the hands of West last fortnight taking them to their lowest ebb to date. The loss of Clint Alleway further robbed coach Matthew Lokan of firepower in attack but he should derive a degree of encouragement from the Tigers still having 22 scoring shots.

While Glenelg are such a work in progress, it is hard to make a genuine case for them here. Fans will point to last year’s final round victory, but that was against a Magpies that looked to have mentally shut up shop to focus on the major round. In a situation where they are sitting just inside the five, Port need to start building wins if they are to make another grand final run. Some of the younger Tigers like Darcy Bailey are taking encouragement from the younger leaders such as Brad Agnew in lifting their workrate, but the class edge is still too apparent at times. When hit on the counterattack, Glenelg are too often exposed through the middle for accountability which allows the opposition to score quickly and freely. Too many factors in Port’s favour here.

Streamed through www.lifefm.net
Tip: Port 37-48

Woodville/West Torrens v Sturt (Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval) – Sunday 2.10pm

HEAD TO HEAD: W/WT 46, St 19
LAST THREE ENCOUNTERS:
2014 Rnd 11: Sturt 15.12 (102) d W/WT 9.8 (62)
2014 Rnd 4: W/WT 17.11 (113) d St 15.17 (107)
2013 Rnd 17: St 13.6 (84) d W/WT 9.15 (69)

Second hosting sixth in a match that could already have some ramifications for finals action. Sturt are already three games and considerable percentage clear of seventh placed Central and a victory here could almost close the door on the pack making a run for the major round. The Eagles will be eyeing top spot, being one match behind Norwood, but more than six percent clear and the latter percentage situation may become crucial as the season progresses. The fashion in which they clinically dispatched North a fortnight back would have been noted by opposition clubs, with their ability to dictate the tempo of games becoming a major factor. Sturt had some worries against Central but their class and poise came to the fore to take the points, led by continually improving big men Fraser Evans and Jack Stephens.
Sturt have had a habit of spoiling the party at Woodville in recent times, winning the last three encounters at the ground, and the Eagles will be very wary of taking them easily here. An eleven goal to two second half in last year’s encounter at this ground raised some doubts about the Eagles ability to close out winning positions and coach Michael Godden will be hammering home the need to maintain focus from the opening bounce. Ruckman Fraser Thorlow will be better for an encouraging first up run against North, but facing the league’s leading hitout team will give him a stern test, particularly with the Eagles being bottom of the league in clearances. A number of the key indicators point to Sturt here, apart from the crucial one of scores conceded, where the Eagles allow 20 points a game less than Sturt. The home team should just prevail in a very entertaining encounter.

TV: 7Mate
Tip: Woodville/West Torrens 1-12