Chris Kendall's Sportsbeat Weekly Previews

2016 SANFL ROUND TWO PREVIEWS

Adelaide Reserves v Port Magpies (Mannum Oval) – Sunday 1.40pm

Adelaide sounded an ominous warning to the competition last week when thumping West Adelaide by 74 points, led by a brilliant ruck display by Reilly O’Brien and impressive midfield work of Cameron Ellis-Yolmen and Riley Knight. The Magpies never really seemed to get into gear when going under to Norwood by 25 points, despite impressive performances by Aaron Young and Jimmu Toumpas.
With few injuries at AFL level, Adelaide should take a largely unchanged lineup into the match and this spells trouble for a Magpies unit still tweaking its style and composition. The speed and precision with which Adelaide moved the ball last week was menacing and their clearance work at stoppages was far too much for West to handle. If they are afforded similar space this week, then it will really test the Magpies, leaving coach Chad Cornes with plenty to ponder about how to slow Adelaide’s movement. Overall, Adelaide appear to have the edge.

TV: Channel Seven
Tip: Adelaide Reserves 25-36


North Adelaide v Norwood (Prospect Oval) – Sunday 2.10pm

The season could not have started much worse for North, after a 107 point thumping at the hands of Central. While there were a few encouraging signs from youngsters such as Ben Jarman, the scars of 2015 still seemed to be running deep through much of the squad. No such problems for the Redlegs, who held Port at bay all night en route to kicking off the season with two points, led by Lewis Johnston’s five goals.
Despite returning to home turf, it is difficult to make much of a case for the Roosters here. It will take coach Josh Carr some time to alter the mindset, game style and approach for a playing group that already appeared dispirited at times last week. Norwood are not the type who will be forgiving, although it is worth noting they have only won by six points in both of the last two meetings at Prospect. All things considered, however, the Roosters appear set for more pain here.

Radio: Life FM
Tip: Norwood 49-60

South Adelaide v Woodville/West Torrens (Hickinbotham Oval) – Sunday 2.10pm

The only match of round two featuring opening round winners, with South weathering a scoreless last quarter against a desperate Glenelg to hold on for a nine point win, while the Eagles were in control all day against the young Sturt to take a 39 point victory. The latter winners were quite impressive with spreading to space and isolating loose teammates, moving the ball quickly into attack and showed they will be a real challenge for many teams in 2016.
South coach Brad Gotch would be relieved to take the victory after some lengthy concentration lapses by his charges, but would be heartened by the output of his onball brigade, led by Joel Cross and Nick Liddle. The Eagles, however, will really fancy their chances at a venue they have won their last five encounters, and they will look to shut down the space for the Panthers to move at the clearances and close the game down to their own terms to allow their own ball magnets to capitalise. In what should be an entertaining shootout, the Eagles look set to prevail.

Live streaming via www.sanfl.com.au and the SANFL App.
Tip: Woodville/West Torrens 1-12

Glenelg v West Adelaide (Gilderol Stadium) – Sunday 2.10pm

Opening round losers, but highly contrasting styles. Glenelg stormed home against South to only fail by nine points, whereas West never looked in the hunt against the Adelaide Reserves in a 74 point loss. While there were several premiership players missing, the Bloods still looked very rusty and were simply outbodied far too many times at the contest.
Glenelg have a strong recent record at this venue against West, winning eight of the last ten meetings, and there was plenty to like about last week’s match. They looked confident and quick with their ball movement at times and against an opponent still blowing out the cobwebs from 2015, this could spell danger for West. The twin towers of Ruory Kirkby and Clint Alleway in the Glenelg forward 50 may also be difficult to contain for long periods and can open the doors for the Tigers to take their first points of 2016.

Live streaming via www.sanfl.com.au and the SANFL App.
Tip: Glenelg 1-12

Agree, the Bays have finally improved to the point where you can almost back them with some confidence.

Correct, West's record at Glenelg has been awful, but I think we did kick about 30 goals there last time we played.

I also hope Porplyzia, Haysman, Middleton and Tuck might add a bit.

It would be fair to say that if West lose this one, they'll have a lot of ground to make up. Norwood, Port, Adelaide, Eagles, Central and South will all vie for the five, so 0-2 won't be the start West want.

So far they've just lost to an Adelaide side who would have comfortably beaten anyone.

2016 SANFL ROUND THREE PREVIEWS

Port Magpies v North Adelaide (Alberton) – Saturday 2.10pm

Two vastly contrasting formlines from last week, with the Magpies unable to overcome the Adelaide Reserves at Mannum, while North Adelaide brought about the upset of the season in recording their first win in nearly 12 months in knocking over Norwood. The Roosters were one of the biggest outsiders in SANFL betting history, but were never seriously threatened and responded in sensational style to reward many long suffering fans.

Port have appeared a little predictable in ball movement in their opening two games and coach Chad Cornes will be aiming to bring some x-factor to mix things up against a North outfit that will be desperate to prove last week was not a flash in the pan. The way they took the game on, used their pace and moved the ball quickly into a multi dimensional attack – overreliance on one of two players long being an Achilles Heel at Prospect – will be very hard to beat here if they can sustain the effort. I’ll back North to keep their tails up again.

BROADCAST: SANFL Live stream via www.sanfl.com.au or the SANFL App
Tip: North Adelaide 13-24

Sturt v Central District (Peter Motley Oval) – Sunday 1.40pm

Both fresh from the round two bye, but the Bulldogs bring the form of a 107 point round one victory over North in, while Sturt seemed to be laboring at times in a 39 point loss to Woodville/West Torrens. The loss of some key position players over the summer is going to take time for Double Blues coach Martin Mattner to replace but the club has shown over the years they can rebuild quickly by keeping faith in the youngsters.

It would be unwise to simply follow the round one formlines by looking at the respective opponents, given the vastly differing turnarounds in round two by their opponents, but the Bulldogs were very impressive a fortnight back. Roy Laird’s charges are also reworking their style somewhat, but the plethora of scoring options and key position options look set to stretch the SANFL’s youngest senior list. The Double Blues will give a good account, but Central should take the points.

TV: 7Mate
Tip: Central District 13-24

South Adelaide v West Adelaide (Hickinbotham Oval) – Sunday 2.10pm

While it may seem early to dub it a premiership hangover, the concern at West Adelaide continues to grow following another thumping, this time at the hands of Glenelg. Despite the return of experience such as Jason Porplyzia, they were never in the hunt against a hungry Tigers outfit, while South withstood a blistering opening from the Eagles to record an impressive 43 point win, led by Nick Liddle and Nathan Daniel.

The speed and precision of South’s ball movement to a multi pronged forward 50 last week was very impressive and will throw down a real challenge to the Bloods this week if they allow the Panthers the same latitude. West seem to be still tinkering with their defensive structures but coach Mark Mickan would be more frustrated by the number of turnovers when working the ball through the midfield. At a venue where West has not won for over three years, this spells real danger for the reigning premier.

BROADCAST: SANFL live stream through www.sanfl.com.au or the SANFL App
Tip: South Adelaide 25-36

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

The Eagles seemed to really struggle with South last week, going down by over seven goals, when the opening twelve minutes suggested a big win was on the cards. Their discipline in keeping to structures and working to clamp down the Panthers at the stoppages appeared wayward and was punished accordingly. Adelaide built an undefeated start to 2016 by withstanding a spirited Magpie challenge at Mannum in recording a 30 point win.

Eagles coach Michael Godden will study last week’s tape carefully, in particular some late South goals to observe how many of his onball brigade zoned off quickly at ballups to allow their opponents an unimpeded passage to goal. Such latitude cannot be afford to a rampant Adelaide lineup that has proven its ability to score quickly and heavily when challenged, although it is worth noting that the Eagles have won the last two encounters between the sides. Overall, however, it is very difficult to tip against Adelaide.

BROADCAST: Life FM
Tip: Adelaide Reserves 25-36

Can't disagree with any of that.

Cracking read as per usual CK. Love an in-depth preview of matches.

Bit of a shame the standard has now dropped on the SANFL site this year to a bunch of quotes and the token "(insert promising AFL footballer here), who measures in at x cm and X kg."