CK's SPORTSBEAT TEAM REVIEWS

2013 SANFL TEAM REVIEWS – 9TH TO 7TH

Glenelg (ninth): What went right – Did notch a couple of big wins early and late season, particularly against Central District and North Adelaide to help confidence. Some second level players took the chance to step up in the absence of more senior players. While it didn’t show on the scoreboard, their tackling pressure improved also.

What went wrong – At times, the skill level was terrible and gifted the ball to the opposition. The coaching situation didn’t improve all year, culminating in Kris Massie’s departure. Some senior players really seemed to feel the pinch and will be hard to replace for leadership. Heavy overreliance on AFL listed players.

Immediate Needs: A genuine full forward, a big defender, pace around the middle and a rebounding half back flanker.

Prognosis for 2014: The coaching choice will be one of the most vital in the last ten years at Brighton Road. The squad is delicately poised, with the likes of Ben Mules retiring and Matthew Scharenberg among expected drafteers. Need to make this appointment soon, to enable the Tigers to get a recruiting jump on rivals. Still hard to see them moving above bottom three with many AFL losses also looming.



South Adelaide (Eighth): What went right – Some of the younger players that made the transition, such as Caleb Daniel, showed they are ready to become long term players at Noarlunga. Michael Wundke was rewarded for his hard work in attack all season with the Ken Farmer Medal. Still has one of the most potent midfields, led by Joel Cross and Nick Liddle

What went wrong – As it became apparent that the playing group was not responding to coach Ron Fuller, some of the 100+ point losses really hurt the South brand. Relied heavily on Kyle Hartigan in defence, who will be gone to the Adelaide reserves team next year. Lack support in attack and leave far too much to Wundke too often.

Immediate needs: Two small forwards, although Peter Rolfe’s anticipated return from a knee reconstruction will really assist here. A key defender, a goalkicking midfielder and a speedy back pocket to help the rebound.

Prognosis for 2014: Not dissimilar to Glenelg with the coaching situation. Need an experienced mentor with marketing potential to help draw the fans back to Noarlunga. Financially very strong and licensed facilities first class, so the time has really arrived to scale back the fireworks, flaming torches and pizzazz, and concentrate on a brand of football that attracts the fans.








Sturt (seventh): What went right – Showed somewhat less reliance on AFL players this year, with the likes of Ben Kane stepping up to the plate superbly. Played a brand of football at times that was very hard to stop when allowed space to move. Were able to kick winning scores without large contributions from Matthew Duldig and Tim McIntyre each time.

What went wrong – Can fall right away for a quarter or so and let teams back in easily. Still a bit leaky in the backlines, with the second worst defence. Can be slow for leg speed at times also and be run off their feet on bigger grounds.

Immediate needs: Losing the AFL contingent will be a massive body blow still. Will need the $50,000 AFL distribution just to replace those players alone to leave them in a similar situation to this year, much less improve.

Prognosis for 2014: The possibility of needing to replace Seamus Maloney, depending on his full time employment situation, adds more headaches to the Double Blues, who remain very vulnerable in a competitive market. Hard to see them climbing from the bottom three.

6th: Port Adelaide:

What went right: Some of their onballers really stepped up this season, with Sam Gray and Zane Kirkwood among those having breakout seasons. Played a high scoring, entertaining brand of football for much of the season. Able to put many of the off-field distractions aside for much of the season to concentrate on0field

What went wrong: Would have been disappointed with the output of a couple of AFL listed players when they fronted. While playing some great football, also lapsed into a very frustrating, high possession game at times that didn’t always bear fruit. Attendances were a little disappointing at times for such a loyal supporter base

Immediate needs: Things will change in 2014 with their squad and structure, making it very hard to assess the two years evenly.

Prognosis for 2014: Now that the AFL alliance is complete, it’s really difficult to assess the Magpies in 2014. Exactly who will comprise their squad, coaching makeup and on-field structure makes foresight hard, but given the constraints, finals may not be on the table.


5th: Central District:

What went right: Second half of the season was much more what we expected from the Bulldogs, with some stirring wins against top opposition. The likes of Josh Glenn and Josh Waldhuter really stepped up to stake their claims to become long term senior players. Coach Roy Laird showed that he still has the Midas touch at times with conjuring wins where they didn’t seem possible

What went wrong: Second successive meek finals exit, with aspects of the Elimination Final loss being very concerning for discipline. Still need some mid-level players to take their chances, particularly in the goalkicking department. The next generation of leaders also don’t seem to be coming through at the rate needed to replace the current generation.

Immediate needs: Pace around the ball, another tall forward, a second ruckman to complement Seb Guilhaus and a goalkicking midfielder.

Prognosis for 2014: A little difficult to line up Central. Some of their older players are unlikely to improve and their midlevel still has some inconsistency. Need to inject some pace into their lineup, but look to be around the mark, provided they can keep the majority of the squad together.






4th: Woodville/West Torrens

What went right: A much better start than last year left them able to conserve energy toward the end. Andrew Ainger’s recruitment went a long way toward covering the season long loss of Adam Grocke. Brought through some very promising youngsters, such as Matt Appleton, Jake Von Bertouch, Tom Schwarz and Luke Dunstan to further illustrate the strength of their junior program.

What went wrong: Two awful second half finals fadeouts raised some questions over the mental strength at times. Looked awfully slow for leg speed at critical times. Some players who had dominant 2012 seasons didn’t seem to quite go on with it in 2013.

Immediate needs: Pace, pace, pace. Were exposed on bigger grounds too often. Grocke will be a virtual recruit in 2014, and looks set to form a solid tandem with Ainger. Need a strong, mobile ruckman to replace Craig Parry, and another long kicking midfielder to set up attacks.

Prognosis for 2014: Will lose some experience in the off-season, but the squad is reasonably well placed overall to make an impact next year. Some regeneration in the lower end of the squad needed, but by and large, not in a bad place at Oval Avenue.

Sturt would have finished 6th had Port lost to Glenelg in that last game and that did look like happening for a fair part of it.
Cost me an annual bet too. Not that I'm dirty or anything  
Sturt beat Port 3-0 this year too. Didn't help losing to South 3-0 though.

Less rain next year and Sturt could play finals.

EDIT: Make that no rain.  

sapaul wrote:Sturt would have finished 6th had Port lost to Glenelg in that last game and that did look like happening for a fair part of it.
Cost me an annual bet too. Not that I'm dirty or anything  
Sturt beat Port 3-0 this year too. Didn't help losing to South 3-0 though.

Less rain next year and Sturt could play finals.

EDIT: Make that no rain.  

global warming may help