A week of combinations and permutations. We have 7 sides fighting for 5 spots in the finals. This promises to be a cracking final round of division one football
By Dylan Smith

Rostrevor OC 16.22 (118) defeated Athelstone 6.9 (45)

The year of doom continued for the Raggies as they ventured to Campelltown Memorial to take on the might of Rostrevor OC. Rostrevor OC did as they please and lead by 29 points and quarter time and extended that lead to a match winning 45 points by the long break. By three quarter time that lead had stretched to 63-points with the final margin being 73 points. Michael Coad the former Sturt captain and former Gold Coast Suns player contributed 7 goals as ROCS dominated the entire game. Better players for Rostrevor OC were the match winner in Coad. Along with Jordan, Short, Bacanello, McCallum and Craig Holm. For the Raggies in an uninspiring performance Stewart, Kane Nurton, Cluse, Davies and Orland were the better player and the brothers Davies both contributed two goals a piece.

St Peters OC 12.12 (84) defeated Prince Alfred OC 11.8 (74)

In a battle of the best two sides in division one. St Peters did battle with their collegiate enemies of Prince Alfred OC. In what was a cracking game of football at Caterer Oval, St Peters held sway for most of the game. Saints led by 8-points at quarter time and 11-points at the long break before setting up what was a match winning break at lemon time. St Peters went into three-quarter time with a commanding 24-point buffer. Prince Alfred OC hit back hard in the final quarter kicking 5 goals, but it was too little too late as SPOC run out winners by 10-points. Big James McLeay slotted home 3 goals while Jesse O’Brien and Luke Mitchell both kicked 2 goals for SPOC.  Cameron Giles booted 4 for the Reds and was supported by Tom Humphries and Thomas Fisher with 2 each. James Hargraves along with Jessie O’Brien, Hamish Allan, Harry Hayward and Toby Schultz were outstanding for St Peters. For the Reds, it was Tom Bartlett, Jake Pitt, Tom Brinsley and Nick Clayfield who kept battling away all day.

Goodwood Saints 22.19 (151) defeated Unley Mercedes Jets 4.9 (33)

Luke Donaldson’s troops are making a bold statement just before finals as they easily accounted for the Jets by a whopping 118 points at Goodwood Oval. Jacob Hughes kicked 5, while George Thring, Tom Anderson and Anthony Dempsey slotted 3 each. For the vanquished Anthony Skara kicked 3 goals against his old club. Better players for the Saints were Nicholas Favretto. Anthony Dempsey, Jacob Hughes, Tom Anderson and Benny Holzbauer. For the Jets, they only had a handful of players who stood up in the disappointing display. James O’Sullivan, Anthony Skara, Jack Holliday and Oliver Patterson were serviceable.

Port District 15.13 (103) defeated Brighton 8.9 (57)

Brighton made the trek to Largs Reserve to take on the Magpies. The Bombers opened with the wind but only led by 15 points at quarter time. At half time Port District had opened up a 23-point led and one they would never surrender. The Bombers had aid of the breeze in the third-quarter but still turned some 17 points in arrears of the home team. The last quarter was all one way traffic as the Magpies stormed home and won by a whopping 46-points. Jack Foster kicked 4 along with Passaniti, Batty and Carter who kicked 2 each. Jarrod Miller was the only multiple goal contributor for Brighton with 3. Cooper Gaffney was amazing for the Magpies as was Zac Hawkins, Luke McInerney and Daniel Passaniti. Jacob Carger, Ben Tate, Shane Harvey and Blake McDonnell were good for the Bombers.

Payneham Norwood Union 9.13 (67) defeated Adelaide University 8.9 (57)

Payneham Norwood Union kept their slim finals chances alive with a hard fought win over the Blacks at Bob Neil Oval. The Falcons played a brilliant first quarter into the breeze as the Blacks only led by 1-point at quarter time. This was the quarter that ultimately won the game for the Falcons. By half time, the Falcons slipped away to a 25-point lead. By three quarter time that lead was reduced to 7-points. With the aid of a strong breeze in the final term the Falcons just held on and won by 10-points. Strato Agorastos booted 3 for the Falcons and Dylan Pippett 2. For the Blacks Ben Edwards was their only multiple goal kickers for 4 majors. Ben Owen-Thomas, the brilliant Dylan Auciello, Kristian Roocke and Nick Jolly were best for the Falcons. While for the Blacks, it was Ben Adams, Damian Cunningham, Jack Keynes and Maris Olekalns who were amongst their better players.

This week in Division 1

The shortened season of 9 games has brought about a tight finish to the division one season. We enter the last round of the minor round with only St Peter’s OC assured of playing finals. Teams from second to seventh can all make the finals and all can finish as high as second. In what will be an absorbing final round of matches it will come down to combinations and permutations come 5pm on Saturday.

Brighton Bombers v Rostrevor OC at Brighton Oval

Brighton go into this final game of the minor round with all to play for, as do ROCS. Brighton’s performances have dropped off towards the later half of this shortened season. Injuries at Brighton Road are said to be rife, but then again every other club is also struggling with injuries. Rostrevor OC have been a trifle inconsistent this season but come into this game with good form on their side. Last week’s they destroyed Athelstone. This week, we think the big game division one performers from Rostrevor OC will hold them in good sway.    

Rostrevor OC by 25 points

Unley Mercedes Jets v St Peter’s OC at Kingswood Oval

A non event really, as St Peter’s OC sit on top of the premiership ladder. Riddlers men won’t take the foot off the pedal this early, as they know a loss here and they could lose the week off. Kane Stewart’s men are looking for the finish line after a disappointing season. We can’t see that the Jets will trouble St Peter’s OC too much and the margin should add a little percentage to SPOC.   St Peters OC by 54 points

Athelstone v Adelaide University at Max Amber Sportsfield

The Raggies have had a horrid season, and would like to get a win before the season ends. They would have been penciled this game in, as the best chance they’d get, to  reward their large supporter base. The Blacks have pulled off a few good wins during the season. Traditionally the Blacks save their best for when playing at Bob Neil Oval. But this week, they won’t want to miss out on having that last taste of success before this extraordinary Covid season comes to a conclusion. The Blacks should hold too many aces for the Raggies.    Adelaide University by 32 points

Prince Alfred OC v Port District at Park 9

Prince Alfred Old Collegians need to regain their composure before the finals. Last week, they lost a huge match that was significant to their season against St Peter’s OC. This week, they get to atone for Port District at Park 9 and in turn send Port District back to Largs Reserve with cricket season to think about. A loss to the Magpies here would mean that either Rostrevor OC or Payneham N/Union would swoop on their tenuous position in the finals.    Prince Alfred OC by 26 points

Payneham Norwood Union v Goodwood Saints at Payneham Oval

This game is really make or break for both sides. Payneham N/Union if losing would miss finals after winning the premiership last season and that wouldn’t be an acceptable outcome to the Falcons faithful. Goodwood Saints were slow starters to the season and have stormed home in this shortened season. The Saints go into the match with momentum and Payneham with the home ground advantage. This promises to be an absolute cracker of a clash.    Goodwood Saints by 14 points

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