2025 GRAND FINAL - Sturt vs Glenelg

[wenchbarwer]

They havent got Tommy written on them tho

Well, when you put it like that...

[another grub]

Could be a collectors item and be worth a lot more than $50 in the future

[am Bays]

Will be worth more than an unopened Duff Beer can in 5 years time

[another grub]

Looking forward to this too.............

A dance extravaganza will precede the SANFL Grand Final on Sunday at #Adelaide Oval - billed as 'a 15 minute stadium spectacle'

[Hazydog]

I've got about 100 hats and some of them are 30 years old and look newer than this does now.

Why is it some of us blokes can’t throw a cap out? I’ve probably got 10 in circulation and a couple of bags of them in the shed somewhere (probably never to be worn again)

Anyway.. onto the game. What we never know until afterwards is how banged up some of the Bay players are after 3 tough finals. No one can question their resilience, quality and team bond, and at their best are still the most potent attack in the league.

Whereas Sturt are well rested and less likely to be carrying niggles, AND still have the taste of a wasted season last year in their mouths.

Both teams have displayed a willingness to go the distance in matches so this could be one for the annals..

Let’s hope the weather holds and it’s a bumper crowd.. and don’t take the pi$$ too much out of the pre-match entertainment.

Best of luck to both sides as they showcase the SANFL…

[another grub]

There are caps and there are caps

[another grub]

Should have a drinking comp on the hill as pre-match. Take on the Gowans boys

[Pseudo]

Looking forward to this too.............

A dance extravaganza will precede the SANFL Grand Final on Sunday at #Adelaide Oval - billed as 'a 15 minute stadium spectacle'

A throwback to the half-time shows of the '80s; a whole buncha leotard-clad lasses coached by Ms. Lynne Edwards.

... but will they be wearing hats?

[CENTURION]

$trut by 10 goals.

[another grub]

Going to be a big day. Will end up at Lennies.

[dedja]

$trut by 10 goals.

Righto, that’s the last time I give you a hand …

BTW, nice FB memory post of you being gang raped by the Grog Squad

[Booney]

Sturt captain James Battersby has sensationally “stepped away’’ from the club on the eve of the SANFL grand final.

The 29-year-old dual premiership midfielder - overlooked for the Double Blues’ second semi-final win against grand final opponent Glenelg - made himself unavailable for last Saturday’s reserves preliminary final and will not feature at either league or reserves level this weekend.

Sturt coach Martin Mattner described the club’s situation with the 218-game veteran as “really tough’’, saying that Battersby had “stepped away for the remainder of the year’’ and was undecided about his future.

“It’s been tough for James this year, with his body, his knee, missing so much footy,’’ Mattner said.

“He spoke to me last week and decided he was going to step away for the remainder of the year.

“He said his body wasn’t right and that he probably wasn’t in the head space that he needed to be, which is disappointing.

“He’s been captain of this footy club for a long time and it’s tough to see him in this position, dealing with all this.’’

It is understood that Battersby - captain of last year’s The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year - made the call to pull the pin on his season after being told by Mattner that he was unlikely to feature in the Blues’ league grand final side.

Before making himself unavailable for the reserves preliminary final, Battersby had an equal game-high 26 disposals and six clearances, along with kicking a goal, in Sturt’s reserves first semi-final win against North Adelaide.

It followed a 25-disposal performance in the elimination final against the Eagles.

But Battersby - in his sixth year as Sturt skipper - has battled a chronic knee injury all season, which has restricted him to only three league games and seven reserves matches.

He started the season in the league side but was injured in round 2 and returned through the reserves in Round 13.

His league spot has been taken by powerful tall midfielder Angus Anderson, 22, who made this year’s The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year and looms as a mature-age draft prospect.

Anderson has added some explosiveness to a Sturt side, which will start the grand final as hot favourite after a spectacular 18-win, one-loss season, with its only defeat coming in the final minor round against Adelaide by two points.

Battersby is Sturt’s most experienced and decorated player, winning two premierships (in 2016-17) and making the SANFL Team of the Year seven times since debuting in 2013.

A former Crows rookie, he has finished third in the Magarey Medal three times but might have played his last game for the Double Blues.

It is understood North Adelaide, where two of his great mates, Mitch Harvey and Alex Spina play, could be interested in recruiting him.

“We’ll see what happens over the next few weeks,’’ Mattner said of Battersby’s future.

“We’ll give him space and let him work out what he wants to do.’’

This year’s runaway Magarey Medallist, vice-captain Tom Lewis, will captain Sturt in Sunday’s league grand final against Glenelg at Adelaide Oval.

The two clubs will also go head-to-head in the reserves decider.

[dedja]

https://youtu.be/_GUlcGFTqx8?si=my9C1S7JNnJ4jrCu

[Bluedemon]

Sturt captain James Battersby has sensationally “stepped away’’ from the club on the eve of the SANFL grand final.

The 29-year-old dual premiership midfielder - overlooked for the Double Blues’ second semi-final win against grand final opponent Glenelg - made himself unavailable for last Saturday’s reserves preliminary final and will not feature at either league or reserves level this weekend.

Sturt coach Martin Mattner described the club’s situation with the 218-game veteran as “really tough’’, saying that Battersby had “stepped away for the remainder of the year’’ and was undecided about his future.

“It’s been tough for James this year, with his body, his knee, missing so much footy,’’ Mattner said.

“He spoke to me last week and decided he was going to step away for the remainder of the year.

“He said his body wasn’t right and that he probably wasn’t in the head space that he needed to be, which is disappointing.

“He’s been captain of this footy club for a long time and it’s tough to see him in this position, dealing with all this.’’

It is understood that Battersby - captain of last year’s The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year - made the call to pull the pin on his season after being told by Mattner that he was unlikely to feature in the Blues’ league grand final side.

Before making himself unavailable for the reserves preliminary final, Battersby had an equal game-high 26 disposals and six clearances, along with kicking a goal, in Sturt’s reserves first semi-final win against North Adelaide.

It followed a 25-disposal performance in the elimination final against the Eagles.

But Battersby - in his sixth year as Sturt skipper - has battled a chronic knee injury all season, which has restricted him to only three league games and seven reserves matches.

He started the season in the league side but was injured in round 2 and returned through the reserves in Round 13.

His league spot has been taken by powerful tall midfielder Angus Anderson, 22, who made this year’s The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year and looms as a mature-age draft prospect.

Anderson has added some explosiveness to a Sturt side, which will start the grand final as hot favourite after a spectacular 18-win, one-loss season, with its only defeat coming in the final minor round against Adelaide by two points.

Battersby is Sturt’s most experienced and decorated player, winning two premierships (in 2016-17) and making the SANFL Team of the Year seven times since debuting in 2013.

A former Crows rookie, he has finished third in the Magarey Medal three times but might have played his last game for the Double Blues.

It is understood North Adelaide, where two of his great mates, Mitch Harvey and Alex Spina play, could be interested in recruiting him.

“We’ll see what happens over the next few weeks,’’ Mattner said of Battersby’s future.

“We’ll give him space and let him work out what he wants to do.’’

This year’s runaway Magarey Medallist, vice-captain Tom Lewis, will captain Sturt in Sunday’s league grand final against Glenelg at Adelaide Oval.

The two clubs will also go head-to-head in the reserves decider.

I wish he would have decided to even just play in the reserves grand final this week and help the young players around him to a flag. Hopefully he can get himself fitter over the summer, be good to see him back in the double blues colours again but I feel like we have lost him to North.

[dedja]

I’ve got more chance of playing for Sturt next year than Battersby. Sad way for a very loyal club servant to leave.

[Bluedemon]

I’ve got more chance of playing for Sturt next year than Battersby. Sad way for a very loyal club servant to leave.

Agree

[pmackk]

Sad way for him to leave could have played in a reserves flag.

[dedja]

Pointless trip if you ask me …

https://youtu.be/rfeX6kVKR1c?si=D5jusC4hmr014xtG

[Dragonfly_Eyes]

I wish he would have decided to even just play in the reserves grand final this week and help the young players around him to a flag. Hopefully he can get himself fitter over the summer, be good to see him back in the double blues colours again but I feel like we have lost him to North.

Didn't something similar happen to Rysyck at North in 2018?
My memory is that he stayed at the club, and celebrated with his teammates, despite not being selected.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[another grub]

Always hard luck stories this time of year. Didnt work out. WAP