SA Footy

MIxed results for the Panthers last year and have lost their main avenue to goal, hard to see them getting out of the bottom half of the ladder.
Your thoughts?

INS: Luke Durdin, Matthew Rose (Port), Brent McLeod (NEAFL), Lachlan Boyd (Vic), Frazer Dale (Carlton), Matthew Rankine (West),

OUTS: Michael Wundke (Eagles), Kyle Hartigan (Crows), Mason Shaw (Port)



2014 Trial games:
Saturday March 8 v Port Adelaide (Alberton Oval) 9.45am
Saturday March 15 v Norwood (Hickinbotham Oval) 7.10pm
Saturday March 22 v Sturt (Hickinbotham Oval) 2.10pm
Friday March 28 v Adelaide (Hickinbotham Oval) 7.40pm


2014 League Fixtures:
Saturday April 5 v West @ Noarlunga
Saturday April 12 v North @ Prospect
Friday April 18 v Glenelg @ Noarlunga
Saturday April 26 v Central @ Elizabeth
Sunday May 4 v Eagles @ Noarlunga
Saturday May 10 v Norwood @ Noarlunga
Saturday May 17 v Port @ Alberton
Sunday May 25 v Adelaide @ Noarlunga
Saturday June 7 v Sturt @ Unley
Sunday June 15 v Glenelg @ Glenelg
Saturday June 21 v Central @ Noarlunga
Saturday July 5 v North @ Noarlunga
Saturday July 12 v Adelaide @ Noarlunga
Friday July 18 v Norwood @ Norwood
Saturday Aug 2 v Port @ Noarlunga
Saturday Aug 9 v Eagles @ Woodville
TBC v West @ Richmond
TBC v Sturt @ Noarlunga

One thing with a major difference this year, the list is fit, very fit! You forgot a vitally important "in" coach Brad Gotch has made a substantial impact with all players responding well to his coaching and fitness methods. The same list (less Wundke) at this time last year was considered by many on here (including myself) that South were top 5 material. Wundke is replaced with the all-Australian U/18 CHF and he will prove how bazaar he didn't get drafted so a reasonable replacement there. Hard to predict for the Panthers as a number of recruits are unknown, a bit like when we recruited Liddle, Cross, Gotch (Ainger grrr!) no one knew much about them, they do now!

With the loss of book ends Wundke and Hartigan I can't see the recruits covering those losses. Bottom 3.

Not many outs so if you subscribe to the theory that they were an unhappy bunch under Ron there could be an argument that with a new coach and a group that's been together for a couple of years, there could be a quick upturn in form. Given the massive turnover of players in some other teams I think they are a smoky for the top five.

Anything less than finals would be a failure!!!!!!

Supporters sick of losing, members have dropped off in huge numbers the last few years have heard around 800.

Strengths: Midfield and new game plan

Concerns: Key position Hourigan, Boyd, Eddy and Fields must stand up and remain fit as depth will be an issue.

I see South as an imp rover as they were not playing for their coach. Missing Wundke will make it harder but this club needs to make a stand and this is the year to do it.

Bounce of the ball wrote:I see South as an imp rover

You mean one of their on ballers is a midget?!?

South Adelaide midfielders Brede Seccull and Scott Taylor have suffered ankle injuries and will face close to three months on the sidelines.
Seccull injured his at the South Adelaide camp a fortnight ago and underwent surgery last week. Taylor injured his ankle at training last Friday and scans revealed this week he will also need surgery.
South Adelaide Football Manager Neill Sharpe said it was disappointing for both boys who had put in the hard yards over pre-season.
“It’s frustrating on the eve of the season to suffer an injury like this. Especially for Brede who suffered a similar injury to his other ankle in our first pre-season game last year.

We deserve a break............

And now with 4, count em 4 trial games to come, we should be all banged up nicely before round 1!

4 trail games seems like too many.

Think 2 would be the ideal amount.

South's season comes down to:

A: New game plan how quick can the players implement it.

B: Can Boyd, Eddy and Hourigan hold down key positions we seem light in this area and really need these 3 to step up straight away!!!!

I think your first point is one reason why we have four trial games. Expect to see plenty of players tried.

The key for me is Eddy. Many similarities to his first year as with Aingers. Both were coming back from broken legs and found the initial going tough. both dropped back to the reserves and came back better players.

Getting McLeod back is a bonus and is the one I will follow with interest, March 8 can't come soon enough!

I think if Secull got thrown into a barrell full of boobs he'd come out sucking his thumb.

Not sure how damaging their tall forwards will be. Eddy has shown glimpses while Hourigan has looked ultra lazy from what I've seen. Having said that their strength has been their running midfielders. Always felt they were better than what Ron got out of them so would expect a general improvement from last year but will have to to cover the 2-3 goals a week that Wundke would create.

As has been already been pointed out our 'spine' is a concern. A lack of height and strength was evident last season, with the off-season departures of Wundke and Hartigan doing little to help.

Random thoughts:
- Need to win regularly at home. Home record has been disgraceful. Need a game plan that works on a large oval.
- Can ill afford to lose Brooksby in ruck. Very important to our chances.
- Rolfe will be a welcome addition, as will MacLeod. Fwd line was disfunctional/predictable last year.
- Need much better years out of last year’s recruits- Eddy, Fields, Snooks, Seccull etc.
- Must start to see some improvement at U18 level, have been uncompetitive for too long.

Approached last season with a decent degree of confidence. After being bit on the bum I have no expectations for this season, really don’t know how we’ll fare. Lacking some enthusiasm towards footy/the league at the moment.

Nick Murphy and Josh Thewlis announced Co-Captains for South Adelaide in season 2014...

http://www.sanfl.com.au/news/sanfl_news/2388/

Great move re-appointing Murphy as Captain.

Like the fact he is from the zone and can really settle into the role for 5 or so years.

Can anyone remember if last year it was the players or previous coach's decision not to keep him as captain?

Ron Fuller sacked Nick Murphy when he missed a compulsory training session. I think that the session he missed was on Australia Day.

The sad thing about that is that Murphy comes from a passionate South Adelaide supporting family and if Fuller had remained coach Murphy would have joined the reigning premier in whose area he lives.

I guess that all is well that ends well.

Season Preview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waHk2Ahti9w&feature=youtu.be

Predictions more difficult than ever in 2014, but can see South moving up - mid table. They played well below their capability last year.

robranisgod wrote:Ron Fuller sacked Nick Murphy when he missed a compulsory training session. I think that the session he missed was on Australia Day.

The sad thing about that is that Murphy comes from a passionate South Adelaide supporting family and if Fuller had remained coach Murphy would have joined the reigning premier in whose area he lives.

I guess that all is well that ends well.

Nicks a ripping lad, looks a natural leader.