2023 Adelaide Footy League - Division 4

[Yank Man]

Watched Plympton V Smosh. Smosh not as good as they were last year. Didn't see Plympton play last year but they were very good, moved the ball well and made Smosh look ordinary, Hampton looked very good and will be a hard to stop. Have to be Div 4 favourites.
Stayed and Watched Lockleys V PHOS, Lockleys also well structured and had some handy players, probably won the first half, Phos looked like they had a few out. I think Lockleys will still be top 5.

Did Haren play for Lockleys

[Buckets]

Is Mazzone still playing for Heccies this year? Heard rumours he was playing elsewhere.
Loved watching him play against Gepps last year. Singlehandedly destroyed us every game. We refused to tag him and payed the price.

[Wee-man]

Is Mazzone still playing for Heccies this year? Heard rumours he was playing elsewhere.
Loved watching him play against Gepps last year. Singlehandedly destroyed us every game. We refused to tag him and payed the price.

Gone to Williamstown in the Barossa league.

[Buckets]

Is Mazzone still playing for Heccies this year? Heard rumours he was playing elsewhere.
Loved watching him play against Gepps last year. Singlehandedly destroyed us every game. We refused to tag him and payed the price.

Gone to Williamstown in the Barossa league.

Willaston or Williamstown ( Barossa Districts??)

[Half Back Flanker]

Is Mazzone still playing for Heccies this year? Heard rumours he was playing elsewhere.
Loved watching him play against Gepps last year. Singlehandedly destroyed us every game. We refused to tag him and payed the price.

Gone to Williamstown in the Barossa league.

Willaston or Williamstown ( Barossa Districts??)

Barossa Districts

[Yank Man]

Mitcham about 8 goal winners over Virginia. Both had a few out but it was good trial played in good spirits.

[Lightning McQueen]

Mitcham about 8 goal winners over Virginia. Both had a few out but it was good trial played in good spirits.

Mitcham a well drilled side who move the ball well, lad playing across half back was very good overhead and rebounded well.

[The Bedge]

DIVISION FOUR
2022 grand final: Pembroke OS 19.5 (119) d Hope Valley 9.6 (60)

JW Schulz Medallist: Frank Timpano (Pooraka)

Leading goalkicker: Daniel Nobes (Hope Valley) – 87

Major ins: Curtly Hampton (Plympton), Brody Trembath (Brighton to Morphettville Park), Dave Hankin (Imperial to Morphettville Park), Ryan Burns (Gaza to Morphettville Park)

Major outs: Lindsay Thomas (Portland to North Haven), Ian Milera (Portland to Proprietary/Risdon), Jake Mazzone (Hectorville to Barossa District), Zac Peake (Plympton to Naracoorte)

Clubs: CBC OC, Hectorville, Kenilworth, Lockleys, Mitcham, Morphettville Park, Plympton, Pooraka, Portland, Walkerville

Plympton looks primed and ready to finally gain promotion back to division three after falling just short last season with an upset preliminary final loss to Hope Valley.

The Bulldogs have added former Adelaide midfielder Curtly Hampton as they look to launch a premiership campaign.

Promoted side Lockleys should also be strong, with 100-goal forward Ben Haren returning this season, while other newly-promoted club Hectorville may drop off slightly after losing star mid and division five medallist Jake Mazzone to Barossa District.

Morphettville Park will be a side to watch after dropping from division three last season, the Roos looking to bounce back after losing deadly forward/ruck combo Alex and Chris Barns to injury last year.

THREE BIG PREDICTIONS

Roos play-off in big dance

Morphettville Park sits as the great unknown in division four this season after dropping down from division three.

While the Roos dropped last year, they were without both Alex and Chris Barns for large portions of their campaign.

They’ll be a major threat if they can keep their side fit in 2023.

Haren boots another tonne

The former Sydney Swans and South Adelaide utility has been dominant as a key forward throughout his Adelaide Footy League career so far and should not let up this season.

Haren showed his ability to boot goals from anywhere for the Demons last year and will be a huge threat up front this year as he aims to record his second straight 100-goal campaign.

Dogs dominate to win flag

While Plympton has lost goal-threat Zac Peake to Naracoorte, the acquisition of former AFL mid Curtly Hampton should be a significant one for the Bulldogs.

Look for ruck Stuart Taverner and Hampton to combine effectively and lead their side to a premiership.

PREDICTED LADDER

1. Plympton
2. Lockleys
3. Pooraka
4. Morphettville Park
5. Walkerville
6. CBC OC
7. Mitcham
8. Portland
9. Hectorville
10. Kenilworth

PLAYERS TO WATCH

ALEX BARNS (Morphettville Park)

Barns experienced an injury-riddled season with Morphettville Park in 2022 but will be a terror up front and in the ruck if he can remain fit this year.

The North Adelaide premiership winner remains one of the most skilled bigs in the competition.

BEN HAREN (Lockleys)

Haren’s 109-goal tally in 2022 makes him being a must-watch player a given this year.

A strong mark out in front and a skilled big off of the deck, Haren can take over games with moments of brilliance and bags of goals.

CURTLY HAMPTON (Plympton)

Hampton will bring valuable AFL and SANFL experience to Plympton this season and should make the Bulldogs favourites in division four if he can perform at his best through the middle.

[Bluedemon]

Round 1

Kenilworth v Walkerville
Hectorville v Portland
Plympton v CBCOC
Pooraka v Lockleys
Mitcham v Morphettville Park

[Sticks28]

Round 1

Kenilworth v Walkerville
Hectorville v Portland
Plympton v CBCOC
Pooraka v Lockleys
Mitcham v Morphettville Park

Walkerville 25+
Hectorville 40+
Plympton 60+
Pooraka 4 goals
Mitcham 3 goals

[Yank Man]

Morphy Parks Chris Barns won’t be seen for a while. Just had a knee reco. They will still be good though and their clash with Mitcham Saturday should be a cracker. Write Mitcham off your own peril.

[Moe]

Morphy Park win A grade by about 6 goals
Mitcham win B grade by about 8 goals
Morphy Park win C grade by about 6 goals

[Sticks28]

Morphy Park win A grade by about 6 goals
Mitcham win B grade by about 8 goals
Morphy Park win C grade by about 6 goals

A grade ended up beating mitcham by 9 goals - was expecting mitcham to be way more competitive to be honest - they never looked in it whatsoever

[Bluedemon]

Good first up win to the Kookas

[Hector]

Portland could be in for a long year. Only had 16 at the start of match for B grade, finished with 13 on the ground I believe. Top end talent in A's looks good but depth falls away quickly. I hope they had a few out that they can bring in quickly.

I understand the reasoning behind the rule of teams having to match the player numbers at the start of each quarter but if a team starts the game short of numbers, especially in a B grade game, surely it can't be applied from the start. First game of the season and Hectorville had about 20 seconds to remove 2 players and rearrange structure/tactics and juggle 5 players on the bench (which increased as the game went on).

[Footy Chick]

. First game of the season and Hectorville had about 20 seconds to remove 2 players and rearrange structure/tactics and juggle 5 players on the bench (which increased as the game went on).

Aww, you poor sausages...

the alternative was that 40 odd people didn't get a game at all down the track because Portland would've otherwise forfeited, especially after endless beltings due to playing 14 v 21+ every week

[zedman]

Not much structure or tactics required when the opposition can’t even score. You should thank them for actually showing up.

[Hector]

Not much structure or tactics required when the opposition can’t even score. You should thank them for actually showing up.

That was my point. It's concerning a club can't get 2 full sides in Round 1. I hope they do keep turning up and with full teams. Despite the scoreline it looked like both games played in good spirits. Jake Neade still has skill and composure, whenever he got the ball he seemed to have a lifetime with it

[Lightning McQueen]

Portland could be in for a long year. Only had 16 at the start of match for B grade, finished with 13 on the ground I believe. Top end talent in A's looks good but depth falls away quickly. I hope they had a few out that they can bring in quickly.

I understand the reasoning behind the rule of teams having to match the player numbers at the start of each quarter but if a team starts the game short of numbers, especially in a B grade game, surely it can't be applied from the start. First game of the season and Hectorville had about 20 seconds to remove 2 players and rearrange structure/tactics and juggle 5 players on the bench (which increased as the game went on).

Take your 2 points, percentage , a trial run for your rotations, a bruise free game and move on to next week mate. Clubs don’t choose to be out of their depth, it’s a fierce industry, especially down on the peninsula where they have a heap of clubs within a 10km radius.

Kudos to Portland for not taking the easy option

[Moe]

Morphettville Park A grade won by 12 points (approx)
Walkerville B grade won by 7 points
Morphettville Park C grade won by 17 points