Sturt vs South 2008 Round 4 Review Thread

[therisingblues]

Sturt 17.13-115
South 4.6-30

Goals
Sturt: Chambers 6.4, Crane and Pearce 2, Evans, Perrie, Gum, Feast, Bentley, Wicks and Sharples 1.
South: Ryan, Bachmann, Warren, Iljcesen 1

Thanks to the crew from doubleblue.org for the scores.
Apparently a very convincing display. I missed the whole thing due to no radio coverage and I don't have a dish big enough to get the TV signal. Were Sturt that good, or did South hang their heads once we got a break on them?
Great stuff Blues, keep marching on!
GO YOU MIGHTY BLUES!!!!

[lesthemechanic]

South were easily the worst team we have played so far. How have they won 3 games ?

[CK]

Would have been disappointing for South fans. Never looked in the contest after the first few minutes of the opening term. Sturt simply took them on their own game and forced the Panthers back into their bad habits. After a much more kick oriented game plan in the first three weeks, they resorted frequently to vast overuse of handball that was brought undone by fierce pressure from the Double Blues, combined with dominant players all over the ground. Sharples excellent throughout; Pearce, while making some mistakes early and taking his time to re-adjust to the pace, had some telling moments as the game wore on. Chambers led hard all day, and could have had eight or nine easily, but missed some shots inside 50. Crane ran hard to create throughout, Gum bobbed up repeatedly and Wicks showed his time away from SANFL had done no harm.

Some worrying signs for the Panthers with so many key movers well down on their great opening three wins. The withdrawal of James Turner seemed to really upset their defensive structure, and a number of shuffles up forward didn't get the right combination. At one stage, Ellis was on Chambers, while Warren was off the ground, so some moves that had worked well in the first three games didn't come off today. Sturt rarely allowed them any space to create their running game and placed heavy pressure on the ball carrier, but having said that, South made some disappointing skill errors when under less than full pressure. Prendergast battled hard, but was swamped; Thewlis racked up some good stats but lacked support and a couple of younger players were simply carried away on the tide and couldn't exert their usual influence on the contest.

Fortunately for South fans, an injury scare when Jason Torney went down with a knee injury was nowhere near as bad as first thought and he resumed to try and offer some leadership in defence.

Very ominous game from Sturt, who still looked to have plenty up their sleeve. A much quieter game from Ian Perrie, Ben Nelson also didn't have his usual influence, and McGlone was also a little quiet in his first game against old teammates, so it will be interesting to see them at their absolute best.

The most positive sign for South, however, was a bumper crowd. Looked one of the biggest seen there for some time, with a fair line up at 1.30.

[am Bays]

Sturt we're very good today

Despite slightly losing or at best breaking even in th Ruck Contests their Midfield domination from the centre square and around the ground was very impressive.

Crane Sheedy and Whiteman very good today and the midfield and Whitemans 2nd and 3rd efforts at time were sensational. One effort in front of the grandstand in the 3rd qtr when teh game was dead illustrated the differences between the two sides. Sturt wasrelentless in their desire for teh footy and to win it. South well they just didn't really want it.

Good games down back by McLeay, Wark and Farmer mind you it is easy to be a backman when the delivery is slow and wide.

was interesting to note That Perry negated De Luca in the Ruck and beat Feast. But Sturt still dominated the clearances/midfield. One wonders how North would of gone against Sturt if the had say Parry as their Ruckman as Deluca and Feast were able to direct the ball at will last week to their midfiields advantage. A quality Ruckman in the North side giving their midfield first use of the footy might have well, might have.....seen North only lose by 5 goals instead of 10.

LAst week the Sturt ruck division didn't have to worry about a Ruckman, today they didn't have to worry about onballers...One wonders how they will go against a team with a decent ruckman and onballers. Is there another team in the SAMFL with them?

My lot are going to have their work cut out next week.

[lesthemechanic]

The Bays next week will be a big test for the Blues . I expect our toughest opponent so far this season to run out on to Unley oval next week. I'm just glad it is at Unley , not the Bay.
South didn't have a winner today. Persistantly delivered the ball to teamates feet or on the ground in front of them & put them under pressure.

[am Bays]

South were easily the worst team we have played so far. How have they won 3 games ?

Well one team I know rocked up expecting to win unfortunately it ain't just a matter of turning up.....

[blueandwhite]

Bitterly disappointed with todays effort. While we obviously played a top class side some of our unforced skill errors were appalling. Realistically South have 8-10 players who are what I consider good sanfl players- the rest, if they really put in,make us competitive. AFL players Deluca and Pearce were outstanding. Cash cows in Mcglone and Perrie are valuable acquisitions to Sturt as well. Chambers is the best full forward to play in the sanfl since Hodges and with the delivery he gets it makes it bloody hard for any defence. Add to that an outstanding midfield -Sheedy ,Nelson etc and Sturt are going to be hard to beat for the flag. French is also apparently making a comeback shortly.
We lack the skill and talent to match it against the top sides but on our better days our endeavour will help close the gap a bit- today was not one of those days.
For us, Torney and Handby were useful.
Today I was subjected to baiting and abuse from a group of Sturt supporters who were probably seeing their second or third match match in the last decade. I also spoke to other supporters at the postmatch who were also abused.To throw abuse and scorn at a team and their supporters whom you are belting in my opinion is not particularly classy.

[CENTURION]

Bitterly disappointed with todays effort. While we obviously played a top class side some of our unforced skill errors were appalling. Realistically South have 8-10 players who are what I consider good sanfl players- the rest, if they really put in,make us competitive. AFL players Deluca and Pearce were outstanding. Cash cows in Mcglone and Perrie are valuable acquisitions to Sturt as well. Chambers is the best full forward to play in the sanfl since Hodges and with the delivery he gets it makes it bloody hard for any defence. Add to that an outstanding midfield -Sheedy ,Nelson etc and Sturt are going to be hard to beat for the flag. French is also apparently making a comeback shortly.
We lack the skill and talent to match it against the top sides but on our better days our endeavour will help close the gap a bit- today was not one of those days.
For us, Torney and Handby were useful.
Today I was subjected to baiting and abuse from a group of Sturt supporters who were probably seeing their second or third match match in the last decade. I also spoke to other supporters at the postmatch who were also abused.To throw abuse and scorn at a team and their supporters whom you are belting in my opinion is not particularly classy.

Don't worry, you may well have the last laugh.

[Peterxtc]

French is also apparently making a comeback shortly.

Where did you get that one from blueandwhite? I think you may be mistaken.

[Peterxtc]

To throw abuse and scorn at a team and their supporters whom you are belting in my opinion is not particularly classy.

Agreed. The was some trash talk going on that was very ordinary.

[westozfalcon]

As a South fan and member living in Perth I saw or heard nothing of the game until I logged on a few minutes ago. I was mildly excited at the (albeit slim) prospect of a win against a good side in Sturt but alas we are clearly not good enough – yet!

I’m sure Jack will ensure that the players learn some lessons from this game and become a better team for it.

Despite today’s reality check I still believe we are on the path to improvement.

Carn U Panthers!!!!

[Sojourner]

Despite today’s reality check I still believe we are on the path to improvement.

Carn U Panthers!!!!

Agree with you on that point! I think most Panthers fans were expecting that despite our dream start to the season it was going to come crashing down at some point which clearly was today.

Still, last season we won a total of four games, this season we have managed three, so I am still confident we will continue to improve despite todays result.

[blueandwhite]

French is also apparently making a comeback shortly.

Where did you get that one from blueandwhite? I think you may be mistaken.

heard it from a pretty good source-has a slight injury but will be back training soon. Hope Im wrong, cant see how he would fit in at present anyway.

did someone mention Salary cap?

[Matt the Panther]

Expected Sturt to win comfortably, but after the last 3 weeks, didn't expect such an insipid capitulation.

They are certainly the benchmark at this stage.

[spell_check]

did someone mention Salary cap?

Is that the bell to signal Round 1 for this year?

[OCT]

Chambers is the best full forward to play in the sanfl since Hodges

Yep you are right.Once again should have got 9 - 10. Werent they saying Perrie would get in his way ?

Big test this week , it will certainly give the bays a guide to where they are at. I think its fair to say the Blues are top 3 material. As per previous threads we have lots of romm for improvement as sily as it sounds.

[OCT]

did someone mention Salary cap?


No ? But in what position are you in to talk about salary caps ? Must be dizzy from the lofty heights you were in.

[blueandwhite]

did someone mention Salary cap?


No ? But in what position are you in to talk about salary caps ? Must be dizzy from the lofty heights you were in.

yep,did the crime, did the time,paid the fine. History.
Clearly we are not over the cap currently.
We lost McGlone because he was offered far more than we, "the habitual salary cap cheats" could afford................?

[stampy]

To throw abuse and scorn at a team and their supporters whom you are belting in my opinion is not particularly classy.

Agreed. The was some trash talk going on that was very ordinary.

there are a few sturt fans who are notorious for this kinda crap - this is on good authority not just heresay, what is wrong with these ar*****s?

[OCT]

there are a few sturt fans who are notorious for this kinda crap - this is on good authority not just heresay, what is wrong with these ar*****s?

On good authority ? What do you mean you havent heard it ? All clubs mouth at times mate , even yours. I have to say no-one beats the Centrals supporter I heard at Unley though. But in hindsight , he can give it. Full stop.