SA Footy

Season Opener.

Most games in Round 1 are a guess. Who's improved, how good are the new recruits, last years big injury is back and so on. Trial form is worth two fifths of three eights of bugger all.

Will wait for the teams (hopefully our league will put them out all on the same night) but I am thinking that Port will have close to a full squad to choose from but with their league side playing in Perth on Saturday some will get held back. Norwood at least have the certainty.

I will be interested to see how Michael Knoll goes after his time in Sydney.

draw

New coach so may take some time to gel.

Even with Bassett we lost the first 4 games before hitting our straps.

More interested in seeing the new players like Callow in action.

Port comfortably

Norwood will have this quite comfortably. Redlegs by 40

With no injuries Port are going to have far too many quality players running around for us to get close. Port by 4-5 goals

Jim05 wrote:With no injuries Port are going to have far too many quality players running around for us to get close. Port by 4-5 goals

Taking a couple spares to Perth might help a little, but still expect them to be far too strong, hoping I’m wrong obviously.

JK wrote:

Jim05 wrote:With no injuries Port are going to have far too many quality players running around for us to get close. Port by 4-5 goals

Taking a couple spares to Perth might help a little, but still expect them to be far too strong, hoping I’m wrong obviously.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I just don't see the depth in Port this year and the list changes and sub rule have not helped. Not much at all up forward. Anyways, just glad that Footy's back and can't wait to be at the Parade on Thurs night. After last year to just have a team on the field is a bonus.

Alex wrote:

JK wrote:

Jim05 wrote:With no injuries Port are going to have far too many quality players running around for us to get close. Port by 4-5 goals

Taking a couple spares to Perth might help a little, but still expect them to be far too strong, hoping I’m wrong obviously.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I just don't see the depth in Port this year and the list changes and sub rule have not helped. Not much at all up forward. Anyways, just glad that Footy's back and can't wait to be at the Parade on Thurs night. After last year to just have a team on the field is a bonus.

Either Marshall or Georgiades will play forward, Surman probably spend some time there and Lord is the only other KPP forward we'll have. Smalls won't be a problem, Woodcock, Powell-Pepper, Williams and Mead should be dangerous enough. Our back half will be the strongest with McKenzie, Lienert, Goldsack*, Bonner*, Garner, Mayes etc.

Is SPP back?

Has to be Port, as a club they are very much 'up and about'

JK wrote:

Jim05 wrote:With no injuries Port are going to have far too many quality players running around for us to get close. Port by 4-5 goals

Taking a couple spares to Perth might help a little, but still expect them to be far too strong, hoping I’m wrong obviously.

Take it when you get it Jim. Round 2 sees the Power play on Friday night and the Dogs go to Alberton the next day. Ouch!

Powerserves by 23pts.

Legs by 2 goals

NORWOOD

Norwood will have at least five new faces to confront Port at The Parade.

Impressive young Tasmanian forward Jackson Callow will start at full forward while former Redleg junior Jacob Kennerley will use his running power through the midfield.

Fos Williams Medallist Michael Knoll will lead the ruck while star veteran Paul Puopolo plays his first league game since the 2010 Grand Final out of a forward pocket.

League

F: Wagner, Callow, Puopolo

HF: Hamilton, Boyd, Douglas

C: Barry, Grigg, McKenzie

HB: Z. Richards, Heard, Saywell

B: Ball, Collins, Shenton



R: Knoll, Kennerley, Nunn

INT: Pedro, Rokahr, Spence, Nelligan

EMG: Bampton, Gerloff, J. Richards

NEW: Harry Boyd (Shepparton), Jackson Callow (North Launceston), Jacob Kennerley (Geelong), Tom Wagner (Payneham), Michael Knoll (Sydney)

Reserves
Irra, Bampton, Carroll, Bower, Buckham, Larkins, Vardenaga, Pascoe, Wilkins, J. Richards, Hearing, Gerloff, Tranfa, Cavallaro, Binder, Schwerdt, Duke, Morris, Murley, Trepka, Higgins, Warton



Under-18
Walls, Bishop, Hyde, Joseph, Jones-Bobridge, Gale, Gal, Lord, Rahui, Kent, Cristancig, Richardson, Charlton, Verrall, Capurso, Minervini, Kemp, Michalanney, Ianniello, Bordon, Dnistriansky, Boxer, Foster, Pitt, Bowman, Lake, Dickeson



PORT

Port Adelaide will have several League debutants for its return to SANFL action against Norwood on Thursday night.

Father-son Taj Schofield and Victorian draftee Ollie Lord will be among those playing their first game at SANFL League level.

Key forward Luke Surman is poised to confront his old teammates after departing The Parade for Alberton during summer.

Several AFL-listed players will be sent back to the Magpies squad before the bounce on Thursday evening.

League

F: Aldridge, Lord, Moore

HF: Burgoyne, Surman, Weidemann

C: Schofield, Williams, Wildman

HB: Corcoran, Frederick, Westbrook

B: Garner, Edwards, Lienert



R: Hayes, Sutcliffe, Mayes

INT: Sareen, Strange, Appleton, Carter

Norwood defence a little light on? Mids/Forwards look ok

New Norwood coach Jade Rawlings was given an early insight into just how fierce the club’s rivalry with Port Adelaide is.

Two weeks ago – as he was still refining his best 22 during trial games – Rawlings was at his desk at revamped, state-of-the-art Norwood Oval when a letter was delivered to him.

Inside the envelope – from a passionate Redlegs supporter – was a detailed history of the club’s intense battles with the Magpies.

It hit Rawlings, a long-time AFL assistant coach who played 148 games for Hawthorn, the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne, between the eyes.

“I found it fascinating reading,’’ Rawlings said.

“The letter highlighted what Norwood meant to him and provided me with a great insight into the history of the Norwood-Port rivalry.

“It was a detailed document and something I found really helpful because I’m a massive traditionalist who likes to know the full history of places I am a part of.

“The rivalry with Port clearly is a special one and to launch the SANFL season with such a blockbuster game is something I feel privileged to be a part of.’’

Thursday’s round one clash between the famous clubs will be live streamed on the advertiser.com.au website from 7.40pm.

The Parade encounter ramps up The Advertiser’s season-long commitment to broadcasting weekly state league action, following last weekend’s history-making live stream of South Adelaide’s SANFL under-16 meeting with Glenelg.

A crowd of up to 5000 can attend the premiership season opener.

Rawlings, who has declared he wants to make Norwood “great again’’ after it missed the finals last year, believes Port – back in the SANFL after being forced to pull out last season because of AFL COVID-19 hub protocols – will be “one of the teams to beat’’ this year, giving him and his players a tough initiation.

“I’m a big believer that to be the best you have to be able to compete against and beat the best, so what better way to start than against Port in round one,’’ he said.

Magpies coach Matthew Lokan said his team had high expectations this season and had set its sights on a 37th SANFL flag.

“We can’t wait to get back to play in the SANFL, it’s really important for us, and there is no bigger game for us than Norwood at The Parade,’’ he said,

“The last time we played in the SANFL was in a grand final (in 2019) and to be able to kick off the season on Easter Thursday, it’s really exciting for our playing group.’’

Bode not playing?

"Make Norwood Great Again"

Sounds like a great idea for hats!

Wedgie wrote:"Make Norwood Great Again"

Sounds like a great idea for hats!

Has this replaced MONSFAW?