2016 SANFL Grand Final - Sunday Sep 25 (Adelaide Oval)

[Booney]

The image of Godden hands over his face when Kirkwood hit the final nail in was harrowing viewing. Can't say I know Mick well, I know his right hand man well and I felt for him there and then. He's a ripper of a bloke, rough watching him in that much agony. I've also got to know Allmond a bit, he too is a bloke you don't enjoy seeing with that blank on his face, hell of a nice fella.

On the other hand the images of Boyd in tears I could have watched for hours. Wundke, Ainger and Boyd have all chased that illusive dollar.....I mean premiership and they are not there just yet.

[mighty hounds]

The image of Godden hands over his face when Kirkwood hit the final nail in was harrowing viewing. Can't say I know Mick well, I know his right hand man well and I felt for him there and then. He's a ripper of a bloke, rough watching him in that much agony. I've also got to know Allmond a bit, he too is a bloke you don't enjoy seeing with that blank on his face, hell of a nice fella.

On the other hand the images of Boyd in tears I could have watched for hours. Wundke, Ainger and Boyd have all chased that illusive dollar.....I mean premiership and they are not there just yet.

How do you know Allmond Booney? I had Hansen for first goal and as he was about to snap it Jared came form now where and tackled him. was dead set spewing

[human_torpedo]

Well done to Sturt. Deserving winners on the day..

Eagles first qtr was the killer. We couldn't hit the scoreboard when we had the play, and Sturt kicked goals when they went forward and took the opportunities in the first half. Had we been 4.1 instead of 1.4 at qtr time, I think we go on and win it. We didn't, and gave Sturt a sniff and they took control of the game..

Wundks was good. We didn't get the ball in to him quick enough to allow him constant 1 on 1's. But when we did he generally won them. Petrenko was good but faded out. Boyd and O'Brien were accumulating without being damaging. Allmond was serviceable. Just had too many players down on the day, for the second year running..

Interesting that all 3 sides that had only played 1 game in 3 weeks lost this weekend.. GWS and Geelong, and the Eagles. The conversation of the best way to prepare for finals continues with no clear answer..

Eagles have some decisions to make. 3 retired already with another 2 unlikely to go on.. Few depth players also looking at moving on. Important off season coming up

[Dogwatcher]

This from the round 3 - Sturt v Centrals game thread.
We saw it yesterday.

Well done, Sturt, a really good, affirming win on Sunday.
Their pressure on the ball carrier was immense and really constricted our run.
However, if the Blues bring that intensity and work rate throughout the season, it's the brand of footy that can bring the ultimate success.

[Booney]

Looked impotent forward of centre. Ainger never looked likely and Wundke was the only target who appeared to be "on" on the day.

I thought Petrenko was in and out of the game too often, Allmond was probably best across the back half, Poole tried but had little help, Thompson good on Beard in the 1 on 1's, when Beard got the good delivery he needed Thompson was helpless.

I thought Riley's game for Sturt wasn't mentioned as much as it should have been, 26 touches, 9 tackles and 9 clearances.

All in all though the game wasn't much of a spectacle as far as this neutral was concerned. Not many highlights, 43-34 I50's with only 19 goals and 3 of them came late for the Blues. The post match presentations with the lady halting every player and kid for a photo was strange, are we doing that now?

[Dogwatcher]

At quarter-time I thought the Eagles would have been disappointed, while Sturt would have been quietly confident.
Throughout, they didn't let the Eagles get away and then drilled them in the last quarter.
I thought the sliding free was a bit rough, but made up for the non-decision just before.
Thoughts on the hanger at the other end? I was okay with it.

Kirkwood's calmness with the ball early was critical - resulting in a number of goal assists. Critical times.
Beard kicked goals when needed.
I thought there were moments Ainger was going to take control of the game, but it just never happened.

As for the atmosphere, I felt the game was strangely flat, particularly the presentations, even from the players, afterwards.
It was strange. Maybe it was different at the ground.

Well done, Sturt. A gutsy win.

[heater31]

The post match presentations with the lady halting every player and kid for a photo was strange, are we doing that now?

Guessing that was the SANFL photographer? Can't recall her name.

[johntheclaret]

The post match presentations with the lady halting every player and kid for a photo was strange, are we doing that now?

Guessing that was the SANFL photographer? Can't recall her name.

Deb Curtis I think.

[FlyingHigh]

Well done to Sturt. Deserving winners on the day..

Eagles first qtr was the killer. We couldn't hit the scoreboard when we had the play, and Sturt kicked goals when they went forward and took the opportunities in the first half. Had we been 4.1 instead of 1.4 at qtr time, I think we go on and win it. We didn't, and gave Sturt a sniff and they took control of the game..

Wundks was good. We didn't get the ball in to him quick enough to allow him constant 1 on 1's. But when we did he generally won them. Petrenko was good but faded out. Boyd and O'Brien were accumulating without being damaging. Allmond was serviceable. Just had too many players down on the day, for the second year running..

Interesting that all 3 sides that had only played 1 game in 3 weeks lost this weekend.. GWS and Geelong, and the Eagles. The conversation of the best way to prepare for finals continues with no clear answer..

Eagles have some decisions to make. 3 retired already with another 2 unlikely to go on.. Few depth players also looking at moving on. Important off season coming up

Apart from Jarrad, who has retired and who is unlikely to go on?

Thought that while Osborne did do much, occasionally imposed himself physically on the play to at least remind our players he was around, but our ruckmen were very poor around the ground.

[Booney]

Thoughts on the hanger at the other end? I was okay with it.

For mine, Martins mark every day of the week.

On the "trip/below the knees" paid to Sturt in the last 1/4, that was embarrassing, almost as embarrassing as the holding the ball the same umpire missed just moments earlier.

Umpires were really good until the last quarter when the heat was on, much like the Eagles.

[human_torpedo]

Raymond and Ainger have retired. Lewis I would say is 50/50 to go on, albeit he is contracted but whether he goes on or not.. O'Brien weighing up whether to return to Melbourne or go another year

[FlyingHigh]

Thoughts on the hanger at the other end? I was okay with it.

For mine, Martins mark every day of the week.

On the "trip/below the knees" paid to Sturt in the last 1/4, that was embarrassing, almost as embarrassing as the holding the ball the same umpire missed just moments earlier.

Umpires were really good until the last quarter when the heat was on, much like the Eagles.

Martin/McGregor should have been a ball-up or play-on IMO.
The one you referred to was a bad piece of umpiring both ways, the below-the-knees inconsistent with Sturt getting a free and goal for too-high in similar circumstances in the second quarter.
One other mistake in the first quarter was Wundke forcefully pushed sheperder in the back and the play ended up in a throw up.
Thought apart from these blatant ones, the umpiring was very good.

[Pseudo]

The image of Godden hands over his face when Kirkwood hit the final nail in was harrowing viewing.

^ this, and...

On the other hand the images of Boyd in tears I could have watched for hours.

^ this.

[Panther Pack]

Ainger has been quite vocal over the years about leaving South cause he couldn't see any success at the Panthers.

Guess he didn't get what he was after, two Grand Finals for Zero Premierships!

[human_torpedo]

Ainger has been quite vocal over the years about leaving South cause he couldn't see any success at the Panthers.

Guess he didn't get what he was after, two Grand Finals for Zero Premierships!

Had 2 better opportunities than he would have had if he stayed at South..

[Panther Pack]

Ainger has been quite vocal over the years about leaving South cause he couldn't see any success at the Panthers.

Guess he didn't get what he was after, two Grand Finals for Zero Premierships!

Had 2 better opportunities than he would have had if he stayed at South..

True

Still happy he didn't win any though.

[heater31]

Ainger has been quite vocal over the years about leaving South cause he couldn't see any success at the Panthers.

Guess he didn't get what he was after, two Grand Finals for Zero Premierships!

Had 2 better opportunities than he would have had if he stayed at South..

True

Still happy he didn't win any though.

Reckon a certain coach had a fair bit to do with it also. He just realised it sooner and had an out of being uncontracted before the rest.

[human_torpedo]

Ainger has been quite vocal over the years about leaving South cause he couldn't see any success at the Panthers.

Guess he didn't get what he was after, two Grand Finals for Zero Premierships!

Had 2 better opportunities than he would have had if he stayed at South..

True

Still happy he didn't win any though.

I understand that. I can see why

Similar to why I don't want Sydney to win this weekend because that would bring joy to Kurt Tippett..

[Dutchy]

The image of Godden hands over his face when Kirkwood hit the final nail in was harrowing viewing. Can't say I know Mick well, I know his right hand man well and I felt for him there and then. He's a ripper of a bloke, rough watching him in that much agony. I've also got to know Allmond a bit, he too is a bloke you don't enjoy seeing with that blank on his face, hell of a nice fella.

On the other hand the images of Boyd in tears I could have watched for hours. Wundke, Ainger and Boyd have all chased that illusive dollar.....I mean premiership and they are not there just yet.

Agree feel for Godden, obviously a quality coach and bloke, if he sticks to it he will get another crack.

[Dutchy]

How frustrating is it that the opening line to the Advertiser's main article on Sturts great win is about no being able to hold onto Mattner due to AAFL clubs circling