Christies Beach launched a stunning comeback to defeat Noarlunga by a point as the Southern Football League (SFL) got underway on Saturday. The Saints travelled to Noarlunga for the Match of the Day and after a tight opening quarter which saw the home side take a six- point lead, the second and third quarters were dominated by the Shoes. 12 goals to six in those quarters saw Noarlunga turn for home with a seemingly match-winning 41-point lead. The game was then turned on its head as Christies Beach came home with a withering last quarter to kick 9.2 to 2.2 and win an entertaining and high scoring affair 17.7 (109) to 17.6 (108). The returning Daniel Nobes kicked four goals for the victors and he was well supported by Matthew Spencely and Blake Carter who kicked three majors each. Vic Robertson, Thomas Caudle and Callum Gaspari kicked three goals each for Noarlunga. Michael Mazey, Jacob Crate, Clayton Mesecke, Carter and Nobes were named as best players for the Saints while Jarrad Liebelt, Nick Robertson, Nathan Schulz, Caudle and Zac Williams were amongst Noarlunga’s best players.

Reigning premier Flagstaff Hill got their premiership defence off to a convincing start with a 54-point win at Reynella. The opening half was a tight and low scoring affair with the visitors taking a slender one-point lead into the main break. The Falcons flexed their muscles after half time to kick nine goals to one and take victory 12.8 (80) to 4.2 (26). Daniel Butcher was a star up forward for Flaggies kicking five goals with Sam Tharaldsen and Daniel Webb kicking two goals apiece. Josh Frisby kicked two goals for Reynella. David Kearsley, Tharaldsen, Matthew Walton, Butcher and Max Renfrey were the best players for Flagstaff Hill. For Reynella Matthew Fox, Frisby, Nick Dixon, Daniel Whittaker and Boyd Austin were their best players.

Happy Valley got their season off to a perfect start with a convincing 42-point win over Port Noarlunga at Happy Valley. The home side got off to a bright start, taking a 20-point lead into the first break. Port Noarlunga hit back hard in the second term to kick four goals to one and only trailed by one point at the long break. Happy Valley came out fired up in the second half to kick nine goals to two and pull away to win 13.11 (89) to 6.11 (47). The Vikings had nine different goalkickers with Joel Beeche, Henry Kerrison, Lee Davis and Tate Coleman kicking two each. Coleman, Damon Birbeck, Nick Frisby-Smith, Matthew Lillis and Beeche were named best for the victors. Port Noarlunga had all individual goalkickers with their best players being Connor Sampson, Jesse Vaughan, Joshua Mewborn, Paul Randall and Ian Brown.

Morphett Vale and Cove played an entertaining and tight game at Aldinga with Morphett Vale emerging as 12-point winners. Cove led by four points at quarter time after a low scoring first term before the game opened right up with Morphett Vale kicking seven goals to five in the second stanza to take a 10-point lead into half time. Cove came back in the third quarter to reduce the margin to just one point before the Emus steadied in the last term to come out winners 13.11 (89) to 12.5 (77). Morphett Vale had 10 goalkickers with Scott Carpenter kicking three and Matthew Joraslafsky dobbing two. Brad Young kicked four goals for the Cobras and he was well supported by Michael Galley who kicked three majors. Carpenter was named best for Morphett Vale with Michael Smith, Jack Langdon, Braydan Hartwig and Aiden Baker also in the best players for the Emus. Oliver Moore, Galley, Alexander Marra, Young and Ben Charlesworth were named best for Cove.

Round 2 fixtures (Home team named first)

Cove v Port Noarlunga

Flagstaff Hill v Happy Valley

Morphett Vale v Noarlunga

Reynella v Christies Beach