Flagstaff Hill got their season off to the perfect start with a 22-point win against reigning premier Reynella at Flagstaff Hill on Saturday, as the Southern Football League (SFL) season got underway. The Falcons got off to a good start as they took a 19-point lead at half time. Each side kicked four goals in the second half, before ‘Flaggies’ won 11.15 (81) to 9.5 (59). Sam Smith (3) and Cameron Blake (2) were the multiple goal kickers for the Falcons, while Marc Borholm kicked four goals for Reynella. Best players for the Falcons were Ryan Mountford, Blake Aldridge, Tim Meinecke, Michael Shearer, and Kobe Cavouras. Reynella were best served by Borholm, Sam Whitbread, Talon Copley, Jason Farrier, and Daniel Whitaker.

Noarlunga won a tight round one game against 2022 runner-up Morphett Vale at Old Noarlunga by seven points. In a low-scoring affair, the Shoes prevailed 8.8 (56) to 6.13 (49). Michael Balas kicked two goals for Noarlunga, while Blake Carter (3) and Dylan Williams (2) were the multiple goal kickers for the Emus. Bailey Hann, Sam Beard, Jackson Lock, Jaidan Kappler, and Balas were the best players for the Shoes, while for Morphett Vale, Bodie Sowter, Leroy Marsh, Harry Clarkson, Michael Smith, and Khori Mills-Richardson were their best players. 

The ‘Andrew Jarman era’ at Port Noarlunga started with the Cockle Divers recording a comfortable 40-point win against Aldinga on Saturday night at ‘Porties’. Port Noarlunga led by 21 points at half time, before kicking a further six goals to three in the second half to win 10.7 (67) to 4.3 (27). Willaston recruit Oliver Petrohilos was a star up forward with five goals for Port Noarlunga. Anthony Dempsey, Tom Dix, Tom Redden, Petrohilos, and James Ledgard were named in the best players for Port Noarlunga. Best players for Aldinga included Sam Bentley, Scott O’Dea, and Tom Pilmore.

Happy Valley got their 2023 season off to a good start with a 28-point win at Christies Beach on Saturday. The game was tight for the first three quarters with Happy Valley leading by 13 points at the last change, before kicking six goals to three in the final term to win 14.10 (94) to 9.12 (66). Josh Dwyer-Sterzl and Corey Grocock each kicked four goals for the Vikings, while Josh de Roode and Nathan Stock both kicked two majors for the Saints. Best players for the Vikings included Matthew Lillis, Grocock, Shane Stagg, Dwayne Ruddock, and Matthew Coulthard. Christies Beach was best served by Bradley Truscott, Jordan Hunnable-Ford, Rhys Mundy, de Roode, and Kyle Daris. 

Cove had the bye.

Ladder after Round 1

Port Noarlunga 2, Happy Valley 2, Flagstaff Hill 2, Noarlunga 2, Morphett Vale 0, Reynella 0, Christies Beach 0, Aldinga 0, Cove 0.

Round 2 Fixtures

Cove v Flagstaff Hill

Reynella v Morphett Vale

Christies Beach v Noarlunga

Aldinga v Happy Valley

Port Noarlunga has the bye