Southern Football League - Round 16 previewAlthough the top five is basically settled, there is still plenty to play for in round 16 of the Southern Football League.The match of the round sees a probable Elimination Final preview as Port Noarlunga host Reynella. Last time they met back in round seven Port Noarlunga had a comfortable 39-point win with star South Adelaide recruit Jake Veide kicking three goals in a best on ground performance. Both sides have played some good football this season but have been slightly inconsistent. Port Noarlunga have pushed the top two sides in Noarlunga and Christies Beach and appear to have too much class for Reynella in this one. My tip...Port Noarlunga.In other games Noarlunga will look to continue their unbeaten season with a trip to Cove. When these teams last met the Shoes ran riot to win by 110 points over the Cobras. Noarlunga have stars all over the park and with an average winning margin of 97 points, should be untroubled in this encounter. My tip...Noarlunga.After a tough 227-point loss last week at Noarlunga, Aldinga will look to bounce back at home this week. Things don’t get much easier as the Sharks take on three-time reigning premier Flagstaff Hill. The Falcons have been in good recent form with their only two losses for the season coming at the hands of the undefeated Noarlunga outfit. My tip...Flagstaff Hill.Happy Valley can keep their slim finals hopes alive with a win at Morphett Vale. The Vikings sit two games behind fifth placed Reynella (who they play next week). The Emus are playing for pride with finals out of the equation and they’ll be keen to notch their fourth win of the season. My tip...Happy Valley.Christies Beach has the byeLadder (after 15 rounds)Noarlunga 28 points, Christies Beach 24, Flagstaff Hill 22, Port Noarlunga 16, Reynella 12, Happy Valley 8, Morphett Vale 6, Cove 2, Aldinga 2

Great Southern Football League - Round 16 previewWith just three rounds left in the 2019 Great Southern Football League season, there’s still plenty to play for with all positions in the top five up for grabs and Strathalbyn still a chance to be a part of the finals action, sitting just one game outside.The match of the round sees last year’s premier Langhorne Creek play host to 2016 and 2017 premiers Mount Compass. A win to Mount Compass would shore up the double chance while a win to the reigning premier would bring them within a point of the Bulldogs on the table. The last time these two sides met back in round seven, Langhorne Creek had a tight 12-point victory with Angus Lally the star for the victors with four goals in a best on ground performance. There are stars all over the park with the Bulldogs boasting the most potent attack in the competition with Tom Pinyon on top of the goalkicker list with 86 majors for the season and Ziggy Vitkunas in second spot with 59 goals. Langhorne Creek have had an even spread of goalkickers this season with five players kicking 15+ goals with Jarrod Kellock leading the way with 37. It should be a great game. My tip...Langhorne Creek.In other games top placed Victor Harbor take on fifth placed McLaren at home. Victor has been in great form recently, winning their past four games by an average of 75 points. McLaren sit in fifth spot and need to keep winning to keep their dream alive of consecutive Grand Final appearances. My tip...Victor Harbor.Strathalbyn host Yankalilla with the Roosters needing a win to keep their finals hopes alive. Yankalilla were competitive last week against Victor Harbor before ultimately going down by 44 points while Strathalbyn were beaten by Mount Compass in an excellent game of Football by 18 points after trailing by just a point at the last change. My tip...Strathalbyn.Goolwa-Port Elliot play host to third placed Willunga looking for their third win of the season. The Demons will be smarting after losing last week to Langhorne Creek and in the process lost top spot on the ladder. The Magpies have had three heavy losses in a row so they’ll be looking forward to putting up a competitive performance against one of the powerhouses of the competition. My tip...Willunga.Myponga-Sellicks host Encounter Bay in search of their first win of the season. It will be a tough ask for the Mudlarks with Encounter Bay getting back into form last week with a 62-point win over Goolwa-Port Elliot. My tip...Encounter Bay.Ladder (after 15 rounds)Victor Harbor 24 points, Mount Compass 23, Willunga 23, Langhorne Creek 20, McLaren 18, Strathalbyn 16, Encounter Bay 12, Yankalilla 10, Goolwa-Port Elliot 4, Myponga-Sellicks 0

Great Southern Netball Association - Round 15Victor Harbor have extended their unbeaten run this season to 13 games with a crushing 70-21 win over bottom placed Yankalilla in round 15 of the Great Southern Netball Association. Victor have won the past three premierships and look well on their way to a fourth. Second placed Willunga all but sealed the double chance with a hard fought five goal win at home against a brave Langhorne Creek, 38-33. It was Willunga’s 11th win of the season and puts them five points clear in second spot.McLaren Vale did their finals chances no end of good with a comprehensive 64-38 victory over fellow finals aspirant Myponga. It keeps McLaren Vale in fourth position and they are now a game clear of Myponga with just three rounds to go before finals.Strathalbyn took on Mount Compass with both sides playing for pride as neither can make finals this season. It was a keenly contested affair with the travelling Roosters coming out on top 49-40.Goolwa had the bye.

Hills Football League (Division 2) - Round 16Macclesfield have sewn up a finals berth with a come from behind 28-point win over Birdwood at Macclesfield Oval. The home side trailed by 20 points at half-time before unleashing a withering burst in the third term. The Bloods kicked 8.1 to the Roosters 2.2 to take a handy 15-point lead into the last quarter before pulling away to win 14.11 (95) to 10.7 (67). The loss put paid to Birdwood’s slim finals chances. Daniel Noble was dominant up forward for the victors with six goals and he was ably supported by Reece Jolly with three majors. Adam Bound and Jake Maczkowiack were Birdwood’s only multiple goalkickers with two each. Kowen Buchecker was adjudged best afield for the Bloods with Noble and Jolly also in the best players. For Birdwood, Joshua Coleman, Brandon Ashby and Jarred Jones were amongst the best.Ironbank Cherry Gardens won their seventh consecutive game with a convincing 84-point victory over Meadows at Meadows Oval. The Thunderers led at every change by 13 points, 37 points and 78 points before running out winners 21.21 (147) to 9.9 (63). Jeremy Johncock was a star up forward for Ironbank with eight goals while Levi Grigg, Adam Shearwood and Ari Diamandopoulos each kicked three. For Meadows, Jarad Mellor and Brodie Henderson kicked two goals. Best players for Ironbank were Will Muirden, Johncock & Daniel Philp. Luke Smart, Braeden Bezzina and Mellor tried hard for the vanquished Bulldogs.Kersbrook continued their undefeated season with a comfortable 55-point victory over Bridgewater-Callington at Kersbrook. The final score was 16.12 (108) to 7.11 (53). The Brookers killed off any chance the Raiders had of causing an upset with a seven goal to one second quarter giving them an unassailable 56-point lead at half-time. That lead was extended out to 73 points by the final change. The Raiders put a bit of respectability back into the scoreline by kicking five goals in the final term after only managing two in the first three quarters of the game. Josh Laube led the way up forward for Kersbrook with four goals while big ruckman Rob Nicholson was best on ground. Bridgewater-Callington had all single goalkickers with Jackson Hooper best for the visitors.Gumeracha have kept their top three chances well and truly alive with a crushing win over neighbouring Torrens Valley at Gumeracha. Torrens Valley were kept goalless in the first half and trailed by 56 points at the long break. The visitors were outgunned but managed their only two goals of the game in the third stanza which only served to kick Gumeracha back into gear as they piled on 10 unanswered goals in the final quarter to run away with a 135-point victory, 22.20 (152) to 2.5 (17). The Magpies had 12 different goalkickers with Matthew Armstrong leading the way with four majors. Best players for the finals bound Maggies were Jack Parker, Nathan Warren and Matthew Redden. Brandon Bormann, Bailey Caire and Joshua Harris battled hard for the winless Lions.

Southern Football League - Round 15Noarlunga have continued their undefeated season with a thumping 227-point win over bottom placed Aldinga at Noarlunga Oval, 36.17 (233) to 1.0 (6). The Shoes dominated from the start keeping the Sharks scoreless in the first quarter while piling on nine goals of their own. Aldinga kicked their only goal of the match in the second term but trailed by a whopping 107 points at the long break. The carnage continued in the second half with Aldinga being kept scoreless while Noarlunga piled on a further 19 goals. Nicholas Mott continued his fine season with eight goals in a best on ground performance. Reece Martell, Troy Johnson and Thomas Caudle also hit the scoreboard with six goals each. Bryan Sienes was the solitary goalkicker for the Sharks with Sam Newbery named the visitors best player.Christies Beach consolidated second position on the ladder with a 15.10 (100) to 6.9 (45) win over a hosting Happy Valley outfit. The home side was very competitive in the first half but poor kicking for goal saw them trail the Saints by 21 points at half time. Christies Beach exploded in the third quarter and put the game to bed kicking seven goals to one before eventually winning by 55 points. For the winners Neil Reeve booted four goals with Mathew Hodge chiming in with three majors. Aidan Coakley, Patrick Jolly and Ryan Parry were named best for Christies. Matthew Lillis and Jacob Battifuoco each kicked two goals for Happy Valley with Nicholas Frisby-Smith, Battifuoco and Ben Peters named in the best players.Port Noarlunga made the trip to Morphett Vale and came away with their eighth win of the season with a comfortable 15.11 (101) to 7.10 (52) triumph. The win keeps the Cockle Divers in fourth position on the ladder with the Emus in seventh. Port Noarlunga shared the goals around with Dylan Williams, Jackson Daniels and Ian Brown each kicking three. Daniels was named best on ground and he was ably supported by Rhys McKay and Ciaran O’Hagan. Tyron Bennetts kicked three majors for the Emus with Jacob Mango, Bodie Sowter and Jack Barter named in the best players.Three time reigning premier Flagstaff Hill all but sewed up the double chance by demolishing an outgunned Cove at Flagstaff Hill oval. It was one way traffic as the Falcons won by 119 points, 23.18 (156) to 5.7 (37). Flaggies had 11 different goalkickers with Ben Rossi leading the way with five goals. Lincoln Holder was the only multiple goalkicker for Cove with two majors. Sam Tharaldsen continued his recent excellent form with a best on ground performance for the Falcons while Michael Galley was best for the Cobras.Reynella had the bye. 

Great Southern Football League - Round 15Victor Harbor have moved to the top of the GSFL ladder after a convincing 44-point victory at Yankalilla on Saturday. It was the Kangaroos fourth consecutive win. After a tight opening quarter, the visitors dominated the second and third quarters to open up a 52-point lead by the last change before closing out the game to win 18.13 (121) to 11.11 (77). Luke Davey kicked five goals for the Kangaroos and he was ably supported by Sam Basham and Brok Schubert who each kicked four. Jed Durdin was a lone hand up forward for the Tigers kicking five goals. Best players for Victor were Schubert, Michael Ross and Ben Yeomans while Yankalilla were best served by former South Adelaide player Xavier Gotch, Zac Hodges and Durdin.Reigning premier Langhorne Creek kept their top three chances alive with an excellent 17-point win at Willunga. The home side entered the round in top spot and hadn’t lost since way back in round three. The Demons led by five points at quarter time before the Hawks hit back to take a nine point advantage into the long break. The visitors kept up the pressure to extend their lead to 20 points by the final change and eventually ran out winners 16.5 (101) to 13.6 (84). Jarrod Kellock kicked four goals for Langhorne Creek and Beau Walkom slotted three majors. For Willunga Matthew Thomas kicked four and Daniel Lee three. Former AFL player James Sellar was best for the Hawks along with Kellock and Troy Blackwell. Willunga were best served by Thomas, Braden Altus and James Collier.Mount Compass put a dent in Strathalbyn’s finals chances with an 18-point triumph at home. The Bulldogs led by a solitary point at the final change before finishing over the top of the Roosters to win 18.7 (115) to 15.7 (97). Tom Pinyon continued his excellent season with a game high eight goals to take his season tally to 86 majors. Ziggy Vitkunas kicked three goals and was named as Mount Compass’ best. For the vanquished Roosters, Ben Simounds kicked four goals and Marc Elliot was named as best player. Myponga-Sellicks’ dismal season continued as they were thumped by McLaren to the tune of 108 points at McLaren Vale oval, 24.16 (160) to 7.10 (52).The win keeps McLaren in fifth position while the Mudlarks are stuck at the bottom of the ladder and still waiting for their first victory of 2019. Max Wakefield kicked six goals for the Eagles while James Mathews was named best. James Hutchinson was the only multiple goalkicker for Myponga-Sellicks with two majors. Scott Ogilvie continued his consistent season to be named best for the Mudlarks.Encounter Bay notched their sixth win of the campaign with a comfortable 62-point victory over the visiting Goolwa-Port Elliot side. The visitors had former AFL star Ryan Griffen in the lineup for the second week in a row and they started brilliantly to hold an 18-point lead at quarter time. The joy was short lived for the Magpies as Encounter Bay bounced back and kicked 18 goals to five from that point on. The final score was Encounter Bay 19.10 (124) to Goolwa-Port Elliot 9.8 (62). Nicholas Marshall was best on ground for the home side with seven goals while Todd Marsh was the sole multiple goalkicker for Myponga-Sellicks with two and Logan Payne was named best.

Great Southern Football League Women Open Grand FinalRoosters triumphant againStrathalbyn won their second consecutive Great Southern Football League Women’s (GSFLW) premiership with a convincing win over McLaren in the Grand Final at McLaren Vale Oval last Sunday. After losing the second semi-final to the Eagles by just four points, the Roosters bounced back to win the decider by 27 points, 5.4 (34) to 1.1 (7). It was the third premiership triumph in as many years for Strathalbyn as they also won the division five flag in the SA Women’s Football League in 2017.The reigning premier started strongly to keep McLaren to a solitary behind in the first half while kicking three goals themselves to open up a handy 19-point lead at the main break. The Eagles came out hard in the third term and kicked their first goal of the game through Sally Fuller and kept Strathalbyn scoreless to only trail by 13 points at the final change. What hope McLaren had was snuffed out as the reigning champions kicked two final quarter goals while keeping the Eagles scoreless to secure their 27-point victory.Strathalbyn’s Chloe Isaacson capped off an excellent finals series with three goals and a best on ground performance. She was ably supported by Abbie Ballard and Lisa-Jane Millard. Emma Gryczewski, Fuller and Lauren Hodgeman were the best players for McLaren.

Great Southern Football League Women U/16 Grand FinalWillunga go back-to backWillunga under 16’s won their second consecutive premiership with a tough 18-point win over Mount Compass in the Grand Final at McLaren Vale Oval last Sunday. The Demons led at every change before taking the title 4.8 (32) to 2.2 (14).Willunga coach Damion Burns paid credit to his victorious side. “It all started at training during the week as the girls were up and about and ready to go. They used plenty of voice, were switched on, and very positive. Before the game we had former AFLW player Courtney Gum come and speak to the girls and you could hear a pin drop. They were so focussed”, he said.“We started well but we knew Mount Compass was going to be hard at the ball, but our girls stuck to the game plan. We started the second half a bit slow as Mount Compass put more pressure on us. We made a couple of changes and we started to settle down and play our style of footy. At the final change I told the girls not to leave anything out on the park as this is what we have been training for since Christmas. With a few sore girls going into the last quarter they all had to play their part for us to get over the line. We started the term well and finished off strong”.Ella Radbone and Emily Steele each kicked two goals for the Demons while Amber Thomas and Kiahni Russell kicked majors for the Bulldogs. Best players for the premiers were Millie Cross, Lauren Clifton and Ella Radbone. Brooke Boileau, Chloe Boileau and Megan Tilby were best for the brave Bulldogs.