Knights, returning from a three-game break to recover from a fractured eye socket, started on a wing with the Eagles and then became a dominant player when stitched into the midfield in the second half.
He had 17 kicks and 16 handballs and kicked 2.3 in the team’s eight-point win over North Adelaide at Prospect on Sunday. Jarrhan Jacky (19 possessions, two goals) and Rob Shirley (21 possessions, two goals) were also good for the Eagles.
For North, Tony Armstrong had 18 possessions and Phil Davis finished with 17 possessions. Davis was creative with his handball , particularly in the first half, and then was sent to full back to mind former Crow Ken McGregor, who kicked four of his six third term goals before the switch was made.
Rory Sloane, making his league debut after missing six weeks with a knee injury, needed the run and had eight possessions in just over a half of game time.
Brad Symes was among Central District’s best in its one-point win over Norwood at The Parade on Saturday. He collected 15 kicks and 11 handballs after starting in defence and then moving into the midfield.
Will Young continues to show steady improvement with Norwood. His overall stats were 14 kicks, 10 marks, four handballs and one goal but it was in the third term when he had a major influence with 12 of his possessions, seven marks and the goal in this period.
Ruckman Ivan Maric returned to the Port Adelaide Magpies, where he played most of Sunday’s game as a key forward. He booted 4.1 from 13 possessions and had nine hit outs. For Sturt, which won this Alberton Oval clash by seven goals, Brodie Martin had 17 possessions at half back.
Down at Noarlunga, James Sellar (14 possessions, five marks, seven hit-outs) was solid for Glenelg. His best work was in the ruck, where he played with confidence and made good decisions.
Shaun McKernan was good in the first half for the Panthers, when he had most of his nine possessions and kicked 1.2. He copped a knock before half-time and was only used sparingly in the second half.
West Adelaide had the bye on the weekend.
SANFL reserves
Aaron Kite (Norwood) and Brian Donnelly (Glenelg) were the pick of this group. Kite had 12 kicks, four handballs and kicked two goals after starting at half back and then having a run on the wing and Irishman Donnelly booted 4.3 from ten possessions as a forward.
Tom Lee (Sturt) had eight possessions and kicked two goals while Greg Gallman (North) was solid defensively and had 13 possessions.
Rookie Ricky Henderson was prominent early for Central, picking up nine possessions and kicking two goals before hurting a wrist in the second term and spending the rest of the game on the bench. He has been cleared of any serious damage.
