The SANFL premiership race continues on Saturday at Adelaide Oval with the season’s top four sides all in action in this weekend’s Semi Finals.
Sturt v South Adelaide
1st Semi Final – Saturday Sept 6
2.40pm at Adelaide Oval
Two of 2014’s most improved sides will fight for survival in the opening clash of the finals double header.
South Adelaide ended Woodville-West Torrens’ season last weekend with a 20-point win over the Eagles.
Four goals to two in the final quarter sealed the result for the Panthers, as 2014 Magarey Medal runner-up Joel Cross and state representative ruckman Keegan Brooksby led South to the spoils.
Sturt finished on the wrong side of an arm-wrestle against the Redlegs in last week’s Qualifying Final.
The Double Blues kicked the first goal of the match, but then conceded the following four and couldn’t claw their way back into the lead.
Runaway Magarey Medallist Zane Kirkwood will need to fire again for Sturt on Saturday, while the ruck battle between Angus Kurtze and Brooksby could prove to be the match-defining contest.
Port Adelaide v Norwood
2nd Semi Final – Saturday Sept 6
5.40pm at Adelaide Oval
The top two teams of the year will collide under lights in the 2nd Semi Final.
Both sides have split the honours with a win apiece in two low-scoring encounters earlier in the season.
The Magpies held off an inaccurate Norwood in the last meeting less than a month ago, winning by just nine points despite having six less scoring shots.
The minor premiers have undoubtedly been the benchmark all season, but must rebound from a disappointing final round loss to bottom-placed Glenelg a fortnight ago.
Norwood advanced through a tense Qualifying Final last week against a plucky Double Blues outfit.
The Redlegs did not kick a goal in the final term but still found a way to win with defenders Michael Chippendale and Kieran McGuiness holding down the fort.
Saturday’s clash promises to be an evenly matched contest, and could be swayed simply by whichever side can break the shackles first.
