rampant Angaston overwhelmed an undermanned Freeling at Angaston Oval last Saturday in a season-defining game.

The Redlegs have played off in the last three grand finals and they needed to win to stay in this year’s race.

Work related withdrawals and injuries meant that a largely untried team of young locals hit the turf, which was further stressed by the absence of playing coach Scott Leal who was interstate.

Angaston’s improved season has only netted two full results and coach Simon Johnson needed to confirm the progress with a strong win.

He certainly got that, as Angaston set a frantic pace from the first bounce and had four majors on the board before the Redlegs successfully entered their 50-metre zone.

Less than five goals adrift at the first change flattered Freeling, but the real story lay in the scoring shots,which were 14 to five in Angaston’s favour.

The Panthers’ good start was engineered from a sensational opening burst from Andrew Pech.

Angaston’s inaccuracy in the second term meant that Freeling were in touch at half time, but any thought of a comeback were smashed in the third term when the Panthers raced away with the points with a seven goals-to-one scoring spree.

The last quarter was an anti-climax.

The victorious Panthers had a raft of better players.

Brad Hughes was a standout in defence for Angaston not only controlling his immediate area but also linking up with teammates down the ground with polished and unfazed disposal.

Freeling’s ruck stocks were drastically reduced for this game and Angaston giant Kym Reimann took advantage. He did plenty of good work in field play to back up his ruckwork. Jarred Rathjen proved a sensation as a mobile centre half forward with some good marks and three goals. Ashley Clarke, Stewart White Andrew Pech and Craig Harvey also had an influence.

Freeling skipper Darren Leske played his usual ‘lead from the front’ game and despite close checking from Ashley Clarke was still able to get many possessions.

Similarly Michael Haseldine played under constant siege and had plenty of disposals.

Others to do well for Freeling were a quartet of their younger players - Max Doherty, Ryan Thatcher, Travis Muster and Jess O’Leary.

Still a contender

Barossa District sent a message to the competition they are still contenders with a polished 70-point win over archrival Willaston.

A clear indicator of the difference between the teams on the day was the Bulldogs had double the scoring shots and increased their lead at every change.

“Willaston won the first seven-10 minutes of the game but I felt we controlled most of the remainder apart from a short period early in the last term,” Barossa coach Rian Nelson explained.

“It was our first full four-quarter effort of the season. Our flexibility was important as well.”

At Williamstown Oval and minus key forward and the club’s leading goal kicker for the season Daniel Thomas, Heath Commane and a less-than-100 per cent fit Adam Spencer took up the slack, kicking 11 goals between them.

They received excellent service from the Stelzer brothers, Matt and Paul, along with Ash Amber in the middle, while athletic big man Aaron Spicer controlled the ruck all day and also did some fine work around the ground.

Versatile Darren Sharp cleaned up across half back and Jack Martin continued his solid form.

Last week’s hero for Willaston Lee Coghill had three shots on goal early but failed to convert on each occasion. Apart from his inaccuracy he was still a thorn in the Doggies defence with his strong marking.

In his 100th senior game, outstanding Bulldogs clubman Simon Wills was serviceable. He was rested in the last term, along with Commane and Spencer.

In his first game for the Donnybrooks Shaun Childs started at full back and was impressive and also when he had a run on ball in the third term.

Michael McLean, James Harvey and Mathew Brooks were noticeable, while Jarryd Cole displayed his huge potential bringing down a number of strong marks.

The reigning premiers have a block-buster game against Tanunda in two weeks, while Willaston will hope the likes of Chris McLean, Josh and Jason Carter will be in form when they host Nuriootpa.

Awesome Tanunda

set for silverware

The hard thing to believe about the Tanunda - South Gawler game is not that star forward Alex Kennedy got another double figure haul of goals.

Or that Tanunda cracked the magical 180 at a ground where they traditionally don’t play well.

But that South Gawler actually matched them on the scoreboard in one quarter was the surprise. Even at half-time the Lions must have thought they had a chance.

However after a rev up from coach Steve Lubke the red-hot premiership favourites, the Magpies slaughtered South with a 20-goal second half including an awesome 13 in the final stanza.

South coach Damian Herzick could only name three best players whereas the Tanunda list could have been the whole 21.

In an ominous sign of a good side, Tanunda could have relaxed with the game in their keeping, however with pressure on places in the team at a premium from an equally rampant Reserves they maintained the intensity to the end.

The Magpies better players came from their forwards and onballers as their defence saw relatively little action even though the Lions kicked 11 goals. That signifies that they didn’t completely surrender, however they had little input into the outcome.

South needed this game to stay in touch of the top four and must be extremely disappointed given their promising start to the season. Their next two games against Freeling and Angaston have now become must-wins.

South were destroyed in the midfield especially at the ballups where Luke Wells ensured his representative selection with another dominant display against another rep squad member.

However even he couldn’t make the Magpie best as the midfield rotation group of Tom Schiller, Ryan Bignell, Malcolm Underwood, Ben Newberry and Craig Underwood showed their floundering opposition a clean pair of heels. Alex Kennedy with 11 big ones, seven after half-time was also in the group.

South’s only player to cause Tanunda any concern was Aaron Bayliss, but he was a lone hand on the ball for the Lions. Casey Schell got a nod for his defensive effort and Ben Kerr tried hard all day.

- Keith Jamieson

Kapunda win

In a ‘must-win’ game to keep their finals hopes alive, Kapunda collected victory by 16 points over cellar-dwellers Nuriootpa.

“We just had to get the two points,” Bombers coach Damien Prouse said. “But I was disappointed with the first and last quarters – our concentration levels need to improve.

“Adam Turrell was integral as was the run of Mark Cussadia.”

Returning to the senior team, Bombers premiership defender from 04-05 Damien Burgess was the catalyst for the victory with a nine-goal haul, seven of them coming in the second half.

The Nuri Rovers were the better side in opening term and deserved a bigger lead at the first break, than their two-goal advantage.

Then Kapunda, in an inspired spell ignited by Brodie Cox, kicked the next six goals of the game. The Bombers also dominated the third term with seven goals-to-two, before Nuriootpa made a late charge.

Along with Burgess’ superb individual performance in attack, Sam Ryan with his long penetrating left foot was damaging on the ball and Mark Cussadia ran hard all day on his wing.

Undersized as a ruckman Adam Turrell negated the influence of Matthew Cragg-Sapsford and his brother Andrew was also creative. Captain Nathan Brady also produced his best game since taking this role on at the start of the season.

For the young Tiger outfit, Chris Gerhardy worked tirelessly again, while Justin Trewren gave them a strong target at full forward finishing with four goals (and three behinds). Shaun Gibson continued to give his heart and soul for the heritage jumper, while Ryan Foulis and Billy Nicholls were strong at the contested ball.

Lewis Heinrich and Dean Vickery continue to show signs they will progress into top flight A grade footballers with the Tigers in the future.

Nuriootpa were unlucky with injuries. In a freak accident in the opening term, Sam Schmidt dislocated his ankle then just before half time Tom Kowald injured his shoulder.

- Peter Argent

Scoreboard

Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association

Played May 31.

A Grade

Barossa 5.5 9.8 14.12 19.19(133)

Willaston 2.3 4.7 7.9 10.9(69)

Best: Bar – M Stelzer, A Spicer, D Sharp, P Stelzer, H Commane, A Amber; Will – M McLean, J Harvey, S Childs, D Brooks, J Cole, M Brooks.

Goals: Bar – H Commane 6, A Spencer 5, P Stelzer 3, M Stelzer, A Spicer, B James, S Schwartz, J Amber 1 ea; Will – L Baker 2, L Coghill 2, S Baker, T Krieg, J Harvey, J Cole, M McLean, D Brooks 1 ea.

Tanunda 8.3 10.7 17.9 30.10(190)

South Gawler 4.1 6.5 7.8 11.10(76)

Best: Tan – T Schiller, R Bignell, A Kennedy, B Newberry, C Underwood, M Greenwood, M Underwood, L Wells; South – C Schell, A Baynes, B Kerr.

Goals: Tan – A Kennedy 11, B Wall 6, B Newberry 3, B Britton 3, M Godfrey 2, T Schiller 2, M Greenwood 2, B Kaesler 1; South – A Gerardis 3, L Makris 2, B Kerr 2, A Bayliss, Andrew Bevis, S Evans, L McCracken 1 ea.

Angaston 8.6 12.14 19.20 21.26(152)

Freeling 4.1 7.4 8.6 11.9(75)

Best: Ang – K McLean, J Rathjen, M Doecke, B Hughes, K Reimann, A Clarke; Free – D Leske, M Doherty, D Thatcher, T Muster, J O’Leary, J Lienert.

Goals: Ang – K McLean 6, S White 4, J Rathjen 3, M Doecke 3, M Danielle 2, G Bain, P Nagel, A Pech 1 ea; Free – P Fowden 3, D Shaw, S Farley, L Heinrich, B Muster, J Lienert, J Newberry, T Ruediger, L Copley 1 ea.

Kapunda 3.1 9.7 16.12 18.13(121)

Nuriootpa 5.1 7.4 9.6 16.9(105)

Best: Kap – D Burgess, S Ryan, M Cussadia, Adam Turrell, Andrew Turrell, N Brady; Nuri – C Gerhardy, S Gibson, R Foulis, J Tregenza, B Nicholls, L Heinrich.

Goals: Kap – D Burgess 9, B Cox 2, Adam Turrell 2, Andrew Turrell, S Ryan, M Cussadia, N Brady, M Kerr 1 ea; Nuri – J Trewren 4, R Foulis 2, S Gibson 2, B Nicholls 2, J Rodda 2, A Kaesler, C Gerhardy, G Falkenberg, A Fiegert 1 ea.

Reserves

Barossa 3.4 4.5 8.6 11.9(75)

Willaston 0.1 4.3 5.4 6.4(40)

Best: Bar – C Howarth, J Owen, C McAlpine, R Hales, S Vanstone, D Goodfellow, B Merret; Will – J Rozman, B Silvy, B Doddman, M Cotton, L Findlay, D Jones.

Goals Bar – M Heading 3, R Hales 3, D Wilson 2, B Merret, D Emms, D Handke 1 ea; Will – B Silvy 5, M Cotton 1.

Tanunda 4.1 8.2 11.3 13.7(85)

South Gawler 0.0 2.0 4.3 5.5(35)

Best: Tan – J West, K Falkenberg, D Goern, S Pech, T Oliver, D Waye; South – S Earwood, S Montgomerie, M Bevis, J Dare, T Bowden, D Butler.

Goals: Tan – K Falkenberg 7, C Samain 2, L Underwood, B Smart, D Giles, J Oliver 1 ea; South – J Dare 3, D Butler 1, J Waters 1.

Angaston 3.2 5.3 7.4 10.4(64)

Freeling 1.0 3.2 4.2 6.2(38)

Best: Ang – C Hann, M Pech, B Brook, J Schultz, H McGillivray, B Swan; Free – A Warnest, D Leske, A Selleck, G Shaw, A Shanahan, A McLuskey.

Goals: Ang – J Plush 2, S Blenkiron 2, N Taylor, J Carter, C Hadden, S Woodards, J Talbot, C Hann 1 ea; Free – G Shaw 3, S Hanisch, A Shanahan, N Cocks 1 ea.

Nuriootpa 1.3 6.4 9.6 14.7(91)

Kapunda 1.4 2.7 3.7 5.7(37)

Best: Nuri – C Burgess, L Sich, B Lydeamore, R Newcombe, B Rohrlach, N Koch; Kap – M Johnson, K Chappell, K Ryan, M Holding, N Greiger, K Pfitzner.

Goals: Nuri – R Newcombe 6, B Rohrlach 2, T Jungfer 2, C Ware 2, B Lydeamore 1, L Sich 1; Kap – M Koenig 2, D White, M Ruppelt, B McWatters 1 ea.

Senior Colts

Willaston 3.2 7.4 9.6 16.8(104)

Barossa 2.2 3.3 4.4 4.6(30)

Best: Will – B McLean, J Palmer, D Fox, C Duffield, S Haydon, C White; Bar – D Jug, J Platten, T McCarthy, L Smith, S Roberts, J Hanley.

Goals: Will – Z Borgas 4, J Palmer 3, A Parsloe 2, P Daly, Z Cavanagh, B McLean, A Cahill, J Bromball, D Jones, R Boswell 1 ea; Bar – L Mitchell 2, A McAlpine 1, S Roberts 1.

South Gawler 4.1 8.4 13.6 15.6(96)

Tanunda 4.2 5.6 8.6 12.7(79)

Best: South – A Hewett, R Barker, T Hopgood, S Foster, S Thomas, P Wharton; Tan – L Agars, R Ferrett, J Miller, E Neinhaus, M Grocke, T Hamann.

Goals: South – R Barker 10, S Gosden 2, A Parsons 2, S Foster 1; Tan – C Gattermayr 2, J Frentsch 2, L Agars 2, D Abinett 2, A Fechner, R Ferrett, J Miller, C Alderslade 1 ea.

Freeling 5.3 9.9 11.12 14.15(99)

Angaston 5.1 7.2 9.4 11.5(71)

Best: Free – M Doherty, J Martin, A Schmidt, D Drummond, A Cocks, J Zanandie; Ang – T Chinner, N Falland, T Talbot, B McHendrie, L Baker, A Wardlaw.

Goals: Free – M Doherty 4, T Ruediger 2, A McCard 2, J Rentz 2, A Cocks 2, A Schmidt 1, D Drummond 1; Ang – N Falland 3, T Adler 2, S Rathjen 2, M Ransom, T Chinner, A Wardlaw, B McHendrie 1 ea.

Nuriootpa 3.3 7.6 12.10 17.14(116)

Kapunda 0.1 3.2 3.4 6.6(42)

Best: Nuri – S Hausler, M Kurtz, R Modistach, A Modistach, D Mowbray, A Lovegrove; Kap – M Ruppelt, S Crawford, B Crombie, J Cobbledick, C Richmond, C Richter.

Goals: Nuri – R Modistach 5, A Modistach 2, M Kurtz 2, M Milne 2, D Mowbray 2, M Patrilli, A Edwards, S Carter, A Lovegrove 1 ea; Kap – M Ruppelt 2, L Norman 2, A May 1, T Giles 1.

JUNIOR Colts

Barossa 4.0 5.0 6.2 8.4(52)

Willaston 1.3 4.5 4.5 5.6(36)

Best: Bar – A Thwaites, W Aylett, J Madgen, S Tebeck, E Carpenter, H Traynor; Will – J Waldhuter, L Trenowden, B Clinton, C Stool, A Gersch, T Maple.

Goals: Bar – H Traynor 4, W Aylett, A Zachopoulos, B Traynor, J Traynor 1 ea; Will – J Waldhuter 2, A Jones 1, B Chenoworth 1.

South Gawler 5.5 13.6 15.10 19.16(130)

Tanunda 0.0 0.0 1.1 1.1(7)

Best: South – M Gajewski, A Adams, C Cameron, C Felstead, M Demeo, B Barker; Tan – K Grocke, N Reichelt, J Mitchell, L Kemp, J Marshall, P Neldner.

Goals: South – D Musolino 5, B Barker 5, M Gajewski 2, R Betterman 2, C Felstead, D Marshall, F Errigo, A Adams, J Chapman 1 ea; Tan – N Reichelt 1.

Freeling 2.4 3.6 4.10 8.10(58)

Angaston 1.0 2.4 2.5 2.6(18)

Best: Free – M Graham, C Jericho, A Toet, J Ruediger, B Ryles, J Robinson; Ang – C Pizsczuk, J Wilson, J Koch, S Rusca, H Edmead, C Ransom.

Goals: Free – J Robinson 3, B Ryles 2, C Hurst, J Hancock, A Toet 1 ea; Ang – S Rusca 2.

Nuriootpa 6.1 10.3 15.10 21.15(141)

Kapunda 0.0 1.1 1.1 1.1(7)

Best: Nuri – D O’Neil, B Hollitt, J Matthews, A Saint, T Schiller, S Lee; Kap – A Wilson, T McKinnon, L Clancy, T Matthews Brown, K Johnson, S Pratt.

Goals: Nuri – S Lee 5, D Burgess 5, J Baldwin 2, J Matthews 2, D O’Neil 2, C Schneider 2, C Shaw 1, C Heinrich 1; Kap – A Wilson 1.