CK's Sportsbeat Team Previews

Available from pubs, clubs and SAAFL clubs, Sportsbeat features Chris Kendall as its SANFL writer for his ninth season. This week is the first of a three part series assessing the ins, outs and chances of the SANFL clubs:


2014 SANFL TEAM PREVIEWS PART ONE

Central District:
INS – Jacob Gilbee (Gold Coast), Ben Mabon (North Melbourne), Bryce Retzlaf (Box Hill), Tim McIntyre (Sturt), Justin Hoskin (Port Magpies), Johan Wagner (Port Lincoln)
OUTS: James Boyd, Jacob Templeton (W/WT), Sam Coloqhoun (Port Adelaide),Ian Callinan, Jack Osborn (Sdelaide), Seb Guilhaus (Northern Territory), Brayden O’Hara (Albury), Ben Dowdell.

Plenty of changes at the Bulldog kennel in the off-season, especially the departure of ball magnet Boyd. A difference in football philosophy between him and the coaching staff saw him seek new pastures at the Eagles, but some of their inclusions look able to help take up some of the workload. Gilbee and Retzlaff will add some class around the ball and in attack, and Mabon will offset the ruck void left by Guilhaus. McIntyre also brings some class around the ball, although needs to maintain a team oriented game, and can also work in attack and create headaches for opposition defences.

The loss of 2013 Best and Fairest, O’Hara should not be underestimated, with his raking kick difficult to replace. It is hard to line up Central at this stage, but at present, the balance sheet still looks even from 2013, which makes it hard to present a case for them rising significantly.

PREDICTION: 7th


GLENELG

INS: Aaron Joseph, Pat McCarthy (Carlton),Sam Lonergan (Richmond), Nathan Stark (Melbourne), Mitch Thorp (South Launceston), Clint Alleway (retired, ex-North Adelaide), Josh Scott (Gippsland)

OUTS: Matthew Scharenberg (Collingwood), Cameron Hitchcock, Tom Clurey, Tom Logan (Port Adelaide), Shaun McKernan, Jarryd Lyons, Sam Shaw (Adelaide), Riley Milne (West Adelaide), Kane Tenace, Jason Davenport (returning to Victoria), Tim Walsh, Ryan McInerney, Ben Mules (retired)

After many years of underachievement, the Tigers have cleared the decks, on and off-field, bringing some real class to Brighton Road. The coaching appointment of Nick Stevens is one of the real coups, given how well he has adapted to coaching at Gippsland Power in the last two seasons. The signing of AFL experienced Joseph, Lonergan, McCarthy and Stark will bring cooler heads on-field to help the younger players, and after Thorp became the youngest premiership winning captain/coach in Tasmanian state football history last season, he also will give strong leadership and potency in attack.

Glenelg will suffer to some degree from the departures to the AFL arms, with Lyons in particular, having a superb opening half to 2013, and Clurey also maturing as the season progressed, but some of the other player losses will not be felt as keenly. The Tigers will undoubtedly improve from last year’s wooden spoon, and look genuine smokies to push for a finals berth in 2014.

PREDICTION: 5th



NORTH ADELAIDE

INS: Rhys O’Keefe, Luke Mitchell (Carlton), Jesse O’Brien (Brisbane), Corey Grove, Adam Barnes, Tom Sandercock (Port Magpies)

OUTS: Lewis Johnston, Matthew Wright, Sam Siggins, Alex Spina (Adelaide), Andrew Moore, Mitch Harvey (Port Adelaide), Nathan Gordon (Richmond), Nathan Blee (WA), Daniel Stewart , Daniel Archer (Victoria), Johnny Boras, Eljay Connors, Tim Delvins, Matthew Westhoff, Kriston Thompson (Amateurs/Regional Football)

No questioning the class of the new arrivals and returning players to the Roosters, with O’Keefe and O’Brien looking set to step straight into their best 21. It is the losses that would be concerning many of the Prospect faithful, however. Johnston, Blee, Stewart and Gordon were pivotal to their rise last season, and while some of their other losses did not play much senior football in 2013, it is still handy depth that is departing and may prove vital if injuries hit early.

Ken McGregor’s arrival as coach will be a filip, however, with his style paying dividends at the Magpies as 2013 progressed. If he can keep North from overpossessing the ball – one fault noted early last season at Port – and working it quickly down the middle, then they will trouble plenty of teams. That said, they are in a really dangerous position with their list and could easily slide right down the ladder without surprising. Questions over where they will replace the departures in attack has them just missing for mine.

PREDICTION: 6th

Missing Obst as an in for North I think

Excellent work again from CK.

Yes agreed. Chris continues to be a great servant of local football.

Missed Jacob Olssen as an in for the Doggies

2 finalists from last year to miss the cut and the wooden spooner to jump above them? Interesting

Also, Justin Hardy is an out for Central.

Remainder of the other SANFL-based teams. Adelaide and Port Adelaide to follow next week.

For the sake of completeness, all AFL listed players, regardless of how many matches they played at their "host club", have been hereon listed as technical "outs"

NORWOOD:

Ins:  Callum Bartlett (Brisbane), James Allan (ex North Adelaide), Alex Forster (returning, Fremantle), Angus Clarke (returning from overseas)

Outs: James Aish (Brisbane), Trent Dumont (North Melbourne), Alex Georgiou (Melbourne),  Matthew Fuller (Western Bulldogs), Matt Thomas (Richmond), Orazio Fantasia (Essendon), Mitch Grigg, Luke Brown, Taylor Walker (Adelaide Football Club), Lewis Stevenson, Brett Renouf, Tom Jonas (Port Adelaide),   Mat Suckling (returning to Victoria), Darren Pfieffer (Queensland), Brett Zorzi, Ben Warren (retired).

Massive turnover for the reigning premier, although nearly all were fully expected, giving the club time to find careful replacements. Bartlett has his share of injuries at the Lions but his class in undoubted and he was chased by many SANFL clubs. Allan needs no introduction, and if he still has half the class that makes him the only triple Magarey Medallist this generation, then he will add plenty to the midfield.

That said, plenty of losses for the Redlegs, particularly in defence and around the ball will test rookie coach Warren, but having been part of the structure for the last two seasons, all indications are he will work to similar styles to former coach Nathan Bassett. With many of the replacements to come from within the club, particularly premiership players from 2012, it is hard not to see them high again in 2014.

Prediction: Premiers

SOUTH ADELAIDE

INS: Adam Gulden (NSW Uni/Sydney Swans top-up), Frazer Dale (Carlton), Luke Durdin, Matthew Rose (Port Magpies),Matthew Rankine (West),  Brent McLeod (returns – NEAFL), Lachlan Boyd (Beaumaris)

OUTS: Michael Wundke (W/WT0, Mason Shaw (Port Adelaide),Kyle Hartigan, David Mackay, Nathan Van Berlo, Andy Otten (Adelaide)

New coach Brad Gotch has already flagged that the Panthers will play a more attacking game style this year, and the early trial game signs have been encouraging in that respect. Gulden will add in attack, as will the mercurial Rose. Dale’s experience on a AFL list cannot be underestimated for a young group also. McLeod showed plenty of midfield grunt in his first stint and will be strong support for Nick Liddle and Joel Cross.

While Wundke’s loss is disappointing, it does throw the opportunity to Brett Eddy to stand up in attack after an injury interrupted stint so far. The other issue, however, is still looking light in defence, particularly given Hartigan’s stellar 2013. The big question at Noarlunga, however, is if the group can improve significantly enough to finally press for a return to finals action. Past years finals predictions have proven unwise, so until we see the trial game improvement translated to the minor round, the jury is still out here.

PREDICTION: 9th

STURT:

INS: Rory Taggert (Melbourne),  Zane Kirkwood, James Watt, Kory Beard (Port Magpies), Richard Tambling (full time Sturt after AFL delisting), Jaydon Stiles )Portland)

OUTS: Luke Crane (retired), Tim McIntyre (Central District) Rory Atkins, Angus Graham, Brodie Martin, James Battersby, Matthew Jaensch, Josh Jenkins, Sam Kerridge, Bren Reilly (Adelaide), Chad Wingard, Jasper Pittard (Port Adelaide), Adam Thomson (country football)

Sturt were always among the most vulnerable with the two AFL clubs entry into the SANFL competition, and while the latter four players listed above in the AFL outs did not front significantly last year at Unley, their experience will still be missed. The Double Blues have still picked up some handy ins, particularly from the Magpies. Kirkwood and Beard, in particular, will fill major holes in midfield and defence, while Watt can hold an attacking tagger role.

Part of Sturt’s issues last year centred with being too one dimensional in attack with McIntyre and Matthew Duldig, and the former’s departure will only make that a little more difficult. It may mean that someone like a James McLeay or James Wundke has to be swung into the forward 50 to open up their attacking options more open, and also hope for further improvement from Sam Smith. 2014 really throws a big opportunity to some of the youngsters like Harley Montgomery, Jack Penfold and the impressive Tom Harms to shine and step up. Despite some real positives at Unley, however, it’s hard to see them rising from last season.

PREDICTION: 10th



WEST ADELAIDE

INS:  Richard Newell (Brisbane), Kaine Stevens (Queanbeyan), Justin Hardy (Central District), Andrew Hayes (Port Adelaide), Riley Milne (Glenelg) Ben Fisher (returns)

OUTS: Joel Tippett (North Melbourne), Zac Bates (Geelong) Ryan Ferguson, Brad Mangan (Williamstown), Matthew Rankine (South Adelaide), Brad Crouch, Jason Porplyzia, Ben Rutten (Adelaide), Dominic Cassisi, Robbie Gray, Hamish Hartlett (Port Adelaide)

After making real progress in the last two seasons, it was disappointing for the Bloods to lose coach Andrew Collins. He was one of the major outs for an offseason that was otherwise reasonably quiet in player numbers, but big on tall defenders. Ferguson in particular will be a massive hole to fill, given his ability to play at both ends of the ground, while Tippett was one of the SANFL’s best defenders in his stint at Milner Road.

To that end, however, West have theoretically picked up some solid replacements. Much will depend on the long term fitness of Hardy, with doubts as to his resumption date, but if Hayes has overcome his injry concerns for the last two seasons, he will be able to go to both ends of the park. Don’t underestimate Newell and Stevens either, who will add some class around the middle. How the Bloods adapt to new coach Mark Mickan’s style will also tell a real tale about their fortunes. Look set to hold down a finals berth, but it’s a mystery after that.

PREDICTION: 4th

WOODVILLE/WEST TORRENS

Ins: James Boyd, Jacob Templeton (Central District), Michael Wundke (South Adelaide)

Outs: Luke Dunstan (St Kilda), Malcolm Karpany (West Coast), Cameron Giles (Carlton), Cameron Ellis-Yolmen, Riley Knight, Brodie Smith, Jared Petrenko, Luke Thompson, Bernie Vince (Adelaide), Matthew Broadbent, Kane Mitchell, Campbell Heath, Jarrad Redden, Paul Stewart (Port Adelaide), Nick Salter, Lee Staple, Aaron Day, Brad Kirk (retired/country football)

While there appears a major disparity between ins and outs at the Eagles, the vast majority of the South Australian based AFL departures – apart from Ellis-Yolmen, Thompson and to a degree, Heath – played predominantly at the top level last season, so will not cause major disruption to coach Michael Godden’s plans. Similarly, the interstate draftees were largely based in the juniors also. On the other hand, the inclusions should step straight into the lineuip with aplomb. Boyd will add another 25 plus quality possessions each week and if Wundke can work effectively in the same forwardline as Andrew Ainger and Adam Grocke – a virtual recruit after 2013 was nearly written off with injury – then their firepower should increase significantly.

Many other clubs look to have improved their list better with pure numbers, but the quality is high at Oval Avenue and the Eagles look strongly placed to make a genuine 2014 challenge.

PREDICTION: 2nd

So obviously you have Port 3rd and Adelaide 8th.

Good summary of the SANFL teams, not sure if Norwood deserve favoritism given the list of "outs". I think Port will be minor premiers, having half a squad training to AFL level fitness and keeping some good SANFl players will prove decisive as the season goes on. They will just run over the other teams who contain players who have to work for a living instead of training at a professional club for one.

In a strange way I think there is potential for the loss of Ferguson to benefit West. Sure his abilities on the field will be super hard to replace particularly his defensive work (wasn't a fan of him going forward), however I often got the feeling that too much was left to him and now there is a clear leadership void that will need to be filled, and if it can be done well enough which I suspect it will, then I think that gives West an extra ingredient. Given they haven't been far away at all in recent seasons it could be all that's needed.