SANFL 2006 ROUND 13: GLENELG v NORTH ADELAIDE

 

Top three beckons Roosters

 

By JEFF CRAWFORD

 

NORTH Adelaide is looking like a genuine top three side, and possible minor premier, after its tough slog 43-point win over Glenelg on a muddy Prospect Oval.

The Roosters never really looked to be threatened by the Tigers, who wasted the ball too many times during promising attacks.

Roosters coach Andrew Jarman would have been overjoyed to see his skilful side win so convincingly in such difficult conditions, not really the sort of weather conducive to the flowing, all-attacking play he preaches.

Not even the imposing presence of Crows ruckman Matthew Clarke, playing his first game in a Glenelg guernsey, was enough to lessen the domination of Rooster on-ballers Heath Younie, Darryl Wintle, Scott Bamford and Dean Howard around the many stoppages. Even the late inclusion of rover Tate Kaesler, who replaced key forward Nick Gill due to a neck problem, proved to be a blessing in disguise, with the small man excelling on the slippery surface that certainly wouldn't have suited the high-flying Gill.

The Roosters had plenty of targets to choose from, including returning full-forward Daniel Hargraves, who was only let down by some wayward kicking, Chris Ladhams in a goalsneak role, Howard and surprise packet Kaesler.

Brett Backwell and wingman Justin McConnell worked tirelessly all day for the Tigers, but were overcome by weight of numbers.

Glenelg goes into the bye with three successive losses and then takes on all-conquering South Adelaide at the Bay.

The Roosters next face the Panthers at Prospect, which promises to be a high-scoring shootout, before their last bye of the season.

 

SCORES: North Adelaide 3.7-25 7.11-53 12.13-85 15.16-106 defeated Glenelg 1.3-9 4.5-29 5.5-35 9.9-63.

 

BEST: North - Bamford, Younie, Howard, Ladhams, Wintle, Kaesler; South - Logan, Hinge, Backwell, Kirk, Sherwood, Kirkby.

 

GOALS: North - Younie 3, Kaesler 3, Howard 3, Ladhams 2, Hargraves 2, Gatto,  Campbell; Glenelg - Mules 2, Horan 2, Logan, Mitchell, Willits, Clarke, McConnell.