SANFL 2006 ROUND 20:
STURT v SOUTH ADELAIDE
New boss, old result
By JAI BEDNALL
THE coach might have changed but the result stayed the same as Sturt suffered
its fourth consecutive hiding, this time going down to
Caretaker coach Brodie Atkinson was given a taste of what to expect for
the rest of the season as the Double Blues, after starting promisingly, were
simply outplayed and out-muscled by a superior Panthers' outfit.
The most disappointing aspect of Sturt's performance had to be its lack
of discipline - the side gave up 10 25m penalties, several of them directly
resulting in goals.
Atkinson conceded it was an area which needed to be addressed
immediately.
“We can't afford to have 10 25m penalties, I mean that's just
unacceptable,” Atkinson said.
“We need to work towards making sure that just doesn't happen because
you turn it from a 50-50 kick at goal from 40m out, to being on the goal line.
“If our attitude and discipline's not right then we're going to
struggle.”
The match saw the debut of two Sturt juniors, Joel Kay and Sam Miles,
and both showed some promising signs from limited opportunity.
Atkinson said he was prepared to continue trialling young players to
discover which players on the list were capable of performing at SANFL level.
“We're in a position now where we can try that, I mean we've got
nothing to lose in that regard,” he said.
“There's evidence that there's some guys here that aren't up to league
standard.
“So I'll continue to keep playing younger players and that will send a
message to the rest of the group.”
Jade Sheedy was arguably the only Sturt player
to clearly win his position, while Tom Hurley and Brant Chambers, despite not
kicking straight, battled hard all day.
Sturt has now lost its past four matches by an average of 107 points,
with a testing trip to Alberton to play Port Adelaide to come this week.
SCORES:
BEST: South – Archard,
Iljcesen, Davey, Kenna; Sturt – Sheedy, Hurley, Curtis.
GOALS: South – Iljcesen
7, Warren 4, Kenna, Cupido,
Davey 3, Wright, Thewlis 2, Archard,
Handby, Smith, McGlone,
King; Sturt – Chambers 3, Coad, Hurley 2, Button, Miles, Curtis, Sheedy.