Sunday’s 2021 SANFL Statewide Super League grand final was always going to be a day to remember for the eight Limestone Coast players representing Glenelg, but it did not quite go to plan at Adelaide Oval.
Jack Harding, Harry Tunkin, Joel Virtanen, Oscar Adams, Darcy Porter and Henry Gould all took to the field in the Under 18’s finale under gloomy skies and could not prevail against Woodville-West Torrens, while West Gambier youngster Reid Kuller and North Gambier wingman Matt Allen suffered the same fate in the league’s big dance a few hours later.
With the club celebrating its 100th anniversary, the top side cruising to the minor premiership by winning 18 consecutive games and all three grades playing on the big day, a fairytale was waiting to happen for the Tigers.
However, it was not to be as the Eagles stormed to back-to-back premierships for the first time in the club’s league history.
Despite going down to the boys from Oval Avenue in the second semi-final, Glenelg was the rightful favourite with every SANFL premier since 2014 having lost that particular fixture, plus playing a near flawless season in dashing style.
Having missed out on the “Bay’s” 2019 premiership, former North Tigers and West Coast Eagles AFL player Allen was desperate to taste the success for himself and made an early impact off the wing.
Around 13 minutes had elapsed in the first term when the 22-year-old won a loose ball on the Eastern side of the River end, spun around to leave his opponent wrong footed and pressed forward.
Allen then launched a left-foot bomb from outside 50 towards goal which looked certain to fly through the big sticks until Lachie Hosie juggled a one-hander on the paint.
Hosie’s goal put Glenelg back in front and Allen’s uplifting work could have inspired the yellow and black to something special.
But instead, the Eagles spread their wings kicking eight unanswered goals as the Tigers lost their way scoring a solitary behind in the second term.
Turnovers, uncharacteristic errors and a lack of efficiency moving forward were the key errors holding Glenelg back and the result was a formality in the opening minutes of the “premiership” quarter.
Allen eventually booted a goal 15 minutes into final term to finish as Glenelg’s highest scorer alongside his 13 disposals.
His left foot came to the fore again after he won a one-on-one marking contest, sold some candy and drilled a major from 45 metres out.
It was the fourth and final moment to celebrate for the Tigers.
Kuller fought hard against bigger bodies in the midfield all day to gather 11 disposals and five tackles.
For the Eagles, former Adelaide Crows Tyson Stengle and Riley Knight had some fun snapping goals and collecting disposals respectively, while the Menzel brothers also made big impacts.
Wounded warrior Jack Hayes was awarded the prestigious Jack Oatey Medal after polling 27 of a possible 27 votes.
In the Under 18’s grand final, the “Bay” also enjoyed a solid start kicking three of the first four majors.
However, the Eagles managed to open an advantage by the time Millicent’s Tunkin found the big sticks midway through the second term.
Throughout the second half both teams remained interested, but Woodville-West Torrens always held the Tigers at bay to win by 17 points.
Tunkin and Virtanen were major standouts collecting 19 disposals each, while Adams and Porter also found plenty of the Burley.
Each South East player gave it a crack making impacts throughout the four quarters to put their names at the front of the queue for 2022.
The only successful Glenelg side on the day of days did not include a single Limestone Coast representative.
The Reserves managed to take home the ultimate prize back to the “Bay” following a second-half blitz against Central District.
One Mount Gambier man who will look back on Sunday with happy memories is goal umpire Michael Button, who waved the flags for South Australia’s crushing opening to the 2021 Under 19’s NAB AFL National Championships against Allies.
