GLENELG were too strong for Adelaide in last weekend’s SANFL Statewide Super League Preliminary Final, defeating the Crows by 27 points at Adelaide Oval.
Key forwards Luke Reynolds (five goals) and Liam McBean (four) were dominant in the forward half, while Josh Scott (three) and Marlon Motlop (two) were also busy in front of goals.
This season’s Magarey Medallist Luke Partington continued his stellar season with another 28 disposals, eight tackles and a goal, with Brad Agnew (27 disposals) Andrew Bradley (23) and Motlop (21) also finding plenty of the football.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s premiership-decider, the Magpies will be hoping to square the season ledger at 2 wins apiece and bring the club its 38th premiership.
Glenelg’s key players:
Luke Partington
Partington has averaged 29.4 disposals per game in 2019, and hit the scoreboard with 17 goals for the year.
The former West Coast Eagle has been a terrific addition at the Bay, capping off a great individual year with the Magarey Medal.
Liam McBean & Luke Reynolds
Glenelg’s tall timber have been very good all year, combining for more than 100 goals for the season to date.
McBean (46) inched out his teammate Reynolds (45) for the Ken Farmer medal, but both will be looking to have a big impact against the Magpies on Sunday.
Chris Curran
Curran lead the SANFL competition for marks in 2019, reading the ball very well across the half-back line.
The Bays skipper averaged more than 21 possessions this season, and when the two sides met in the second semi final, he was named third-best for Glenelg.
Marlon Motlop & Matthew Snook
Motlop has had a great year for the Tigers, averaging 22 touches and kicking 22 goals to provide plenty of run and class through the midfield.
Snook has built his game around the contested ball, averaging 24 touches, seven clearances and six tackles a game to provide the Bays with plenty of grunt at the coalface.
Jesse White
White has been one of the standout ruckmen in the competition this season - sitting second for hit-outs. The former Sydney and Collingwood player has also averaged 16 touches a game.
Will Gould
Gould is likely to find himself on an AFL list in 2020, having played 14 SANFL League games this season at just 18 years of age.
The young defender has averaged 19 touches per game while playing a pivotal role in defence for the Tigers.
The Magpies and Tigers will do battle for the 2019 premiership on Sunday 22 September, with the first bounce at 3.00pm.
